Colombians Abroad Transfer Round-up

While the world stands in awe to praise F.C. Barcelona and their wonderful football, the Colombian game keeps on going and even I have a hard time trying to keep up with it. I had to go on a forced hiatus right before I was going to post a review of weekend’s games and guess what? The second matchday was already played last night! So I guess I have no other choice but to move forward along with the show.

In group A, Once Caldas got the lead with 4 points after a controversial win against Boyacá Chicó over the weekend and their away draw at Equidad of last night. Chicó could not stand back properly after the loss and got a 1-1 home draw against Tolima. Equidad did not capitalize on their weekend away draw at Tolima and got served of the same soup at home.

In group B, Cali and Junior are failing to live up to their expectation of favourites and let Cucuta and Envigado climb to the top even after a home draw with Envigado. Surprisingly enough, the warriors got a 2-1 away victory at Cali’s Pascual Guerrero stadium. Meanwhile, the oranges of Envigado delivered at home with at 1-0 victory over Junior.

With 4 matches left, it is still early on the game to think about a clear favourite for the finals, but what’s certain is that teams like Junior, Cali, Chicó, Tolima and Equidad are going to have to improve dramatically if they want to aim for it. Some of these team’s performances so far do not match what they showed us during the regular season. It would be better for their own sake if they start doing so.

I’ll come back as soon as I can before this weekend’s games. Or at least i’ll try. With the FPC, sometimes I feel like i’m trying to chase this thing:

May 24th, 2009

Group B Preview: The cold weather is not in their hearts

By: Lugo |

4 Comments

Group B features the 3 teams in this group stage that are from cold weather cities: Equidad (Bogotá), Once Caldas (Manizales) and Chicó (Tunja). The other one is Tolima from the very hot Ibagué. But whatever the weather is, i’m sure all this players will try to give their most in order to win.

Deportes Tolima Vs. Equidad Seguros

The Insurance men visit Ibagué on high spirits after being the only team from the capital to make it this far. Lead by short-sized creative genius Stalin Motta, they play adventurous attacking football relying heavily in their lack of pressure as they pretty much don’t have fans to answer to and the press expects them to lose. So their obligations are only to themselves, their manager and the board. As Envigado confirmed last night, these teams that play with nothing to lose can become pretty dangerous. On the other hand, Tolima is being labeled as the favourites to win this group based on their wonderful regular season campaign where they finished in first place. These are the probable lineups:

Tolima will have Breiner Castillo on goal, a permanent bench-warmer during his previous stints at Deportivo Cali and Nacional who finally found a team where he is the undisputed number one. Jair Arrechea and Wilmer Díaz will be the center backs, this is a duo that has player together at Deportivo Pasto before and Díaz counts among his successes winning Libertadores 2004 with Once Caldas. Gerardo Vallejo will be on the right back, this player has seen action with the national team whereas on the left Dario Bustos will handle matters. Bustos is the younger brother of Ruben Bustos, the scorer of two free kick goals for the national team in the qualifiers who is at Millonarios now. In the midfield, veteran Juan Carlos Ramirez will be the commanding voice from behind assisted by Gustavo Bolivar. In creative roles, Christian Camilo Marrugo a player who is highly regarded by the national team manager will join forces with Argentine maestro Rodrigo Marangoni, a very effective player in the free kicks and through balls departments. Up front, the speedy Franco Arizala will be together with Jorge Bocanegra, a youngster who fills the U-18 spot and is expected to be quickly subbed by Wilder Medina, a goalscorer who’s been on fire in the latest matches.

