Ep. 6 - Evolution and Impact of Soccer in Arkansas with Cesar Aguilar

Ever wondered how a humble local soccer program can evolve into a thriving community with over 40,000 players? Well, we have a treat for you, our esteemed guest, Cesar Aguilar, who has passionately nurtured the Rogers Parks and Recreation soccer program for three decades. Witnessing its growth from a mere 18 teams to its current grandeur, Cesar takes us on a captivating journey, sharing memories of coaching players who have now become coaches and referees themselves. That’s not all; he's also been instrumental in pioneering soccer programs for the middle-aged and elderly!

We broaden our horizons and discuss the larger landscape of soccer in Northwest Arkansas, the struggles, triumphs, and the irreplaceable role of volunteers. Cesar emphasizes the importance of making the sport accessible and affordable, underlining the need to expand soccer opportunities in Arkansas. We also delve into the exciting benefits of soccer refereeing. Drawing from his personal experience of refereeing, Cesar underscores the rewards of dedicating time and energy to the game. He shares his hopes for the future of soccer in Arkansas and the Rogers Parks and Recreation soccer program. So, buckle up and get ready to explore the exhilarating world of soccer with us and our fantastic guest, Cesar Aguilar! You're guaranteed to leave feeling inspired and enriched.

Transcript

Wes Harris: 0:04

Pitch to Pro is the official podcast of USL Arkansas. This will be our platform to tell our story about the club and the special place that we call home, northwest Arkansas. This is a journey we want to bring you along for the ride. We'll share what's going on behind the curtain, help educate the community at large about soccer, our league, and give updates on the progress of the club along the way. Together, we'll explore and unpack our journey to professional soccer, the magic that is NWA, our community, and talk all things soccer from on the pitch to behind the scenes, telling the story of our club.

Wes Harris: 0:42

Pitch to Pro podcast is proudly sponsored by PodcastVideoscom. Podcastvideoscom is Northwest Arkansas's premier podcast recording studio, equipped with industry-leading equipment. The recording studio and services save you time, money and hassle. They are dedicated to helping you create, record and publish high-quality podcasts for your audience. Be sure to check them out today at PodcastVideoscom. Hello everybody and welcome back to the Pitch to Pro podcast. I'm your host, wes Harris, managing director for USL Arkansas. We are Northwest Arkansas's professional soccer club playing in the United Soccer League Today. I am so excited to have this guest on the podcast today. Mr Cesar Aguilar of the Rogers Parks and Recreation. Cesar is well, I'll let him introduce himself. But everybody that we talk to, when this project started to become socialized, just your name kept coming up over and over and over. We absolutely had to get in talking to you and we've just started this great relationship with you and it's been fantastic. Thank you for your support. But why don't we just start and let you introduce yourself and what you do at Rogers Parks and Rec, sir?

Cesar Aguilar: 2:00

Okay, well, thank you for inviting me. I think it's going to be a great program. I'm excited.

Wes Harris: 2:06

Absolutely will be.

Cesar Aguilar: 2:07

I think it's put the chair on top of what the work I've done doing over the last 30 years volunteer time. I volunteered four years before I got a job at Parks and Recreations. So now my government title is Assistant Program Director, where basically I'm responsible with youth and adult soccer at the parks and recreation. So that's my. We have basically spring and fall program for both youth and adults.

Wes Harris: 2:35

Okay and roughly, how many players do you have kind of on the youth side and on the adult side for one of those programs which is we run like this past season.

Cesar Aguilar: 2:49

we had 1130 kids and the youth program we just finished last Friday, wow. And the adult side we have 45 adult soccer team for divisions and they average 20 players per team and they get some players released and get new ones or whatever. So around 1000 players per season.

Wes Harris: 3:12

Wow, wow. And you know the program itself. I mean you just talked about it. You've been doing this volunteer for four years before you even got the job with the city to take it on kind of full time Over that period and you just mentioned what the figures were for one fall or spring session. How many players would you say have passed through the Rogers Parks and Rec Soccer program while you've been overseeing it?

