11/16/2021 1:49 AM Article By: Mathias Medel
At the age of three, both Reyli and Armani Haro’s love for the game of soccer commenced. It took a short amount of time, four years to be exact, for them to want to become professional players.
“[We both began to consider soccer as a serious option for a professional career] at around seven years of age,” the brothers claimed.
Indeed, it was from their time at Little Pumas, Chula Vista’s recreational development league, to their competitive matches for CVFC’s 2006, 2007, and 2008 MLS Next squads, that the Haro brothers fulfilled their passion for the sport.
Throughout their time at Chula Vista, both siblings were introduced, and most importantly, understanding of the mentality needed to succeed at a high level. Contrary to what most believe, it wasn’t the victories that helped them, but instead moments of anguish and hardship that helped them grow most as people.
“We’ve learned that to get far you will have to go through rough times and have moments of suffering,” Haro said. “[We learned the most] mainly in seasons where we had coaches who had the vocation and passion for soccer.”
Additionally, the brothers commented on the significance of humility, and taking each achievement with modesty, which they attributed to the type of players that CVFC coaches seek.
While they may share the same last name, Reyli and Armani said that they rarely compete against each other and instead focus on making each other better, which was made easier as they both were part of Chula Vista.
The opportunity to play for Real Salt Lake, an American professional soccer franchise located in Utah, came after their performances with CVFC’s MLS Next teams at a tournament. Playing for this professional academy will allow them to train more times per week, and in turn, become better players.
Besides the physical benefits that come with joining a professional soccer club, the Haros explained that a big reason for their acceptance of RSL’s offer was due to the added responsibility it would bring.
“We knew that getting into an MLS team’s academy would be a great stepping stone to what we want for our career,” the brothers said. “Living without our parents would bring something out of us that will be a great tool for the rest of our lives. That is responsibility.”
For Reyli and Armani, though, it will always be about carrying the last name printed on the back of their jersey. Sure, it’s difficult to reach the competitive level that the Haros are playing at, but it is even more rare to find two players sharing the same roots and field.
“We think it’s any parents’ dream to see their children become successful; with my brother with me, I feel more comfortable,” Haro said. “If we ever get a chance to play together, it would be a great game for both of us because of the bond that we have as brothers.”