La Equidad will have Carlos Bejarano on goal. This young goalkeeper has been battling heavily with Alvaro Solis for the starting place and now seems to have won it. Victor Giraldo, one of the top prospects in the right back position in Colombia will be in such position. On the other side, Elkin Serrano. Panamanian defender Román Torres will help Juan Diego Gonzalez in the center of the defence. Torres seems like a big team type of player and the fact that he’s still at Equidad really baffles me. As for the midfield, former defender Hugo Soto will assist Jhersson Cordoba, another big big promise, in the holding duties. Creative duo Stalin Motta and Diego Cochas round up what seems to be a very offensive midfield scheme to face Tolima. Up front, Wilson Carpintero, the goalscoring sensation of late will partner Rodrigo Hernandez but only for a few minutes as Hernandez is an U-18 youngster who will most likely be replaced by Roberto Polo.

Once Caldas vs. Boyaca Chicó FC

Former Libertadores Champions Once Caldas start this postseason with an obligation to matc their former greatness. With goalscorer Johan “Condor” Fano in great form, they expect to build upon of the rock solid midfielder Johan Viafara, a circuit of service for Fano to capitalize on. But the visitors will try to break that circuit by using strong and ductile players like Edwin Movil and Yhonny Ramirez. These are the lineups:

On goal, Once Caldas will have Hector Landazuri, former youth nt keeper who has consolidated his place as a starter. The right wing will be in charge of Nondier Romero a player who has resurrected in his level after being unceremoniously ousted from América and Santa Fe. Luis Nuñez, a fixture in the starting side, will be on the left. The center will be for Alex Henriquez and Andrés Mosquera a duo that has found renewed confidence after several games playing together. Former Junior man Nicolas Torres will join Uruguayan leader Jorge Casanova and the aforementioned John Viafara in what seems like a defensive midfield in paper but boss Javier Alvrez knows how to turn them into offensive weapons. Candado, the U-18 youngster will quickly leave for Henry Rojas, a left winger to complete a midfield that demonstrates how in football you can survive without having a number ten. Up front, foreign duo Ariel Carreño and Johan Fano will attempt to catch many of the shower of crosses that will be surely flying on.

In front of them, Once Caldas will have Edigson Velazquez defending Chicó’s goal. This is a veteran keeper that has gathered so much praise nowadays that many journalists are even calling for his presence on the national team. I’m not that sold on him, tough. The wings will be manned by Pedro Pino on the right and utility man Juan Mahecha, a player who is good in any position he plays, on the left. Eternal Ever Palacios (42 years old) will join Mexican Mario García in the center of defence. Productive Yhonny Ramirez and hungry youngster Diego Chica will try to hold the midfield while Edwin Dayan Móvil will help Argentinian wizard Miguel Caneo in trying to get back to his former self. Winston Girón be partnered by U-18 youngster Luis Mena for a while but teen sensation Marco Pérez should not take long to enter the fray. This teams comes from a 3-6 away defeat against eliminated Real Cartagena so it will be interesting to see how can they pick themselves up from such debacle.

Yesterday’s results:

Atlético Junior 2 – 2 Deportivo Cali

Cucuta Deportivo 1-1 Envigado F.C.

I will be talking more in depth about all weekend’s fixtures tomorrow. And, for all you Spanish speakers allow me to invite you to check out my new Spanish blog about international football here. My next post there will be about the relegation of Newcastle United, the team where former colombian NT icon Faustino Asprilla shone in the Premier League.

Equidad doing a funny celebration.

Tags: asprilla, Chicó, epl, Equidad, Fútbol Profesional Colombiano News, FPC, newcastle, once caldas, tolima

May 23rd, 2009

Matchday Preview Group A: Let football do the talking

By: Lugo |

This is it, folks. The Colombian Apertura tournament heads for the finals. Teams in group A will meet today with the dire necessity of starting this group stage on the right track. Group B will kick off tomorrow.

Junior- Deportivo Cali (6:20 pm Colombian time)

The sharks will look to start the party early with a victory over their toughest rivals in the groups. Toninghts match seems to be the battle of the wizards as Giovanni Hernandez (G-10) is back to direct the sharks’ symphony orchestra while their counterparts feature Argentinian maestro Pablo Batalla who is now in a top form. G10’s patrner in crime will be Emerson Acuña as the home side seems willing to use all their main weapons from the get go. Up front, Norbet “speedy” Orozco will fill up the U-18 spot joining goalscoring machine Teofilo Gutierrez. Orozco is not expected to last more than 15 minutes on the field to be replaced by former Lille forward Luis Yanes.