Cesar Aguilar: 3:44

I would say around 40,000 easily. Lord Between adults and youth. Yes, easily.

Wes Harris: 3:51

That's so cool to think. I mean, that must make you just so proud to just sit back and think that you've had the opportunity to help grow the game and touch 40,000 different lives through the sport, and that's just got to feel so good.

Cesar Aguilar: 4:10

It does the sometime of this player that I coach youth players. Now they're growing, they got beer and I get a little wave and they're like which one are you? Oh, okay, yeah, yes. Don't even recognize them. Yeah, they recognize them, but then they already their parents now coaching.

Wes Harris: 4:28

Yeah, their parents coaching and it comes full circle, right.

Cesar Aguilar: 4:31

Yep.

Wes Harris: 4:33

So you get to inspire that and get them involved and it comes full circle and maybe they come on work for you.

Cesar Aguilar: 4:40

Some of them I would say half of them coach and some have become a referee. Yeah, some of them. Hey, be a part of the game, man.

Wes Harris: 4:46

Yeah, be a part of the game. It is the beautiful game. So what has been kind of the evolution and the changes for the rec soccer program for you from when you kind of maybe first started to now and it may be different on the youth side versus the adult side or maybe some similarities, but I would say, like, talk us through how it's changed, how the program has changed, and what are you proud of that you've done with the program.

Cesar Aguilar: 5:15

In the adult side we got different divisions. There used to be only 11-11. Primera division, second division third division, so on and so on, and the last time I started with that I would say it's like early 2000,. We started over 35 league across the world. And really took off. I mean, and it got you to a point that we had like 16 teams in the over 35. In the competition it was some players they were just 35, some players they were 50, like me.

Wes Harris: 5:49

Right right.

Cesar Aguilar: 5:50

It came in a compete with that youngers. So I mean so the last three years we started over 45. Oh, wow. So, which is now? We started with seven teams. Now they got 10 teams in that one, and it's like it's like it's growing every season, so it doesn't that old-side. Basically. There's people still there. We're doing a count of a day and there's a gentleman there's 71 years old playing the over 45. That's crazy. And there's like a few there's 60 plus. That's great. So that's in the old side.

Wes Harris: 6:22

I hope I'm able to still play it over 60.

Cesar Aguilar: 6:25

Hey, if I can play, I was playing best stuff because I got growing kids right now. But I mean hopefully next year we'll start back again, like there's a lot of people in the 50s playing a lot.

Wes Harris: 6:35

Hopefully I can still play in five years, let alone in 25. That's nuts, so that's great.

Cesar Aguilar: 6:41

So I mean in the old side, in the new side. One of the things I'm kind of proud of it we started in 2009. We started the middle school program. Oh, that's great, and it's kind of became like a rec plus if you will. Yeah, basically we started them because we try. We try different ways. I want the ways that we sold it, because this is where our work is, our work for the city.

Cesar Aguilar: 7:10

But, this is kind of unique. They owe this. A nonprofit collects the money and everything, with the city employees execute the programs. Someone that won the soccer side To change anything, we got to go to a board present it. I want to do this because this is the thing it will serve the better the community. Blah, blah, blah. So 2009,. We presented in Bar City JB Consect in middle school soccer and I went there like, ah, they're not going to approve it and they said, yes, wow, so every sense. Before that we used to have like two U14 boys, one U14 girls playing.

Cesar Aguilar: 7:52

And we played in our circus league. Oh boy, I mean, we started that. Now we have an average 180 boys participating in the four middle schools, wow, and average 150 girls or plus.

Wes Harris: 8:06

That's so good.

Cesar Aguilar: 8:07

So yeah, that's something that emphasized because we're still a rec program Right With a rec plus at that level. Rec plus at that level, so yeah, that's something that kind of proud of it, we do it.

