SAN DIEGO

After a two-month nationwide search, Verizon and Univision have selected Gabriel Sotelo as the “Reportero ADE de Verizon” for Univision Television Group. Beginning June 11, Sotelo will be a guest reporter on Univision’s sports news team covering the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa soccer matches in Johannesburg and Pretoria.

“It’s a huge blessing and a privilege to be part of such a prestigious media company as Univision,” said Sotelo. “To be the Verizon Reporter, and get a chance to experience and report live all the excitement of the soccer matches, is an incredible opportunity and honor.”

Sotelo, who works as an admissions counselor at a high school in Tijuana, Mexico, helps motivate youth to realize their potential, encouraging them to make a positive impact on their families and community. He has a bachelor’s degree in communications and has also worked as a host of a local TV show in Tijuana.

Sotelo will fly to Johannesburg and report on the tournaments, which will be broadcast on Univision’s “Acción Deportiva Extra.”*

During his assignment, Sotelo will also blog about his experience as a guest reporter, using his Verizon Wireless BlackBerry Storm2. To read about Sotelo’s assignment, visit Univision Mi Página or the Verizon At Home Blog. To view Sotelo’s audition, which is in Spanish, click here. The audition was taped in the Verizon Wireless Communications store in San Diego.

“We congratulate Gabriel on winning this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and look forward to his reports from South Africa,” said Luis Cruz, region president of Verizon Wireless in Southern California. “As Gabriel files his report from South Africa, our customers here will be watching all 64 games live on their cell phones – coverage from Univision that’s exclusive to our V CAST Video on Demand service.”

Soccer fans can participate in local youth soccer clinics sponsored by Verizon Wireless and score free tickets to a Verizon Broadcast Event in Los Angeles, Dallas, Tampa or New York City. Additionally, Verizon FiOS TV customers can sign up to be one of 1,000 hosts of their very own soccer party on July 11 to watch the last match.

Broadcasting all of the event’s 64 matches in HD, Univision will be the U.S. FIFA World Cup destination, leveraging its market-leading assets – Univision, TeleFutura, Galavisión, Univision.com, Univision Móvil and Univision On Demand – to deliver a one-of-a-kind experience for its audiences, with nearly 900 hours of comprehensive coverage.

The first match will be broadcast and streamed live on June 11 at 8 a.m. Eastern time (7a.m. Central, 5am Pacific).

* Univision Television Group’s “Acción Deportiva Extra” is a locally produced Spanish-language sports news program. This fast-paced 15-minute sports recap features the latest local, national and international sports highlights and updates, as well as in-depth looks at the teams and sporting events of special interest to the local community.