LOS ANGELES – LA Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena afforded A.J. DeLaGarza every opportunity for additional time away from the game of soccer after the tragic passing of his infant son Luca nearly two weeks ago.
DeLaGarza endured a parent’s worst nightmare when he buried his son on Thursday in his home state of Maryland after Luca succumbed to complications from Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome a week earlier.
But even amidst all the stress and tears from Luca’s passing, DeLaGarza immediately declined Arena’s offer for more leave.
“Bruce told me if I needed more time that he’s happy to give it to me,” DeLaGarza told LA Galaxy Insider at Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday. “I told him ‘no.’ I’m looking for a flight in the morning and the morning after the service, I flew home.”
DeLaGarza officially rejoined the Galaxy at training Saturday and will be available for selection for Sunday’s match with the San Jose Earthquakes.
Although the defender admits that he was in constant communication with his Galaxy teammates, the chance to rejoin the group is important in this tying time.
“It’s good to be back in the mix and get in a normal routine again. My wife [Megan] is still in Maryland and she’ll be coming back to L.A. this week, but I wanted to come back here and integrate myself again,” DeLaGarza said. “I haven’t been disconnected from anyone, but I haven’t been around for a week so I’m just excited to get back on the field.
“It’s just been awhile since I played a game. We had a good service for him and I wanted to get back as soon as possible,” he added. “That was my goal, I felt after the service that I could come back with a clear mind and get back into it.
“There will never be closure, but it’s just good that everything went well with the service and now I’m back with the team. I’m going to take it day by day and right now I’ll see how things go.”
Both Dan Gargan (suspension) and Todd Dunivant (groin injury) are unavailable for Sunday while Robbie Rogers (hamstring) and James Riley (left knee surgery) are each returning from their own respective injuries.
And if he’s called upon to play a role on Sunday, DeLaGarza insists that he’ll be fit and ready to go.
“I’m ready to play. It’s not like I haven’t been doing absolutely anything for two weeks. I was in and out of practice when Luca had good days and when he didn’t, I missed practice,” DeLaGarza said. “Back in Maryland, my in-laws had a gym set up so I was staying active and ready. I didn’t know exactly when I was coming back so I made sure to stay fit and take care of myself.”
Even as DeLaGarza prepares to return to the field, he vows that the memory of Luca and the support that he received from across the American soccer community will be forever etched in his mind.
“The support has been amazing,” said DeLaGarza. “We were watching different games throughout the league [last week] and noticed that people were wearing armbands or holding a moment of silence or simply just messaging him during the game broadcast. That awareness is something that we’re going to continue and hopefully try to save lives of other children.”
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.