Wes Harris: 8:17

I mean, it just sounds like you've been able to grow the game through your program in just an incredible way, through different programming and different leagues, and I think it's great. On the adult side, I think it helps increase your participation levels if you have options that meet people where they are on a competitive scale. So, like you were saying, you know you've got you started with the over 35, which is great, but then you've got people that, like yourself, you know maybe they're out there at 50 or 50 plus that they still want to play, but look, I'm not keeping up with the 35 year olds anymore. It's no different than the 35 year olds playing with the 20 year olds, right? So if you have and provide options with them that are a little bit more in line with their competitive stage, right, they're going to come and they're going to fill that spot and continue to build out your numbers.

Wes Harris: 9:14

So I think that that's been great, that you've been able to prove that out. And then on the youth side as well, right, that rec plus is the same kind of a thing. So that just kind of goes to show like it's there, does the desire for the game is there and you know it's having the avenue and the outlet and the places to play where people's competitive skill sets are at, and giving people those opportunities. And it's going to happen, they're going to come, they're going to fill, and your program is just a great example of that.

Cesar Aguilar: 9:48

So that's awesome and, like I said, I'm not going to take it just myself the credit. There's a lot of volunteers to this happen and the city had really stepped up. I mean the city saw the numbers in soccer players, youth and adults. So the city, rogers, I mean thanks to the mayor and councilman, they have vision, they have built better parks, better soccer fields, if you will, because what we started, I mean it's like still the old youth center called the Park in those fields. I mean that's all we had. But then in 2015, they built the park where we had the first one, the first municipality that has like one turf field and five grass fields. And then this year we were lucky enough to open another park. We had two brand new turf fields with a FIFA proof turf and FIFA proof padding, which is like big deal. Yeah, with the only municipality right now in the state of Arkansas has three turf fields and the turf it makes a big deal with cancellations for rain.

Cesar Aguilar: 10:56

You got rain like oh, we're going to cancel again. It does, it does. It creates a lot of work. You know people make plans and all that. So that I think has helped that grow the numbers. And that's what I say. This USL team I don't know your name- Well, we're going through that right now.

Wes Harris: 11:15

Yeah, hopefully soon.

Cesar Aguilar: 11:16

I think that's be the chair on top of that cake. What do we need? I mean, I think there's a need in this area for a team like this. I think it'd be successful. I mean, there's a like a, this passion for the sport. Oh yeah, we got all different ages and I just can't wait to when you're gonna open and you're gonna have to see it.

Wes Harris: 11:38

I know we're so excited too. I know that there's gonna be. Just. People are excited about it for a lot of different reasons, as are we, and just can't wait to get going. So it'll be here before we know it, I promise. So let's take a step back for a second. How did you come to Northwest Arkansas? How did you come to be here?

Cesar Aguilar: 11:59

I came to here because I'm from the Sabalore region. We had a civil war one on there in the 80s. I had an uncle that moved into Northwest Arkansas in the sun and spring late 70s. Wow. And he moved in before the old civil war. But in the early 80s, when the civil war got really serious in the Sabalore I was growing in a small town like Gentry, the size.

Cesar Aguilar: 12:27

And I mean basically we were destroyed by the Gorellas, you know, the Tide King, whatever. So my mom was like I want you to go with your aunt, but that way I know you'll be alive. I won't see you for a long time but I know you'll be alive. And that's how I came to Northwest Arkansas that's hard In 1985. In 1985, I came here and when I came, roger's city limits it was like Dixon and Rowe, that's where the city limits, and after that was country and I came, I drink the water and I'm here now. This is my hometown.

Wes Harris: 13:00

And now you're here and you're Roger's Arkansas. Yeah, I tell people I'm from East Rogers that's why I gave my accent.

Cesar Aguilar: 13:06

That's good. Yeah, that's good. I love it. Oh, that's great. Well, it had to be hard to kind of leave your family and come.

