San Jose Earthquakes To Play International Friendly Against C.D.S. Vida of Honduras

by Luke James
Photographs by John Hefti

The San Jose Earthquakes will host C.D.S. Vida of Honduras on Tuesday, Oct. 14 at Buck Shaw Stadium (7:30 p.m. PT) in an international friendly. This will be the last but one game the Quakes ever play at Buck Shaw Stadium.

Vida is based in La Ceiba, Honduras – hometown of Earthquakes center back and Honduran World Cup veteran Victor Bernardez. The three-year MLS veteran began his career with Vida in 2003. Ironically, Bernardez won’t be available for the Quakes as he is on international duty with Honduras who face the USMNT in Florida the same night as this game.

Victor Bernardez’s hometown of La Ceiba is, according to a recent UN study, one of the most dangerous places to live outside of a war zone anywhere in the world. A great many of Bernardez’s childhood friends died as a result of drug lord activity, Soccer has been cited as a major factor in rescuing a lucky few from the cruel fate of many children in that beleaguered city. Bernardez has been working with US government agencies, along with other Honduran players and Columbian coaches, to help raise awareness of the need to help children at risk in Honduras.

Vida are currently 7th in the Honduran first division with 11 points from 11 games in the 2014-15 Apertura. At 3-2-6. The Cocoteros are coming off of a 3-1 loss to Parillas One on Saturday, Oct. 11 in La Ceiba. Vida Defender Chestyn Onofre notched the club’s lone goal in the match. .

The club won the Honduran league in 1981, 1983 and finished second in 1984 and 1985.

The Earthquakes have a historical connection to the match. It was the Honduran Olympic squad that played the first international friendly at Buck Shaw Stadium on July 15, 2008. The Earthquakes were playing their first season at Buck Shaw Stadium after returning to MLS earlier that year.

The San Jose Earthquakes are now wrapping up their final season at Buck Shaw before moving into their new stadium in 2015.