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LPF: Altas y Bajas para el Torneo Clausura

A medida que se va acercando el inicio del torneo Clausura 2014 de la LPF el 17 de enero, se van conociendo las altas y bajas de los 10 equipos que participarán en el campeonato.

La Liga Panameña de Fútbol (LPF) dio a conocer los movimientos de los equipos y a continuación se los damos a conocer:

Chorrillo

Altas: César Morales (técnico), Julio Medina III (asistente), Osvaldo Tejada, Mario Hernández (México), Ricardo Jiménez (México).

Árabe Unido

Altas: Jean Carlos Cedeño, Jhon Ramírez Pombo (Colombia), Jorge Quintero (Colombia), Alexander González, Juan de Gracia

Bajas: Luis Fraiz, José González, David Daniels, Alejandro Vélez, Orlando Rodríguez, Reynaldo Anderson, Félix Góndola.

Tauro

Altas: Carlos Rodríguez, Axel Villanueva (Nicaragua), Eric Hughes.

Bajas: Marcos Sánchez, Jorge Lenis, Nilson Castañeda.

San Francisco

Altas: José Aquino (Paraguay), Rolando Algandona, Orlando Rodríguez.

Bajas: Roberto Brown, Boris Alfaro, Eric Hughes, Amílcar James, José Gómez.

Chepo

Altas: Ernesto Gibson, César Samudio, Nilson Espinoza, José Murillo, Ángel Sánchez, Werner Wald, Alexis Gun, Aldric Mojica, Jordy Meléndez, César Vergara

Bajas: Víctor Barrera, Franco Martínez, Osman Santamaría, Isaac Luna, Josimar Flores, Carlos Rodríguez, Carlos Ferreira, Ricardo Romero.

Alianza

Altas: Byron Ogaya, Abel Vega, José Venegas, Gilberto Salas

Bajas: Javier Cedeño, Dasaeth González, Jean Carlos Cedeño, César Vergara, Juan Osorio. Osvaldo Tejada.

Sporting SM

Altas: Félix Góndola, Reynaldo Anderson, Temy Pérez, Francisco Castañeda, Aldair Paredes, Omar Browne, Dario Wright, Khadir Thousand y Carlos Small

Bajas: Alcibiades Rojas, Anthony Basil, José Marmolejo, Richard Dixon, Rolando Algandona, Jacson Valoy, Gabriel Ríos.

Plaza Amador

Altas: Julio Castillo (Paraguay), Juan Ramón Solís, Víctor Barrera.

Bajas: Ricardo Buitrago, Nahil Carroll, Abdul Pinto, Wess Torres, Jair Catuy, Yamir Vergara.

Rio Abajo

Altas: Publio Rodriguez, Renán Addles, David Daniels, Nahil Carrol, Manuel Mosquera, Alejandro Vélez, Anthony Basile, Armando Polo, Federico Marines.

Independiente

Mantiene plantilla sin cambios

Muchos cambios en el Árabe Unido de Colón

El Árabe Unido de Colón es uno de los equipos que más bajas ha confirmado, sin embargo no se han quedado con los brazos cruzados y se han reforzado con varios jugadores de cara al torneo Clausura y la Liga Campeones CONCACAF.

Después de terminar el torneo Apertura jugadores como Félix Gondola, Reynaldo Anderson, David Daniels, Alejandro Vélez, Orlando “ Papi” Rodriguez, Luis Fraiz y José “Pibe” González dejaron el equipo para tomar otro camino.

Daniels y Vélez jugarán en Río Abajo, “Papi” Rodríguez en San Francisco, mientras que Fraiz y“Pibe” González jugarán a préstamo en el América de Cali.

Refuerzos

El técnico colombiano Jair Palacios confirmó varios jugadores que reforzarán al conjunto colonense como el defensa Jean Carlos Cedeño (ex Alianza), Josimar Gómez, José Luis Zárate, Daniel López y los volantes colombianos Jhon Ramírez Pombo y Jesús Quintero.

Palacios agregó que los jugadores Alexander “Makelele” González y Juan De Gracia entrenan con el equipo y están a punto de firmar con el conjunto colonense.

“Pienso que el equipo se está adaptando en sus líneas, las bajas dejan un gran vacío y hay que trabajar con los que están que son buenos jugadores”, dijo Palacios.

Siguen en el plantel el portero dominicano Miguel Lloyd, Rigoberto Niño, Paul Roderick, Fidel Ceasar y Abdiel Macea.