Wes Harris: 13:15

That's just something that so many of us just can't even fathom, and you know that's, you know. So I give you all the credit in the world, and your family all the credit in the world for making those tough choices and being able to persevere and find a new life and profession and something that you're passionate about and have an ability to come in and impact the community that you know is growing, and you've been able to do so much with the growth of the sport in the area. So I give you all the credit in the world, man. Oh, thank you, thank you. So I mean you've been here since the 80s yeah.

Wes Harris: 13:52

So man has the Northwest Arkansas changed A lot.

Cesar Aguilar: 13:59

It's a matter of fact that when we first came here I remember this in the late 80s we started going to the parks and playing like a pickup game. You know it was people look us like, because a bunch of guys crazy. Yeah, yeah, yeah, soccer was starting the youth, it was at the youth level, I don't know. He probably talked to Semir Hatch, you know, yeah One of the men they started soccer. I learned that he started the Arkansas State Soccer Association in the comments itself the club.

Cesar Aguilar: 14:33

So in the youth there was a little bit going on, but in the adults' side it was like they look us funny and suddenly we're playing in the park, right, right, it started. And so it was. Eventually it was two things in Roger's, you know adults, and one in Springdale, one in Foursmith, and we used to play like a four-round deal, if you will like. Once a month we're like, hey, let's do it in Foursmith, let's do it in Roger's. And that's how I got involved in getting to know the referee and the youth. And you help us with play, can you ref our games? And that's how it started. We started in the late 90s, then, like that, by the early 80s we started that way and by early 90s, like three, almost four years later, we had there was enough teams to do a league.

Cesar Aguilar: 15:20

That's how we came to Roger's, and then we go to see a partner in the creations, this young man named Jeff Barker. He's known as Chileno, he speaks Spanish, he's a parent of the missionaries. We had to see him and like, hey man can you help us. And he's like you, trying to get me fired. Yeah, yeah, yeah, you get too emotional when it comes to soccer. Yeah, we have rules, man, we control it. And he helped us.

Cesar Aguilar: 15:45

after one season I was volunteering, he left. He went to work for Walmart. So I was doing that those league it's me, myself and I for four years as a volunteer and we started with 18s, we got to the 2014s and by starting in 1993, by 96, we had 2014s and I was like man, this is a lot of work. Yeah, yeah, yeah To run at 2016s already. I mean staying in this and everything, and by that time, we still only had one division, right.

Cesar Aguilar: 16:18

So sometimes you have teams that were competitive and the other team was not really competitive. So you know that's when you had the problems, if you will, but the skills level not the same, yeah, yeah, yeah. So I was like, okay, being there done that, got this, sure, move on. And I was like, because I was working at JB at that time, by the way, I saw Mrs Hancock and soccer ball and I was like, oh man, this is going to happen. I worked for her 27 years ago. She's such a great lady, I know I mean to me.

Wes Harris: 16:48

We just told the soccer ball I was like it's going to happen.

Cesar Aguilar: 16:55

So, but anyway, so they leave continuing, but they have problems. At that time, the mayor, at that time, he like see, we had a problem man, we had a riot, a great whatever. And he like, hey, what it would take. And now like, if you hire me, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Cesar Aguilar: 17:12

Basically John St Pierre he was the mayor at that time and Rogers, he basically went to city council, created a position for me to work on the personal creation, run the adult league, help with the youth. But now with the years, I'm stuck with both men. Yeah.

Wes Harris: 17:29

Well, isn't that, though? I mean it's crazy how it always comes back to. I think it's just part of soccer culture around the world where it started from pickup Right, and that's where I think and now we're going off on a whole other different tangent but I think where the US still lacks is access to the games and kind of that street soccer, that pickup mentality of constantly out there wherever you can find you know a 10 by 10 space or whatever it is. And so it's space, it's access, it's that pickup culture that just isn't quite there yet all the way through the US. And kind of the youth structure. It's starting to, it's starting to and it's starting to get there.

