He married the former Charisse Luke of Maui, on Dec. 11, less than a month after being selected to The RadioShack Best XI team for the top 11 players in MLS, the United States' top professional league, in 2004.

Ching, who plays for the San Jose Earthquakes, was named the MLS Comeback Player of the Year, ending the season as one of two winners of the MLS Golden Boot with 12 goals, made his first appearance in the MLS All-Star game, scoring a goal, and made three appearances with the U.S. National Team, scoring two goals.

"It's been the best year of my career so far. I accomplished the goals I wanted to accomplish since I was a child, with the national team, scoring my first goal, starting my first game," Ching said.

He will be in town for the Pro Xtreme Soccer Camp, which runs Dec. 26 to 29.

Joining him are U.S. Women's National team members Tiffany Roberts and Lorrie Fair, and Leonard Marshall of MLS's New England Revolution.

"I hope I can give them the tools to be great soccer players, but if they had to take something away, it's high self-esteem, especially the girls," Fair said.

Roberts and Fair were members of the memorable 1999 U.S. National Team that won the World Cup in the penalty kicks portion against China.

Fair, who is half Chinese, said she visits Hawai'i about once a year, because her family owns a timeshare on Maui.

"I'm like a wannabe Hawaiian," she said. "I would call it a second home, for sure."

Ching said Fair would fit right in. "She's a wonderful person," Ching said. "She looks local, you would think she grew up in the Islands if you saw her."

Fair, who runs clinics in Maui, said Hawai'i soccer players are "really good athletes," but she worries that the social scene can distract younger players from focusing on soccer.

"Kids can benefit from players coming in; players who had the same issues as they have right now," said Fair, who worked as a sideline reporter on MLS games on ESPN this season.

"I just think that at that age, anyone that comes into their lives can make a huge impact," she said. "I feel like I can make an impact, and while they are young, that is good.

"It is very competitive, even at that age, I'm sure it's changed since I was that age. I just remember having fun and playing next to my best friend; it's good that it is getting more competitive now, but I don't want the kids to lose sight of the fun."

Roberts' boyfriend, Tim Sahaydak, formerly of the MLS teams Columbus Crew and Miami Fusion, will also be in town helping out at the clinic.

Current college players will also be assisting at the clinic, serving as coaches, while the professional players will be offering playing tips.

"It's just an opportunity to get back and meet a lot of the kids from Hawai'i," Ching said. "I can answer questions for a lot of the college players from Hawai'i, and show the kids that I'm just a normal person and I'm from Hawai'i and that if they set their minds to it, they can be in my shoes one day."