VOA标准英语2010年-Honduran-American Plays for Native Cou

Kansas City Wizards star Roger Espinoza will play for his native Honduras in the World Cup.

The U.S. national soccer team will take the field at this month's World Cup with a talented group of 23 players and high expectations.

But no matter how the team performs, another American soccer story will be written in South Africa, where a small group of Americans will represent other countries on soccer's biggest stage.

 Among them is Roger Espinoza, an American citizen born in Honduras. He was selected to play for that country's national soccer team, in the Hondurans' first return to the World Cup in 28 years.

Espinoza grew up in Puerto Cortes on Honduras' Atlantic coast, before moving to the United States with his parents. The 23 year old spent his teen years in the Denver, Colorado area, where he attended high school. He went to Ohio State University on a soccer scholarship before deciding to pursue a professional soccer career.

In the first round of the 2008 Major League Soccer draft, Espinoza was selected by the Kansas City Wizards, and has  become a regular performer for the MLS team.

Kansas City Wizard Roger Espinoza in a game against the DC United soccer team.

Espinoza's talent draws attention

The midfielder's strong play in the U.S. professional league caught the attention of the Honduran national team about two years ago. Espinoza made his first appearance for the Catrachos, the Honduran team, early last year. He scored a goal while representing the nation of his birth in the Central American championships.

It was a proud moment for Espinoza's family. Even though growing up in the United States Americanized him, he says his family retains its Honduran heritage¹.

"Since I was born there, I have the culture. I also have the culture of the United States. But I felt I needed to play for Honduras," he explains. "That was the place I belonged to. Playing there is an honor for me. The people in Honduras, just the culture and everything, it makes me happy to play for them."

Espinoza obtained dual² nationality when he became an American citizen in 2008. Along with citizenship³, he gained a U.S. passport, making the midfielder eligible⁴ to play for the American national team in addition to Honduras.

Like other dual-national soccer players, Espinoza faced a choice between his two countries on the field. FIFA, international soccer's governing body, allows a player to represent only one nation at the senior level.

Kansas City Wizards player Roger Espinoza is one of a small group of Americans who will represent other countries in the World Cup.

"I had to choose one or the other. I have been living here for 10 years. I know everything about the culture in America, but I feel like I belong to Honduras. That's where I was born. That's where I grew up," he says. "And I would say I am better in Spanish language than I am in English. My family does not speak English, so my culture is more Honduran, you know, than it is American."

The Honduran national team's quick action in securing the services of the young player also helped.

Espinoza says there was little interest in him from the American team, which has become the strongest in the region in recent years. So, when the Hondurans came calling, he did not hesitate. And he went on to score a goal against the United States in a January practice match, a performance which helped him earn a spot on the country's World Cup squad⁵.

Still rooting for the USA

His Honduran team affiliation⁶ will not stop Espinoza from supporting his other national team at the World Cup.

"I definitely want them to win," he says. "Not just the United States, but I have friends. A lot of guys I play with and I've known my whole life play for the U.S. so, of course, I want them to win. Even [before I was] playing professionally, I wanted the U.S. to win."

After his World Cup experience, Espinoza returns to Kansas City to continue his career in the U.S. league.

But he will have fulfilled the dream of every soccer player: to take the field at the World Cup.

 

1 heritage   

n.传统，遗产，继承物

参考例句：

• The ancient buildings are part of the national heritage.这些古建筑是民族遗产的一部分。
• We Chinese have a great cultural heritage.我们中国人有伟大的文化遗产。

2 dual   

adj.双的；二重的，二元的

参考例句：

• The people's Republic of China does not recognize dual nationality for any Chinese national.中华人民共和国不承认中国公民具有双重国籍。
• He has dual role as composer and conductor.他兼作曲家及指挥的双重身分。

3 citizenship   

n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份)

参考例句：

• He was born in Sweden,but he doesn't have Swedish citizenship.他在瑞典出生，但没有瑞典公民身分。
• Ten years later,she chose to take Australian citizenship.十年后，她选择了澳大利亚国籍。

4 eligible   

adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的

参考例句：

• He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
• Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。

5 squad   

n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组

参考例句：

• The squad leader ordered the men to mark time.班长命令战士们原地踏步。
• A squad is the smallest unit in an army.班是军队的最小构成单位。

6 affiliation   

n.联系，联合

参考例句：

• There is no affiliation between our organization and theirs,even though our names are similar.尽管两个组织的名称相似，但我们之间并没有关系。
• The kidnappers had no affiliation with any militant group.这些绑架者与任何军事组织都没有紧密联系。