Wes Harris: 18:20

You're starting to see some of these mini pitches get involved and placed into communities. And how is you know? There's a lot of focus on access now, because in the US it's so expensive to play the game at a high level and that removes and cuts you off from so much of your talent. So programs like yours are so critically important that help with allowing for others in the community that may not be able to afford that high level travel socket or still be able to come up through those ranks and get exposed to good coaching and things like that. So I think. But it all the way back even to the start of your program. It started because you guys were getting together and playing pick up and then kind of grew from there and wow, how's it grown right? 40,000 players now over the course of the years.

Cesar Aguilar: 19:09

I mean, and that's what it takes. I was, I'll say I mean to me, I tell people I mean like a volunteer for years, and then they noticed that I was, I guess, good to the community. If you will, keeping people entertaining, you know, and holding accountable yeah, that's what it's making a schedule to hold people accountable for you man and that's what it takes, I mean worldwide, to the sport.

Cesar Aguilar: 19:35

That's how function. Because I mean, if you go to the, I'll see you wearing the. You know Liverpool, I like Liverpool from. I mean that's the thing that I like. For England. I mean I follow Barcelona man, my team, the R-Roll, but then for England, liverpool, that's in there. I want to go to the stadium and see the Beatles too.

Wes Harris: 19:54

It's an incredible experience. Let me tell you what.

Cesar Aguilar: 19:57

Look, but even if you go to the Liverpool level they have volunteers against. I mean people that are sure, these people they get passion for, and that's what I hope to be with the Arkansas USL team, you know this I hope with somebody they can, hey, yeah, see, when he asks you, hey, I can get my casting, hey, let's do this, meet you, organize the parking lot, you know, because I mean it takes all that, it takes people to organize the parking cleaning afterwards, I mean yeah telling people what you?

Cesar Aguilar: 20:27

you see here, you sit there, this is your ticket says it takes all that to make the game the beautiful game at that level, choose to. It's too affordable, if you will, right, because I mean if you pay everybody. We think the tickets are high right now. It can be higher and oh it could be way higher it can be way higher.

Cesar Aguilar: 20:45

So it could be way yeah, I think it takes all that to make it happen. Like in the youth program this past season we had 95 coaches all pure volunteer wow, pure volunteers. And the Dauley. I tell them you're not only a volunteer, but you're a leader. You have 20 players under you, you know, I mean yeah yes, sometimes this place is more crazy than me, but it takes all that to make it happen. That's what it takes and that's what I say. I mean this, uh, I think, is really needed.

Cesar Aguilar: 21:16

It's about time and uh, harris, I mean, I hope you really mean, and I see you knocking the right doors. I mean like back again when I see Mrs Hunt with the soccer ball in the magazine, I like, hey, that's fun please invest, if you're listening.

Wes Harris: 21:35

But yeah, I mean, I think you you touched on a lot there. There's the passion from the community and people that want to see things happen. When you have that common rallying point that people can unify around, it just makes it that much more um um fulfill, I guess, for somebody to help drive their energy towards and and be able to put that to good use in in a volunteer capacity and, and you know, programs like yours and um would, and in other sports would not survive without volunteers, and so, um you know, kudos to you for being able to, and your staff and and and the city for being able to, you know, continue to provide a platform where people can do that and also come and and benefit from so. But you also talked about something within the facilities, which is something that I wanted to ask you about in terms of, because that's something that we hear a lot in our feedback when we listen to the community in terms of, you know, how do we the?

Wes Harris: 22:38

The game has grown, the region has grown, uh, within the region, um, you know, soccer is growing and it's definitely grown a lot right, especially over the last five, ten years. What's needed to take the game in northwest Arkansas, the region kind of to that next level, and one of the things that we hear constantly is we do not have enough space, we don't have enough high quality youth multi sport facilities, um for practices, tournaments, whatever the case may be well, I mean, yes, we are.

