Guadalajara Fútbolista Earns Respect in Banning: Coaches, Mentors Young Men

Most of the wall space inside the sporting goods and party supply shop Golazo are decked with new jerseys of professional soccer, football, basketball and baseball teams.

But a spot across from the cash register is crowded with old photographs and newspaper clippings, some showing moments long ago in Estadio Jalisco, a historic fútbol ground in Guadalajara.

The owner of Golazo is Jorge Castillio, 46, a former professional soccer player in the Mexican Primera División.

Castillo was born and grew up in Guadalajara, and he joined Club Atlas de Guadalajara at age 18 as a midfielder,he said in recent interviews.

He played two years in the Mexican second division before moving up to the Primera, and he played three years in the top flight before leaving Guadalajara for the Los Angeles Salsa of the American Professional Soccer League in 1986.

Today he is known as a long-time youth advocate in Banning. Since the 1990s he has coached hundreds of children and young adults in soccer programs he helped organize and lead. He opened Golazo about three months ago, and it's become a magnet for his fellow coaches and the young men he mentors.

On Wednesday last week, Banning police Sgt. Alex Diaz, who helps coordinate Banning Police Athletic League soccer programs with Castillo, was at Golazo with the several young men. Diaz and Castllo were planning to take a group of people to see the Los Angeles Galaxy play Dallas on Saturday night in Carson.

Castillo was recognized for his volunteer efforts earlier this month by the nonprofit Law Enforcement Appreciation Committee of Western Riverside County.

Castillo accepted the during a ceremony in Riverside. He was nominated for the award by the Banning Police Department, Chief of Police Leonard Purvis said.

Golazo is at Sixth and West Ramsey in Banning.