Meet Jose Villalpando Gomez | President/Program Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jose Villalpando Gomez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jose Villalpando, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Every following second, minute, hour is a risk in a sense. We as human beings do not know nor can predict exactly what is coming or when. In that sense I have admired children of all ages as my job has been to develop and teach them this beautiful game of soccer and how to navigate within it. Children are the bravest humans I know. They don’t know much about anything initially, even how to speak or walk at the first stages. They plow through regardless, eager to absorb like a soaking sponge. They are fearless of consequence and each failure they take is as an accomplishment to learn and get better. They always get back up when they fall again eager for the next challenge and blind to the potential and sometimes inevitable failure that is sure to transpire. They do not mind failure; they welcome it until perfected whatever is ahead. I truly admire their courage to steam ahead and let failure simply be a test that will eventually be overcome and never look back upon it. In that sense I have molded my life around that same perception in the risks I and we as an organization have taken. To be bold and do something different that has never been done and have others adjust to us instead. Be it in our training, turf facilities, social media attention, action shots/videos for our players or breaking the mold in our uniforms and logos. Injecting color and life into who we are or making our soccer camps exhilarating to capture players memories to keep and hold for a lifetime. We and I at ELI7E have pursued and will continue to pursue capturing our players memories, imaginations, smiles and continue to take risks not only for ourselves but to do our players justice in the risks they themselves take every single day as they explore and learn every day in the world. Together I nor we are afraid of risks.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I always knew I didn’t want my work to feel like work and to pass on the nuances of this beautiful game I have learned along the way to the next generation and to my kids. Because of that I wanted to do things my way and be more or less in control. I knew quickly with so many soccer clubs I had to be different, bold and take risks. I wanted a club that I wished I played for and had certain attributes I would of wanted as a player. I quickly changed the tone. Top tier young international coaches on staff and coaches that could inject fun into the training while accomplishing our goal. Sports for kids should not feel like a job and take the fun out I always thought as a kid growing up. I always wish my club growing up had colors and was fun, I quickly designed our logos, website, social media, etc. to match that thought process and our uniforms to shine and stand out just the same. Be it as it may it was not easy to get to where we are today, many mistakes were made, and adjustments had as a result. We have figured out what works, what players and families want in our own formula here at ELI7E FC. Those previous failures/errors are now to the benefit of our players moving forward. Top turf facilities, top fully customized uniforms, top international trainers, top camps, etc. There is still much work to be done and I am fully sure adjustments to be made, however we welcome every challenge with open arms to make us better. I know if I was growing up now, I would definitely ask my parents to get me in front of ELI7E for everything mentioned above. Especially the uniforms, I would have loved to wear those uniform sets myself.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Directly first to Coronado Island over the bridge. First to the beach side and hotel del and get a bite to eat, then off to the bay side in Coronado for a view of the downtown scenery. We would then take the ferry across to downtown and walk around and tour the Gaslamp district and get a drink and soak up the city streets. La Jolla Cove would be our next stop to see the seals, the views, the food and head over after to Mission Beach on the boardwalk. This is of course not a complete trip without some TJ style tacos at Tacos el Gordo and even a taco shop like Lolitas and mariscos as well. A walk on the embarcadero, seaport village, point loma. Take him to my Alma Matter at SDSU to catch a game and 100% we are going to Padre’s game with the #1 Ballpark in the nation. If brave enough we would take a trip down south in Mexico down to Rosarito, Ensenada or even some of the highest culinary chefs waiting at the top restaurants in Tijuana. A day trip to historic Old Town and beautiful Balboa Park. A night out in downtown or even little Italy would be in order. We seem to forget sometimes as a city that we live in a tourist destination. Families from all over the nation and the world pay thousands of dollars to enjoy our beautiful city and we have it here as a luxury and most of us never explore it nor get lost within in. My advice to everyone reading, get out and do something new in beautiful San Diego, after all we get charged the “Sun Tax” here and for good reason.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
As in any team sport I never do anything for myself. My sacrifice, drive and ambitions are rooted in my family from a young age. I of course attribute that to playing competitively within a team first atmosphere most of my life. My drive is for my beautiful wife that always supports and encourages myself in the ups and downs. My two beautiful little girls that I will go to unfathomable lengths for to continue to put smiles on their faces. It is also as the oldest sibling to make my mother and father proud as well as my brothers and sister as I am sure they continue to look towards myself as an example. Because of them I blaze my own trail as a father, husband and leader to look up to.

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