Cesar Aguilar: 23:21

They always need more space. Um, if you go not, you don't need to go that far. If you go Tulsa, tulsa, oklahoma, only two hours from here, I see what they do like they. You know this area that is designated for uh uh, water storm field overflowing when it rains a lot. That nice space. They can be compared in small fields for practices.

Cesar Aguilar: 23:45

But again it goes with the volunteering in communication with the cities in the area. I see Tulsa and Dallas places they use that for the space. Yeah, so that I think that can be. Uh, if we're really looking into it, it can be not. So they will help a lot, mm-hmm. Yes, we need them. We need more spaces, more quality spaces, but one of the things there to grow more competitive, if that was gonna take, is like right now I had this conversation, I believe last week, with somebody there we got 12 clubs in northwest Arkansas, which is Washington Benton County mm-hmm and we're gonna need half of that six.

Cesar Aguilar: 24:27

It'd be good yeah and me.

Cesar Aguilar: 24:30

Once you had that there there's you know there's six. They really compete now among themselves but when they go Tulsa they go Dallas, they go Kansas City, St Louis. I think once you have that it'd be a better. They're organized, if you will, for practices, for places, Because I mean right now it's like I got you in the West. I know you got a son that's pretty good soccer player, because we're talking about that, Julio Moreno's coaching him. He's a good coach. By the way, he coached with us about the two William and the Rice program. I can probably say he started with us. There you go, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Cesar Aguilar: 25:11

Look at him, go, we need to. I think that will help not only the game but the spaces, and then, yes, by any more spaces where I agree, I mean we need to start looking outside the city, because in the cities the building business and housing. So this, I think it can be this we need to have a better organization in the state of Arkansas. I mean, there's not too many clubs and there's no alignment.

Cesar Aguilar: 25:40

if you will I mean, for instance, you're going to start the USL team here- in order to get the membership, they ask you you need to have a stadium that's 5,000 spectator minimum. Am I right? You're right, 5,000 minimum. So I think it should be the same for clubs and all that, and I think that will organize how things are done.

Wes Harris: 26:02

Interesting.

Cesar Aguilar: 26:03

Because I mean there is, there is because that will promote the game the right way and the volunteers don't get burned out, because I mean I just told you I got 95 coaches volunteering. I mean asking them volunteer your time. Hey, wes, make a change in the community, man, be a part of it. And then if you send your place with, instead of you having teaching the players that beautiful game you start versus somebody else taking your area, blah, blah. You no longer give it 100% to the players Because you got distractions. So, yes, I think there's ways to look for and they should look more. Yes, like I was telling you, I mean we got two soccer fields now. We just opened this year in March. In the March, I mean is In Mount Hebron.

Cesar Aguilar: 26:50

Mount Hebron, I mean top notch.

Wes Harris: 26:52

I live right close to there.

Cesar Aguilar: 26:55

I mean it's FIFA Pro, fifa Pro Padding. It's like if you say you like playing there, then like, I'm sorry, I don't know what else you, the city, can do for you.

Wes Harris: 27:04

No turf is ever going to be good for you.

Cesar Aguilar: 27:07

I mean there's people that say here's turf. I mean that's not a choice, I guess.

Wes Harris: 27:14

So I mean, that's an interesting take and I appreciate your thoughts because that's something that we hope to do and I would love to see is part of what we want to do is continue to grow the game, and so those are a lot of the conversations that we're going to have to have with all the key stakeholders. Is what's needed how do we get there, who's participating and how can we ultimately be the best stewards for the game in the region and just using soccer to help continue to make the community a better place, which you know. That's something that you know very well with your work over the last 30 years.