Green menace Boss José Hernandez has decided to counter the threat using only one striker who isn’t Sergio Herrera, out because of an injury. Armando Carrillo has the duty to deliver the goals and the rock solid holding duo of Andres Pérez and Mariano Herrón will have extra help with Danny Aguilar and Camilo Ayala covering the wings considering that the Metropolitano stadium has one of the widest pitches in the country.

Teams will probably be lined up as follows:

Junior:

Adrian Berbia the Uruguayan shot-stopper that has secured Junior’s goal this season. He cleared the doubts that Didier Muñoz used to leave. Veteran Hayder Palacio will be on right back now with less speed but deadlier crosses. On the left, Roberto Carlos Cortés, another veteran who resurrected his game at Junior after dubious spells at Millonarios and Medellin. Center backs will be John Valencia and Brayner García, the latter being the subject of a brief tug-of-war between Cucuta, his former side, and Junior. In the midfield, Javier Florez and Alex Jaramillo will do the dirty work leaving the magic to Giovanni Hernandez and Emerson Acuña. Up front, “Speedy” Orozco before being replaced by Luis Yanes and Teófilo Gutierrez.

The visiting side will start a foreign keeper as well: Sebastian Blazquez, one of the success stories of this season. His defence will feature Alvaro Hungría filling the U-18 slot to be replaced quickly by Elkin Calle in the right back. On the left back, Juan Guillermo Dominguez, youger brother of Alvaro Dominguez, today at Sion in Switzerland. Center backs will be Diego Valdés and Edgar Zapata, a former Junior man before his Mexican spell at Veracruz. Two holding mids: Colombian Andrés Pérez and Argentine Mariano Herron and two wingers with both offensive and defensive duties Danny Aguilar on the left and Camilo Ayala on the right. Interesting pair of products of the Green Menace youth system. Up front, creative genius Pablo Batalla will look to assist dangerman Armando Carrillo, a speedy forward tricky to stop.

Cucuta-Envigado (8:15 pm Colombian Time)

The border city prepares itself for another tremendous crowd at the General Santander stadium as it happens everytime the warriors of Cucuta play at home. Always controversial, warriors’ boss Jorge Luis Pinto has already said that he expects game officials to guarantee fairness after a series of rows with referees from previous games. The visitors have no played into the mindgames. Orange boss Aristizábal is pleased that he has the whole squad at his disposal including promising youngster Dorlan Pabón, who is rumored to be scouted by Racing de Avellaneda in Argentina.

Lineups:

Leandro Castellanos, one of the top goalkeeping prospects in the FPC will continue to start for Cucuta. Victor Tarazona will be on the right while Elvis Gonzalez will be on the left. The veteran duo of Pedro Portocarrero and Roberto Peñaloza will take care of business in the center of defence. Moving up, Uruguayan Charles Castro is the lead defensive midfielder who will be assisted in the wings by Luis Narvaez and Rodrigo Castillo. Diminutive anchor midfielder Edison “the flea” Pinzón will start after the coach decided to drop Uruguayan José Tancredi who has not convinced the gaffer with his contributions. Up front, explosive Lionard Pajoy wil link up with clinical finisher Roberto Gamarra who hails from Paraguay.

The visiting side includes a combo of sharpened veterans making an interesting mixture with a pack of hungry youngsters. Their keeper is a veteran: Roberto Mosquera who comes back from a spell in Bolivia. Former Nacional right back Marlon Piedrahita has secured his place in the lineup, something he couldn’t do with the stripped greens. The other wing will be for former Bucaramanga man Farid Díaz. Veteran Duvan Hernandez will join youngster Luis Pérez in the center of the defence. The midfield is all veteran: Alex Orrego, Juan Fernando Leal, Neider Morantes and Freddy Grisales can probably count more years of footballing experience together than the combined ages of Dorlan Pabón and Fabio Burbano, the two youngins who will be forwards today.

