“To say that Marvin Moreno has dedicated his life to soccer would be an understatement. Moreno and his partner Michael Camano are building a state-of-the-art indoor sports complex in Oak Harbor in hopes that they can give young soccer players in the community a head start on their soccer ambitions. Moreno, who grew up in Seattle, coaches and teaches soccer in Seattle and Oak Harbor. “Some days of the week I start my day in Oak Harbor from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m.,” said Moreno. “Then I train some more kids from 3 to 5, drive to Seattle and hold another clinic from 7:30 to 9:30 and drive back to Oak Harbor. I’m constantly on the go for the sake of soccer.”Moreno was born in Costa Rica and then moved to Los Angeles when he was five years-old. He grew up in a family of jewelers, something that he has done himself. From the time he was 13 until he graduated high school, Moreno spent time in both Seattle and Costa Rica. He played on Costa Rican soccer teams and played varsity for Blanchet all four years. While in high school his team won a state 4A soccer championship. From there Moreno played for three years professionally in Costa Rica. “The people over there take soccer to a completely other level,” said Moreno. “They are really serious about soccer.”After moving back to the United States he decided to settle in the Seattle/Oak Harbor area.“The Seattle area has always been a frontrunner in supplying good players,” said Moreno. “We want to give the kids a good place to train.”The Oak Harbor Sports Arena will not only be a place for kids and adults to come for clinics and training, but a place where leagues and teams can hold their games away from the elements. The 24,000 square foot indoor facility will also have state-of-the-art Field Turf like the kind that is presently used in Husky Stadium. The sand and rubber composite helps to decrease the risk of injury to athletes that regular astro turf can cause. The facility will also house offices, showers, equipment storage, an outdoor practice field and meeting rooms. Moreno says that he pictures the Oak Harbor Sports Arena a central location for all sports. He wants it to be a free place for the Island’s sports teams to hold meetings and registrations.He and Camano said he would like to see the high school teams take advantage of the facility for practices and soccer tournaments. Along with soccer the arena will also house volleyball, flag football, basketball and the only batting cages on Whidbey Island.About the only thing that the Oak Harbor Sports Arena will not have is a good place to view games and practices, as only a few benches will be available. “We can take kids from the time they are seven and help them to be way ahead,” said Moreno. Moreno’s dream will come to fruition at the end of March when the arena will open its doors. Teams that want to use the facility and sign up early can go to the Oak Harbor Sports Arena Web site at www.socceroakharbor.com to find registration forms. Teams and players are encouraged to sign up early, as space is going quick. “