As the professional team moves to virtual workouts, Anthony Velarde has had a special guest join the group during the sessions.

While the players are in the midst of body-weight exercises, his 4-year-old daughter has occasionally joined fray.

“She’s a fighter,” Velarde said. “She likes going in. She actually joined us in the video. She loves video, joining in and all that stuff.”

Originally, Velarde’s daughter did not show much interest in soccer but now the sport is starting to grow on her – a sport that has run in the family.

When the attacking midfielder grew up in the Los Angeles area, he played for a local soccer club and competed against and alongside his two brothers, one elder and one younger.

“Since we were young, my father engraved the game in us,” Velarde said.

While Anthony played at Fresno Pacific University, he teamed up with his older brother Eric for his freshman season with the Sunbirds. Meanwhile, his younger brother Christian has just begun his collegiate playing career. Of the group, Anthony is the most offensively minded player while the other two are more defensive-minded.

Although their days playing together as children are in the past, the trio will still get together to train in the offseason and at other times as possible – all of which Anthony cherishes.

“Those are the moments you don’t forget, even when you become a professional,” Velarde said. “Those memories will never be taken away. Those are probably the best memories you’ll have as a kid.”

Now Velarde is looking forward to playing games in front of the Highmark Stadium environment once again. As his second season with Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC is temporarily put on hold, the memories from his rookie 2019 campaign are still fresh. And are moments he will look to build off of in year two.

“That first game is unbelievable,” Velarde said. “I started the first home game last year, and it was an unbelievable environment. I miss being around teammates and being able to come together. Playing in front of your home crowd, the people who support you and want you to succeed, you can never take that for granted.”