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Of all the players with Las Vegas roots on Lights FC’s inaugural roster in 2018, Marco Cesar Jaime Jr.’s is unique in that his story is that of a homecoming.
Born in Las Vegas in 1995, he moved to Mexico at age 6, and nearly 20 years later, jumped at the opportunity to play professionally in the United States for the first time with an expansion club in his first home.
The return to Las Vegas to be near members of his family who never left the city came after Jaime Jr. had established himself as a true rising soccer talent in Mexico. He signed with LigaMX club Deportivo Toluca at age 15, and by age 20 in 2016, he made his debut with the club’s first division side.
On top of reuniting with family while in Las Vegas and refamiliarizing himself with the city, he’s learning on the fly about soccer in America, and has also been aggressive in teaching himself English, leaning on both teammates and TV (Favorite Show: MTV’s Ridiculousness) to help him along.
Roughly half-way through his first season as a professional in the United States, Jaime Jr. took some time to offer insights into his experiences to date in 2018.
Q: During this season as a whole, you’ve been learning a lot on the job, learning as you go and gaining experience. What have you learned, especially, playing alongside veterans like Joel Huiqui and Marcelo Alatorre?
A: “From the guys next to me who have a lot of experience, I’ve tried to take the basics from them. They always remain calm, they’re always in control of their emotions, they always know how to solve the hard situations by making good decisions. I’m just trying to look at that and learn from that. Also, from playing different positions, I’m learning a lot. I’ve played as a right back mostly before, but never as a holding midfielder. I’m developing my game and learning a lot.”
Q: You wanted the opportunity to come to Las Vegas and be near some of your family. What’s the experience been like, just being back where you were born while continuing to chase your professional dreams?
A: “After all of this time, I just have two main things to say about my time in Las Vegas. First, my family, they have been my biggest support here. They’re the biggest reason why I’m here and I’m enjoying all of the time I’m getting to spend with them. Then, also, every time I go around Las Vegas to the places I used to go when I was little, it’s made me feel calm and at peace.”
Q: What’s been the toughest challenge of learning to play in a league that features more of an “American style” of soccer?
A: “The biggest difference for me has been to adapt to run, run, run. Here, there are really good, quality players, they play to space, they are tall, they are physical, they are fast. You will be running and running throughout the game, and it’s a different style. In Mexico, even if you walk the right steps sometimes, you can be in the right position. Here, you always have to run to be in the right position. That’s the biggest challenge, especially when you face someone taller than you who is also quicker than you. You’re facing elite athletes every weekend, and that’s the biggest challenge here, but I’m constantly adapting, and continuing to work at it.”
Q: You’ve been working very hard this year to learn English, as well. How has that process gone for you to this point?
A: “I’m really feeling like I’m making progress. My only problem is applying my vocabulary I’m learning from the dictionary, but I feel like I’m at about 50%, and I can even start conversations now in English, which makes me happy.”
Q: What are the best methods you have used to teach yourself?
A: “I watch a lot of TV, especially the news in the morning. Even though a lot of it is about politics and things I don’t understand, I find myself repeating those words and learning the meanings. The more I let my tongue loose and say words, the more I learn. It’s working.”