What an entertaining saturday evening of football do we have ahead of us. May the best teams win.

Lionard Pajoy will try to leave his mark today in Cucuta.

Tags: Colombia, copa mustang, cucuta, deportivo Cali, Envigado, Fútbol Profesional Colombiano News, FPC, Junior

May 22nd, 2009

Who is Ramon Cabrero?

By: Lugo |

1 Comment

It’s really cool to find out that Atletico Nacional’s new coach is actually a spaniard. A spaniard who, nonetheless, has been living in Argentina since he was four. But I find this cool because it breaks off a cycle where every time teams would say “we will get a foreign coach this year” they would only go looking for coaches in two countries in the world: Argentina and Uruguay. Nacional still followed the same old path but knowingly or not, they got somebody of a different nationality even if he’s got Argentine citizenship as i’m sure he does.

But who is him? And why did Nacional go for him? Well, first of all, he managed to break the dominance of the Argentine league by perennial big teams like Boca and River or those from the second tier in historical importance which are Velez, San Lorenzo and Independiente. Lanus is known as a small side and he lead them to the title in the Apertura 2007. He knows how to build up winning teams with squad limitations. He built his Lanus victory upon the miles of experience of goalkeeper Carlos Bossio and the firepower of former River Plate striker José Sand. He’s a master tactician who made long ball and counterattack football a common routine at Lanus and since he will not have much time nor money to rebuild the Medellin greens, I’m sure he’ll try to follow that path.

And his upcoming job is certainly not an easy one: pucking up a devastated team morale-wise where the goalkeeper Eduardo Blandon is error-prone, his defence doesn’t trust him and they get so nervous that actually make it easier for other teams to score on them. Brazilian right back Baiano is but a shadow of his former Boca self and center back Humberto Mendoza is only news becouse of his controversies off the field. In the midfield, things aren’t better. The greens’ “big hope” was Aldo Leao Ramirez who suffered a sharp decline in his game when he was in Mexico and still hasn’t recovered. Peruvian Juan Carlos Mariño made zero impact in the little minutes he had and is very likely to leave just like John Charria and José Amaya, a duo that the press are rumoring to be bound for Millonarios, another failure of this season. Giovanni Moreno, the unkept promise of this team, never finishes to deliver and I’m sure he must be’d kill now to go back to his former team Envigado. Up front, veteran forward Galvan Rey seems ready to hang up his boots. He hasn’t said anything about it, tough. It’s his game (or lack thereof) that keeps showing that’s the case. More failed signings in these positions such as Carlos Rentería and León Darío Muñoz doesn’t make it any better for Cabrero. His only hope now is this guy: Edwin Cardona (pictured). A teen phenomenon who recently lead the Colombia U-17 team to the youth world cup. Imagine that: the hopes of the team rest in the shoulders of a 17-year old. Do I need to say anything else?

Santa Fe: Better get Paez

The common path can also be changed again if Independiente Santa Fe decides to hire former Venezuelan National Team coach Richard Paez. Altough he comes from an unsuccesful stint at Alianza Lima, he is the real architect of the remarkable growth that “La Vinotinto” experienced in recent years. He changed the losing mentality of the venezuelan footballer and if he can do that for a team that has been waiting for more than 35 years for a title, the cardinals would have found their man.

But preventing official news of Paez is the fact that the cardinals’ chairman seems more keen on bringing Uruguayan coach Jorge “Polilla” (the moth) Da Silva, a fondly remembered striker at America de Cali during his playing days who yesterday caused the biggest splash in Copa Libertadores with his current team Defensor Sporting. The violets of Defensor kicked out of the competition none other than Boca Juniors after beating them 1-0 in their sacred temple of La Bombonera. After that, i’m sure the Defensor Sporting execs will be doing what’s humanly possible to keep Da Silva. That’s why Santa Fe should better get Paez.