El Árabe Unido debe afrontar el torneo Clausura que arranca el 17 de enero y la Liga Campeones CONCACAF con los cuartos de final en marzo frente al Alajuelense de Costa Rica.

Orlando “Papi” Rodríguez jugará con el San Francisco

El San Francisco F.C., a través de su presidente Julio Quijano, informa a toda la fanaticada del SanFra y público en general que el delantero Orlando “Papi” Rodríguez formará parte de la plantilla franciscana la próxima temporada. Ha firmado un contrato que lo vincula al club de La Chorrera por 2 años

Orlando, que en Panamá solo ha jugado con el Arabe Unido de Colón, también ha jugado en múltiples equipos fuera del país, entre ellos Deportivo Pereira, Envigado, La Equidad, FAS, León de Huánuco y Alianza de El Salvador.

“Papi” no es ningún desconocido para el estratega Gary Stempel, ya que fue quien lo llevó al primer mundial sub-20 que disputó Panamá en los Emiratos Arabes Unidos en el 2003.

Para Gary Stempel este es un deseo que finalmente se cumple, ya que había deseado tenerlo en el equipo desde mucho antes.

Con este fichaje se refuerza la delantera, ante la salida por retiro del “Bombardero” Roberto Brown. También se busca aumentar la cuota goleadora del equipo, que en el torneo pasado fue baja para sus delanteros.

Alianza se refuerza

El Alianza FC confirma la contratación del talentoso, creativo y hábil volante Gilberto Salas, proveniente del Sporting.

Polo vuelve a la LPF y refuerza al Río Abajo

El Río Abajo FC sigue sumando buenos jugadores para el Torneo Clausura 2014 de la Liga Panameña de Fútbol (LPF).

Y es que su técnico, el colombiano Richard Parra, confirmó el fichaje de Armando Polo, quien llega proveniente del Pérez Zeledón, de Costa Rica.

Parra también contó que están a punto de llegar al club cuatro colombianos, todos contratados, y con estos cerrarán su libro de pases.

Río Abajo tiene la difícil misión de escapar del puesto de descenso al que fue relegado en el último torneo y para esto se ha armado hasta los dientes.

Hasta el momento, el llamado “Alto Voltaje” tiene nueve puntos y está a siete por debajo de su principal rival en la lucha por no perder la categoría, el Alianza FC.

Río Abajo logró su ascenso a la LPF en el año 2012. En su primera temporada en la máxima categoría del balompié istmeño consiguió llegar hasta las semifinales, en las cuales fue eliminado por el Chepo FC.

El Independiente mantiene su plantilla al completo

El CAI (Club Atlético Independiente) de La Chorrera fue la gran revelación del último torneo de la Liga Panameña de Fútbol (LPF). Los chorreranos, en su primera campaña en la máxima categoría del balompié istmeño, lograron meterse en las semifinales del certamen, algo que esperan hacer nuevamente en el curso venidero, que arranca el próximo día 17.

“El equipo tratará de ser protagonista, como siempre ha sucedido desde que jugamos en LNA (Liga Nacional de Ascenso)”, dijo ayer Franklin Narváez, entrenador del club.

“La temporada pasada se nos dieron las cosas, a pesar de ser un equipo novel. Ahora, para esta temporada, el objetivo se mantiene, esperamos poder repetir y tratar de estar entre los cuatro semifinalistas”, añadió el entrenador.

Narváez, sin embargo, reconoce que este semestre costará más llegar hasta las “semis”, aunque confía en el potencial de sus dirigidos para hacerlo.

“Sabemos que será más difícil, los equipos se han reforzado bien, Río Abajo se ha renovado, igualmente otros clubes. Pero sabemos que tenemos la capacidad para lograr cosas. Trataremos de hacer los ajustes necesarios para lograr la meta de estar entre los últimos cuatro y poder llegar a la final, que es lo que queremos todos”, comentó.

Narváez cree que en el Clausura 2014 su escuadra debe aprender, por ejemplo, a no dejar escapar puntos en casa, como sucedió en el pasado curso. También señala que no le teme a la presión, ya que su plantel se ha sobrepuesto a momentos complicados y eso lo ha llenado de confianza.

Por ahora, el CAI mantiene su plantilla al completo para el campeonato venidero y la próxima semana se espera que se anuncie la llegada de algún refuerzo.

El conjunto chorrerano, en el último torneo, terminó en el cuarto lugar.