Cesar Aguilar: 27:50

So I mean in that you got to you, but I believe that's what I said to me all the work I've done for all these years is still coming. Now I can say it's needed, it's needed and I see I want to switch around that. I think you're going to help bridge easily to our elected officials, not only Roger, but in the area, because they will see the product at the level they never seen it before. I mean that's what I see. I see the. I mean I just gave you ideas. I mean all the properties the city has for subdivisions. I mean all different places. They came in, yes, at the same time.

Cesar Aguilar: 28:31

People complain at the time because we leave a trash. We need to. That's to me it's a continued education, it's a continued progress of the game. You know they. We need to. Hey, john, come on, you can park in the grass there. You can park in the. You know, walk a little more, buddy. You know, pick up after yourself, you know. But I think we don't have all the, because I think we can grow bigger Now with the USO team. You give it hope to the five year old, 10 year old boy. Grow, hey, if I lie, I like the game, I like how this feel and I want to continue making it there.

Cesar Aguilar: 29:09

So, they see that that's something, that that's what I say to me. This is a cherry.

Wes Harris: 29:14

Cherry Top of the cake.

Cesar Aguilar: 29:15

Because now they see the cherry before we talk about the cake, the cake, the cake. Hey, there's a cherry top, yeah, so I see it around you. I mean with that club when I help us educate more the area.

Wes Harris: 29:30

That's a lot of what we are learning and, you know happy to continue those conversations, but it's education about the game, it's education about how to use the game for good and make a positive difference in the community and ultimately that's what we're about, right, and so that's what.

Wes Harris: 29:52

That's what we're going to see, that's what we're trying to do now from the get go from day one and going to be a big part of who we are going forward. So well, Mr Caesar, thank you so much for joining us. Man, and you know just appreciate what you and your program has done. And you know Northwest Arkansas is very, very lucky, and Rogers in particular, very, very lucky to have you and just the work that you continue to do. And you know, to use Chris's, our co-founder, Chris Martinovich's words, who were from his coach another coach, right, Manny Shelshed, if you love the game, the game will love you back, and so hopefully you feel that as well, sir, and you've definitely given the game a lot, so hopefully we can help Northwest Arkansas and be a part of what and how the game loves you back by bringing this club here.

Cesar Aguilar: 30:44

I will say the privilege for you inviting me to share my story and how things were done, and I feel it's a privilege that the city gave me the opportunity to work there. Like I said, doing the programs, the two programs. Yes, I work a lot of hours, but it's Thomas Dunlap, the human resources, he said it best, Like it got stuck in my head like eight years ago. This is the trade of the job, because when I got soccer, youth and all gone seven days a week but like I just finished last Friday with the youth, yeah.

Cesar Aguilar: 31:20

I turned off the phone for four days to unplug. Yeah. But now like, okay, I'm ready to go back again Now you're ready, but at the end of the day, I think it's a privilege, I mean for me. I feel like I didn't go to work. I want you to do something that I like to do yeah, yes, it's a challenge.

Cesar Aguilar: 31:36

I mean there's nothing in life I guess it's easy. Everything has a challenge. But once you like it, I think it can be done. But to me this is I love the game. Yes, I feel like you say in the Chris will say in the game we love you back. I tell people look, guys that coached younger age, now they're coaching, now they're referring. I said there's some money in soccer but you got to put in something. You get rewarded. I said you get your trip paid for. I said that's how I located it on the referee's side.

Wes Harris: 32:06

Yeah.

Cesar Aguilar: 32:08

And he said I want to go see Barcelona. I went for two-year refereeing and I went to say there you go, there you go See. So yeah, the game will love you back.

Wes Harris: 32:15

The game will love you back Well, cesar. Thank you so much for joining me, man, and I can't wait to see more of the evolution and what you're doing with Rogers Parks and Rec. So thank you.

Cesar Aguilar: 32:24

Well, I feel the same way. I want to see the evolution. This team man.

Wes Harris: 32:26

Thanks.

Cesar Aguilar: 32:26

Thank you, thank you for what you're doing, thank you, thank you, thank you.