Tags: Argentina, Boca, Colombia, Copa Libertadores, Defensor Sporting, Fútbol Profesional Colombiano News, Lanus, Nacional, River, Santa Fe, Venezuela

May 21st, 2009

Group B Preview: Sugar, Spice and Everything…Sharks!

By: Lugo |

8 Comments

The sharks will try to bite hard on every game Group B seems to be set for a showdown of epic proportions between the Sugar Greens of Deportivo Cali and the Sharks of Junior. Nevertheless, the other two teams can’t be overlooked. One of them is the Warriors of Cucuta Deportivo, known internationally for beating Boca at home in 2006 but faltering tremendously at La Bombonera in the midst of…. mist. And making its debut in the postseason are the Oranges of Envigado which, much like Equidad in the other group, carries the hopes of Medellin and the Antioquia region after its most traditional teams, Nacional and DIM, had a season to forget.

Junior de Barranquilla

As of today, May the 21st, the sharks seem to have everything going on for them. Giovanni Hernandez is back at his maximum game making a strong claim for yet another chance with the yellow jersey. Always a controversial claim with him. But besides Giovanni, the goalscoring machine known as Teofilo Gutierrez has everybody in awe. Teofilo has shown that he’s ready for international football. He’s a clinical finisher with a lot going for him in regard to his passing and dribbling skills. I don’t have a problem in going as far as saying that he’s ready for European football because i really see him as no inferior than Hugo Rodallega or Wason Renteria. And with a supporting cast of Acuña, Ciciliano and Yanez, this team has no other choice but playing visually stunning football with lots of passing, lots of dribling and lots of flair. And I’m afraid it coud well be championship-winning football.

Deportivo Cali

If there is a team in these two groups that is used to finals and knows how to win big games that is the Sugar Greens of Deportivo Cali. They have the pedigree and certainly the squad to back up such claim this year. Their Argentine maestro Pablo Batalla is on a roll as of late. And what’s more interesting, he’s becoming a regular in front of the net which is not that usual for a number ten. Their holding mids Andres Perez and Mariano Herron have tons of experience at higher levels and this is evident in the field. What this trio has done this season is vital considering Cali no longer has the goalscoring supply of Fredy Montero. And Sergio Herrera hasn’t stepped up in a long time. A little more help in the wings would be appreciated as well. If they can continue with that midfield security and add more punch up front, they’ll certinly give the sharks and the others a run for their money.

Cucuta Deportivo

The warriors have demonstrated again what kind of team they are when they are leaded by their charismatic (sort of) coach Jorge Luis Pinto. One of the main tacticians in our game who despite showing he wasn’t the man for our NT, clearly knows what he does with this club. He makes them play a strong defensive ball based in counterattacks that their Paraguayan hunter Gamarra knows how to capitalize. Problem is there are many teams in these finals that know the same routine in these finals. So they’re going to have to come up with something else that is a bit of a problem for them: to create.

Envigado Fútbol Club

The team with nothing to lose. Envigado has (almost) no fans to answer to, no history bound to repeat and no utter obligations in these finals beyond those that the coach and the players have set up for themselves. Having that in mind, Envigado has the luxury of playing with two sensible caretakers of the ball with loads of experience like Neider Morentes and Fredy Grisales and behind them, an old “partner in crime” such as Juan Fernando Leal doing the holding. To complete this competent group of veterans Jorge Horacio Serna still delivers greatly in terms of scoring. And that lack of pressure that I was mentioning before really shows in their game. So everybody else should be wary of this team because they aren’t afraid of losing. That’s what happens when everybody expects you to do so.

For all you facebookers out there, we can now meet at The Offside Colombia group at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=82986497706&ref=ts See you there!

