Pittsburgh, PA - With only one week til Pittsburgh Riverhounds tryouts, former u-10 soccer star Hector Gonzalez started preparing by going on a light jog for 5 minutes before retiring to his house to nurse shin splints.

I haven't played soccer, competitively, since 1992 but that's not going to stop me now!

"I'm going to be ready to get that spot. It's only USL, I should be able to walk on, "stated Gonzalez to The Nutmeg News on Friday.

According to his mother, Gonzalez was a star on the U-10 Pittsburgh Dynamo travel team and he frequently scored with reckless abandon before taking the lions share of orange slices and pizza in celebration.

"He was always great at soccer, So I have no doubt that he can make the squad," stated Monica Gonzalez. "I just hope he doesn't pull anything. It's probably been 20 years since his best days."

Hector, though, is adamant about making the Riverhounds squad stating, "I haven't watched them play, but I'm certain they can use my skill. It's only US Soccer. I'm not saying I can play at an MLS level yet, but trust me, I can make it onto this squad. Now, I just have to run out and by some cleats."

The Nutmeg News will have more on this as Mr Gonzalez claims an exemption from a beep test after claiming a minor heart condition brought on by his lack of exercise over the past 20 years.