Sporting: Nueva sede como ventaja

Ver la plantilla del actual Sporting San Miguelito no causa el mismo efecto intimidatorio que en temporadas anteriores. Ya no hay una nómina tan extensa, plagada de nombres, y apenas salen a relucir dos o tres figuras de peso; el tiempo mediático de los “rojinegros” parece haberse ido a España junto a Manolo Mirambel.

El Torneo Clausura 2014 de la Liga Panameña de Fútbol (LPF) arranca el próximo día 17 del presente mes, y pocos tienen en su quiniela de favoritos a los “académicos”. Sin embargo, esto preocupa poco a José Mario Anthony “Chalate” Torres, entrenador del Sporting, quien aseguró ayer a este medio que no siempre tener “nombres” es garantía de títulos y buenos resultados.

“Yo no lo siento así. Si tú me dices a mí que la temporada pasada había más nombres, yo no creo en nombres; yo creo en jóvenes, en hombres que quieran jugar al fútbol y tengan deseos de algo”, señaló el estratega, quien luego recordó que en la primera parte del año pasado, cuando llevó a los “rojinegros” a su primer y único título hasta la fecha, tampoco contaba con una plantilla que impresionara en cuanto a nombres.

“…Me traes nombres y pasa lo que pasa (refiriéndose a la última temporada, en la cual Sporting terminó octavo). La vez que no dieron un centavo para mí yo tenía una plantilla que no había nadie, porque eché a medio equipo, y gracias a Dios salimos campeones. Entonces no son los nombres que tú tengas, sino los hombres con el deseo de hacer las cosas para lograr cosas importantes para ellos y para la institución”, dijo.

Torres también calificó de positivo la unión de “la familia Millenium UP-Sporting” formada tras la reciente compra del conjunto académico por parte de Lucas Alemán, quien también es mandatario del combinado universitario. Los “académicos”, según “Chalate”, han salido bastante beneficiados, debido a que pueden utilizar el estadio Óscar Suman Carrillo, por el convenio que previamente había logrado establecer ya el Millenium con la Universidad de Panamá.

“Es positivo tener tu cancha, me siento muy contento por eso, ya que no tengo tanta presión como en el 28 de Diciembre (‘Candela’ Gil), con los espacios que nos limitaban. Estamos trabajando acá, es algo muy productivo para mí y el grupo. Se puede trabajar con más calma y más tranquilidad y las cosas se pueden complementar mejor”, sentenció el entrenador.

Hasta el momento, el Sporting ha contratado a Félix Góndola, Reinaldo Anderson (defensas) y a Francisco Castañeda (volante). También está cerca de cerrar el fichaje de Temístocles “Temi” Pérez.

WHATEVER IS GOD´S WILL: JUARY

Back in the early eighties Italy was the centre of the world of football and would remain such for the best part of a decade. The richest clubs in the world played in the Serie A and, in turn, these attracted the best players. Juventus had Platini and Boniek, Napoli played to the tune set by Maradona whilst AC Milan had the trio of Van Basten, Gullit and Rijkaard. Even a small club like Udinese could attract a player like Zico.

If the Serie A was the cream of world football, then Avellino was the curd. Promoted to the Serie A for the first time in 1978, they had defied expectation by staying there year after year despite being billed as relegation favourites at the start of each season.

The architect of their elevation was owner Antonio Sibilia, a stereotypical Southern Italian with a pencil thin moustache, ferocious distaste for anything other than a conservative look in men – he hated long hair, ear-rings and tattoos – and alleged links to the camorra. The city of Avellino itself was a typical Southern Italian city, with its fair share of social problems but also a football mad population that ferociously supported their local side.

It was in this environment that Juary arrived in 1983, finding heightened expectations given the highly restricted number of foreign players that a club could register at the time. “It was every player’s dream to play in the most beautiful league in the world,” he recalls.

Not that he knew a lot of where he was getting himself into. “I didn’t know anything,” he says, laughing at the memory “but it turned out to be a wonderful experience.”

Juary had started his career at Santos, whom he joined after refusing an offer from Fluminense. “I never liked it because it was too far away from home. Anyway, at the time I was already a Flamengo fan.”

At Santos he got to fulfil his dream of playing with his hero Pelé, albeit for just one game. He also won two caps for the Brazilian national team before a squabble of money – “it was a foolish decision” he admits today – saw him move to the Mexican side of Universidad de Guadalajara. He struggled a bit early on – the altitude got to him – but eventually settled in and continued his fine form. There were no plans to move yet again but move he did eight months into his two year deal.