Tags: bogotá, Cali, Colombia, Envigado, Equidad, Fútbol Profesional Colombiano News, finals, FPC, Junior, Medellin, Nacional

May 20th, 2009

Group A Preview: Hopes and Dreams

By: Lugo |

$Chicó dreams of repeating last year\'s title$ Colombian football’s semi-final group stages begin this weekend amid the current trend of domination by the small teams that I was refering to in my last post (offside-only). Group A features four traditionally small sides that have made it this far thanks to their high workrate, collective spirit and great tenacity. Boyacá Chicó, Once Caldas, Seguros La Equidad and Tolima will battle in this group. Let’s take a closer look at each team:

Once Caldas
Arguably the team less deserving of the “small side” label considering they were Copa Libertadores champions in 2004. Their attack is lead by the Peruvian assassin Johan Javier Fano, who’s been a starter in his national team of late and has 7 goals in the Copa Mustang. Former southampton midfielder John Viafara is the leader and icon of this team and his strengths are his physical presence and his strong long shots. They have two more foreigners in the starting XI: Argentine forward Ariel Sebastian Carreño who found consistency after a lethargic stint at Millonarios and Uruguayan hard-working midfielder Jorge Casanova whom alongside Viafara provides lots of heart and offensive presence to the All-whites midfield. If they can pick up their home form to match the spectacular set of results that they got away during the regular season, they are the top candidates for me to reach the final in this group.

Boyacá Chicó F.C.
After a miserable outing from this year’s Copa Libertadores, Gamero’s side is enjoying greener pastures at their domestic competition even after suffering a notorious 6-3 thrashing at the hands of Real Cartagena in a match where they clearly paid the price of the lack of motivation because their qualification to the semi final stage was already guaranteed.

They are expecting Argentine maestro Miguel Caneo to recover the great form that led them to last year’s title. To help him do that, Chicó relies heavily in what teen sensation Marco Perez is able to do up front in a team that plays a conservative style, based on quick counterattacks and the hustle of players like Juan Mahecha and Edwin Movil. Another lethal weapon of this team are the free kicks of Anthony Tapia.

Deportes Tolima

The team that made the infamous threat of pulling out of the league because of financial difficulties. The question everybody is asking themselves nowadays is: How could they had done if they had money? There’s no easy answer because they had a wonderful season beyond everyone’s expectations considering the circumstances: Tolima ended the regular season as leaders and many believe this miracle will end up in a championship star.

What’s certain is that the strenght of the the team is definitely their happy, free-flowing football. With a fantasista who knows many of the right moves such as Rodrigo Marangoni, a fantastic sidekick who is everybody’s “partner in crime” (Christian Marrugo) and a plethora of young, hungry and energetic strikers including Wilder Medina and Franco Arizala, this team seems ready for primetime. Hopefully the owner’s chequebook can withstand the challenges ahead and he doesn’t resort to any more of his too well known antics.

Seguros La Equidad

The team that is closer to my heart now as they represent the continuously hurt pride of our nation’s capital Bogotá. The 8-million-people, 21-year-trophyless city has all its hopes resting in this relatively new and hungry team which already has the first Copa Colombia under its belt. Coach Alexis Garcia (previously known as “El Maestro” during his playing days) managed to assemble a deeply cohesive and collectively talented squad filled with hunger and leaded by a player who is the active reflection of his coach’s former self in the field: Stalin Motta. A true gentleman and a true caretaker of the ball. His unmatched vision and superb passing ability make him one of the most complete number tens in FPC. Among his most productive teammates are Panamanian centre back Román Torres, right back Victor Giraldo and the strikeforce of Roberto Polo (yeah, he stayed!) and Wilson Carpintero.

Dinner will be served promptly. The first courses will be Once Caldas-Chicó and Tolima-Equidad all on May 24. Be back tomorrow for group B.

May 9th, 2009

The Forgotten Four

By: Lugo |

Hello again. I know it’s been a while. I’m really thankful with The Offside for waiting for me through all my ons and offs. I have a little more free time know. I promise I’ll try to keep my blog more up-to-date now.

