Cubo Torres and the Olympic Dream

Houston Dynamo striker Erick “Cubo” Torres recently was named to the 18 man roster to represent Mexico in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.

Cubo Torres is a young 23 year old striker who has proven himself in MLS. In his time with Chivas USA back in 2013-2014 he scored 22 times in 44 appearances making him the highest scoring mexican born striker in league history. He looked incredibly promising scoring 17 goals at the age of 21… then Chivas USA dissolved. Torres was bought by MLS and allocated to Houston on the condition that he would be loaned to Chivas in Mexico for 6 months. Ever since his return to MLS with the Houston Dynamo things have not gone so smoothly. Former coach, Owen Coyle, didn’t give him much of a chance to perform, but has been a mainstay with the U-23 Mexican national team.

Cubo Torres clearly has what it takes to be a top striker; he just hasn’t gotten settled in with the Dynamo. On the other hand, he is the only player from outside Liga MX to make Raul Gutierrez’s Mexican Olympic roster, and to me that speaks volumes. He has star competition for playing time with the likes of Oribe Peralta, Hirving “Chucky” Lozano, and Marco Bueno at forward.

Luckily, I got the chance to talk to Torres for a bit at training about his journey in making the Olympic team for Mexico and here is how it went…

-How have you felt with Mexico in Olympic training camp and getting back to scoring?

Cubo Torres: “Everytime I am with the national team it goes very well for me. I was very happy with the amount of minutes I got considering it was 3 weeks of intense preparation for the Olympics. Now I come back to the Dynamo with a lot of positive energy, feeling very strong, and with game time and now I just have to wait to finally get playing time with the Dynamo.”

-How do you expect to learn from the veterans named to the Olympic team like Oribe Peralta?

Cubo Torres: “Well they are all very strong players but yes, Peralta is a someone who we can learn a lot from since he is already a gold medalist from 2012 and he has a lot of experience from his years in Liga MX and finally with the senior national team. So, I have to learn much from the career Peralta has had.”

More from CONCACAF

• USA, Honduras, Panama, and Canada Close in on a Spot in the 2024 Copa America
• Soccer in North America: A Battlefield Against Racism and Xenophobia
• The Inter-American Cup returns in grand style, promising thrilling clashes among the best in the Americas
• USMNT defender Auston Trusty moves to Sheffield United
• 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup: Where’s the squawking about the ball?

-Now with the Dynamo, you didn’t have the best luck under Owen Coyle (former Dynamo Coach) but you’re playing very well for Mexico. How do you expect to transfer your good form and energy back to the Dynamo?

Cubo Torres: “Right now I am just waiting for more minutes and to get noticed by the coaches, because I am feeling very good with strong energy and I feel great physically. I hope it comes to something and if I find myself on the field I will take the chance and make the most of the opportunity the technical staff will give me.

-What do you think of change in coaches with Wade Barrett coming in as Interim Head Coach?

Cubo Torres: “He is a great and very able coach, he is someone who knows the club very well and he knows what it means to play for the Houston Dynamo having won 2 championships for the city. So we are being very mindful of his advice and his coaching style. He is the type of coach that listens to his players and knows what we want, I am very happy with the change. Meanwhile I am just training hard to get my opportunity under Wade Barrett.”

–What words do you have to say to your loyal fans from Houston and abroad?

 Cubo Torres: “I want to say thank them with all the support they give me and the luck they wish me through social media and when they see me on the streets. They motivate me to keep playing hard, and to have the patience to wait for my opportunity to play. I thank them with all my heart!”

Cubo went on to predict that France would beat Germany in the Euro semifinal (this took play on Thursday) and was kind enough to take a picture for my snapchat… because well hey even we are Cubo fans! Best of luck to Erick Torres in his Olympic Dream!