Indeed, the story of his transfer to Avellino is a peculiar one. Asked to accompany the club’s technical director to Europe supposedly on a scouting trip, Juary found out that he was actually going to sign for a new club in mid-air.

The man who had insisted for his signature was Luis Vinicio, a fellow Brazilian who was a legend at nearby Napoli and who had just been appointed manager at Avellino. Vinicio was confident that Juary would be a vital player for Avellino but, upon seeing his new signing for the first time, club owner Sibilia didn’t share that confidence. Soon, however, he too was won over to the extent that Juary became his favourite player. To this day, Juary remains grateful to both. “Together with Sibilia and Pier Paolo Marino he (Vinicio) was the most important person in my career in Italy. He was like a father to me.”

The reason for the change in heart was Juary’s performances and goals. His first came on his debut in the Coppa Italia against Catania - “it was very important for me” – and many more followed. In a league that attracted the world’s best players, this relative unknown was making his mark.

Juary was also making an impression for his unique celebration. Indeed, seven years before Roger Milla enchanted the world by dancing with the corner flag, Juary was dancing around the corner flag to celebrate his goals. It is something for which he remains remembered, and asked about till today. “It was a spontaneous thing,” he smiles. “It doesn’t irritate me if people remember me for that as well.”

He’s right. Many at Avellino remember him mainly for his goals and overall creativity that helped the side retain its place at the top for the two seasons he was there. His performances were impressive enough to attract the attention of bigger clubs and at the end of the season Inter came calling.

In truth, Inter weren’t really interested in him. The player they really wanted was Cesena’s Austrian striker Walter Schachner but Cesena were adamant that before selling Schachner they needed to have a good enough replacement in place. Avellino were never going to sell Juary to a rival in the battle to stay up so Inter bought him thinking that they would use him as a make-weight in the deal for Schachner.

That last part of the deal, however, never came to be so Juary ended up staying at Inter. It was a disastrous move, with Juary scoring just twice and failing to really settle.

Today, he is positive about the whole thing. “It didn’t turn out as we expected but it was still a wonderful experience.” Yet at the time it looked that it had broken his career. After just one season he was sold off to Ascoli (27 games and 5 goals) and then on again to Cremonese (19 games and 2 goals); both of which were deemed to be failed moves.

So much that Juary was preparing to return back to Brazil when he got an unexpected call.

“It came in the most important moment in my career in Italy as I was thinking of going back to Brazil,” he admits. “Then this offer from Porto came in and it was the most wonderful decision that I ever took. I wouldn’t say that it was revenge (rivincita). I never thought that way because it isn’t my character and it isn’t something that comes from God.”

He might not want to talk about revenge or proving people wrong, but it certainly re-ignited his career. Suddenly he was at a side that was playing to win; a huge step up from the struggling teams that Juary had spent most of his time in Europe playing for.

And win they did. In Portugal, Juary won both the league and the domestic cup, with thier success being fuelled by the brilliant Algerian, Rebah Madjer. “He was a great player who was part of a great team. That was the great strength at Porto, the unity among all the players.”

Juary’s biggest success, however, came in Europe. Porto made it to the final of the Champions Cup where they faced Bayern Munich. Despite missing captain Klaus Augenthaler (suspended), Roland Wohlfarth and Hans Dorfner (both injured), the Germans were still considered favourites and they justified that billing by dominating the first half; going in a goal up.

Juary had started the game on the bench but came on at the start of the second half. “Get back out and play like Porto,” Juary recalls Artur Jorge, the Porto manager, telling them. “You are the champions of Portugal and you have to play as you know you’re a capable of playing.”

And they did. Porto slowly clawed their way back thanks largely to the efforts of Rebah Madjer. The Algerian terrorised the German defence, scored the equaliser and then, with nine minutes remaining he sent a looping ball into the box that evaded everyone bar Juary who rifled into the top of the Bayern goal.

Juary recalls that goal with modesty. “It was a goal like many that I scored during my career. Perhaps this one was more special because of the result but for me it is as important as any other goal that I scored.” For sure on that occasion he didn’t celebrate by running to the corner flag; the emotion of the occasion leading him to run towards the fans instead.

It was to be the pinnacle of his career, even if he went on to win the European Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup. After Porto, Juary moved back to Brazil where he wound down his career and started coaching.

Once again, Avellino came calling, this time for him to coach one of their youth teams. Juary accepted and spent a year there before eventually moving on Potenza, Napoli and Porto, always in youth related coaching roles. At Aversa Normanna he was put in charge of the youth them and also the first team which gave him the right platform to move to USD Sestri Levante, winning with them promotion to the Serie D having dominated proceedings: promotion was confirmed with five gaemes to go.