As for the current state of Colombian football, I think the situation you’re about to read is pretty much unheard of at least on this side of the Atlantic:

Bogotá and Medellin, Colombia’s two biggest and most important cities, have their most traditional teams already eliminated from the final playoff. Thus, Millonarios and Santa Fe from the nation’s capital and Nacional and Medellin from the “beautiful village” will be watching the finals on TV while their “younger brothers” in both cities Equidad and Envigado are currently on top of the standings with two games to finish the regular season.

This tops a continuing “reversal of the roles” that has been happening in Colombian football for a few years: small teams have been commanding while the so-called “big teams” from yesterday have been either bottom dwellers or struggling to reach top half of the table. And if you connect the dots, you’ll see that Colombian team’s results in international competitions have been pretty much nonexistant. Small teams may dominate the domestic competition. But are they ready for international primetime? Doesn’t seem like….

February 3rd, 2009

Domestic Transfers Breakdown (III)

By: Lugo |

A week before the start of the league I’m finally able to finish my transfer series. Part of the delay was because of the turmoil generated by Deportes Tolima’s initial decision of not participating in the league. Such decision was overturned when the league threatened to sanction Tolima with dissafiliation and with having to return in the second division whenever they decided to comeback. So the league will start with it’s 18 teams and let’s review the remaining six, from North to South.

Atlético Junior The coast’s powerhouse boasts a level of star power that has their faithful fans from Shakira’s hometown with a renewed illusion. Proven solid Uruguayan goalkeeper Adrian Berbia, classy attacking midfielder Ricardo Ciciliano and young tough holding midfielder Jaime Cordoba are three sweet addition to an already talent-packed lineup while Alex Jaramillo and Brayner García add some solid depth in defensive positions.

Newly-promoted Real Cartagena from Colombia’s main turistic destination promised keeping the core of players that helped them gain such promotion but the addition of key veterans such as Juan Carlos Henao, Oscar Passo and Edward Jimenez suggest they will fight relentlessly to avoid returning to the second tier.

Former Copa Libertadores Semifinalists Cúcuta Deportivo mainly features the return of Jorge Luis Pinto, the former National Team coach who gave them their last title and is adored by the fans and the whole city. Alongside him, Paraguayan attacker Roberto Gamarra and Uruguayan #10 José Luis Tancredi will try to be the main offensive forces of a team that shouldn’t be as cash-strapped as it seems, considering their last season sale of Macnelly Torres to Colo-Colo for 2 Million US Dollars.

Copa Libertadores participants Boyacá Chicó seem awfully prepared to match their continental commitment so I basically expect them to leave in the first round. They announce the “rebirth” of former promise Anthony Tapia (who was playing on second tier sides) alongside the interesting left back Ormedis Madera and other failed promises such as Cristian Racero and Juan Gilberto Nuñez. Their hopes rest on Argentinian maestro Miguel Caneo who recovered from his injury of last season.

Atlético Huila loaded fully to avoid the lingering threat of relegation (In Colombia, relegation’s based on the average of the last three season) being srikers Hernan Cordoba, Ivan Velazquez and midfielder Carlos Salazar their most interesting aquisition. Argentinian CB Nicolas Ayr should bolster their defense.

Considering their economic crisis, it’s understandable that Deportes Tolima made no moves besides the recovery of on-loan midfielders Jaider Rodriguez and Gilberto García. But let’s not forget that they already have a more than competitive squad that managed to finish first in the regular season of last semester. Their heroic fantasista Rodrigo Marangoni alongside the versatile Christian Marrugo plus a plethora of young and flashy strikers like Perlaza, Mejia, Rivas Chará and Franco Arizala are more than enough to make you wonder what’s wrong with Ibagué fans that fail to attend the Murillo Toro stadium.

Mission accomplished. Let’s hope for a very entertaining season.