Then, in March this year, he opted to resign with the club on its way of achieving the target of safety from relegation. Talking to him, the impression is that he’s not in too much of rush to go back to coaching, “whatever is God’s will” he replies when that query is put forward to him.

“First I went to live in Brazil but then I received an invitation to go back to Avellino to coach in the youth teams, which was very satisfying for me.”

“It (the experience at Sestri Levante) was something that I wanted to do because even in Brazil I had already begun coaching senior teams. It was something that gave me a lot of joy.”

Now he waits for another job opportunity, filling his free time working as a pundit. You’d expect better for a Champions Cup winning goalscorer. But, then again, you get the feeling that whatever he does as a manager nothing will eclipse those images of him dancing round the corner flag.

http://www.youtube.com/w…xUkRXj5eCMM

Alajuelense introduces new-signing Rodriguez

ALAJUELA, Costa Rica – Alajuelense presented midfielder Osvaldo Rodriguez, the newly crowned Costa Rican champion’s first signing for the 2014 Verano, at a Monday press conference.

The Costa Rican international joined the Manudos on a three-year contract from Santos de Guapiles.

"The group has welcomed me very well,” said Rodriguez. “For me it´s a dream to reach the championship team because the best are here. I know I have a responsibility to fight for you and fit in and contribute.”

The last 12 months have seen the 23-year-old rise up the international ranks for Costa Rica. He won the UNCAF Copa Centroamericana in January, appeared in all four of the Ticos’ matches at the CONCACAF Gold Cup and took the field in a 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Jamaica on March 26.

Alajuelense, which won its 29th league last month, opens the new season on Sunday at Carmelita and will face Panama’s Arabe Unido in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals in March.

Mexican GK Michel loaned to Costa Rica’s Saprissa

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica – Saprissa presented goalkeeper Luis Ernesto Michel to the media on Tuesday after acquiring the Mexican on a six-month loan from Guadalajara.

The 34-year-old, who made his professional debut in September 2003 and played in 232 league matches with Chivas, is expected to help the Monstruo Morado in its pursuit of a record 30th Costa Rican title during the 2014 Verano.

“I come to Saprissa by choice and by conviction,” said Michel. “I liked the proposal and the project that was presented to me and for that reason I made the decision to come to Costa Rica and wear the jersey of Saprissa.”

Michel has 15 caps for Mexico and was on its roster for the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa, but did not appear in any matches. He also captained the Tricolor at the 2011 Copa America in Argentina.

Saprissa opens the new doemestic campaign on Sunday, when it hosts Perez Zeledon.

Real Esteli opens Nicaraguan Clausura with win

ESTELI, Nicaragua – The 2014 Nicaraguan Clausura launched this past weekend with goals and entertaining matches.

Real Esteli, which is aiming to clinch a fifth CONCACAF Champions League appearance, opened defense of its title on Saturday with a 2-0 home win over Juventus. Veteran forward Samuel Wilson struck first in the seventh minute and Norfran Lazo doubled the lead 18 minutes later.

If El Tren del Norte is successful in its pursuit of a ninth straight domestic crown, it will break the all-time record for most consecutive titles by a club in the Americas.

Walter Ferreti, the 2013 Apertura runner-up, drew 1-1 against visiting Jalapa. Darwin Ramirez put the home side ahead with a goal in the sixth minute, but an own-goal in the 56th minute by Mario Garcia gave Jalapa a share of the points.

Managua became the initial league leader with a 4-1 victory at home over Real Madriz. Neftali Navarrete netted a brace, while Marlon Lopez and Marcos Mendez added a goal each. Enoc Salgado struck for the visitors.

Deportivo Ocatal debuted with a 2-0 victory against San Marcos. Byron Maradiaga and Mario Morales scored for the host.

Perhaps the most exciting match took place in Diriamba, where Chinandega grabbed a big 2-2 draw at Diriangen. Ricardo Vega put the visitors ahead in the 28th minute, but Diriangen equalized six minutes later through Raul Leguias. In the 78th minute, the host regained the lead thanks to an Eulises Pavon goal, Vega completed the scoreline with only two minutes left in regulation time.

NOTES: Real Esteli, which won the 2013 Apertura, can earn a place in the 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League by winning the 2014 Clausura. In the event another side wins the current competition, the champion with the most combined points from both tournaments will qualify for the CCL.