Snak

Salvador Cabañas sells bread after losing everything

Former player for club América in Mexico and the Paraguayan national team, Salvador Cabanas helps his parents in the family bakery to survive, having lost everything from a gunshot at a nightclub in Mexico four years ago.

"I will keep going forward," he repeats to an AFP journalist during an interview, sitting under the shade of a grapefruit tree.

He controls the kneading of the flour in a shed that is behind the modest house where he was born, in Itaguá, 30 km from Asuncion.

He is separated from his wife, Mary Lorgia Alonso, who has care of their children James (13) and Mia Ivonne (9) in a luxurious mansion in Asuncion, valued at approximately $5,000,000.

He says his things were taken from him while he was recuperating, saying there was collusion between his representative and his lawyer.

The residence is in her name, he says.

"As time goes on I am realizing a lot of things," observes Cabañas alluding to alleged shady dealings of his former manager José González and his own ex-wife. "Even the lawyer went over to their team," he said.

Salvador gets up at four in the morning to distribute bread in a van to customers of his father, Dionisio, and his mother, Mrs. Basilia Cabañas.

"We distribute the bread around Itaguá, Ypacarai, San Bernardino (outside the capital). I like the work. People recognize me and ask me...about football of course. I tell them that I am happy."

Four years later

January 25 was the four year anniversary of that fateful moment in the career of skilled forward.

He was the star of América, the millionaire club of Mexico. He was the leading scorer at the Copa Libertadores for two consecutive years and was six months away from the 2010 South African World Cup. His national team, Paraguay, breezed through South American qualifying and reached the quarterfinals of the WC with Argentine Gerardo Martino as coach, now at FC Barcelona.

"When it happened (the gunshot wound) I had signed a pre-contract in the amount of $1,700,000 for a transfer to Europe. They told me that my destination would be Manchester United. América held on to me. They gave me an apartment in Acapulco and another in Cancun. My salary was doubled..." he says.

He said that he was living a dream when his life was turned upside down and he was hanging by a thread during his 23 days in intensive care in a hospital in Mexico City.

"My grandmother Basilia told me I was going to keep moving forward," he said.

Like Segismundo, thinking about his life and his fortune in "Life is a Dream" by Calderon de La Barca, Cabañas can´t explain the turn his life took, like that character of the Spanish writer who wonders if life is an illusion, a shadow, fiction or a dream.

"Well, here I am, trying to recover. I have great faith despite losing everything," he remarks seriously.

"Double victim"

His father, Dionisio, also a former professional football player as a forward like his son, speaks in the native language of Paraguay, Guarani: "My son was a victim twice."

"His professional life was taken away in the prime of his career and they took advantage of him, his own wife, his representative and his lawyer," says his father sadly.

Cabañas responds gesturing with his hands: "They made me sign with digital printing (finger)" while he didn´t have all his faculties. He says that América had promised compensation but the money never came. "She (his wife) said that it´s all gone (the money)." But he says he is willing to face a legal battle. Meanwhile, he works as a baker and a footballer.

He is back on his home team, club 12 de Octubre in Itaguá, who returned to the first division this year. The club was two divisions down when Salvador reappeared two years ago as a balm to give new life to the club. His return to stadiums drew thousands of fans and onlookers who chanted his name incessantly.

Touching heaven

On his recent past he says he tries to forget about it and to look forward. His attacker, drug trafficker Jorge Balderas Garza, responds: "I don´t know. I´m not interested."

The day of the tragedy Salvador says he touched heaven: "God blessed me to live again. I spoke with grandmother (now deceased). I told her that my family was not going to lack anything. With that in mind I built this bakery."

Asked what he remembers most of his playing in football stadiums he responds that he will never forget the Brazilians who nicknamed him "Gordinho" (chubby).

There was a special reason. América knocked Flamengo out of the Copa Libertadores in the mighty Maracana stadium itself with a Cabañas hat-trick.

"Later I played for the Paraguayan national team. We beat Brazil in Asuncion and I scored. Before the rematch in Brazil, the media published: ´Beware the Gordinho´. That was funny," he says.

Asked what he will do after hanging up his boots, he revealed that he has offers to be a television sports commentator. "I have local offer and one with a North American channel.

Asked whether any State authority or someone from the Paraguayan Football Association visits him, he says no. "They seem to want to know me only when they need me," he concludes wryly.

Brazil squad for upcoming friendly against South Africa named

Luiz Felipe Scolari has named his squad to face South Africa in a friendly at the Soccer City stadium, Johannesburg, on March 5.

As planned, those initially called-up to the team include only players playing outside of Brazil. Those playing domestically will be called-up later.

The game will be the final friendly before the coach makes his final squad selection for the World Cup finals which will take place in Brazil in June and July of this year.

Notable absences from the list of those playing abroad include Maicon, Robinho and Kaká.

Goalkeeper:
Julio César (QPR)

Defenders:

Thiago Silva (Paris Saint-German)
David Luiz (Chelsea)
Dante (Bayern Munich)
Rafinha (Bayern Munich)
Daniel Alves (Barcelona)
Marcelo (Real Madrid)

Midfielders:

Luiz Gustavo (Wolfsburg)
Paulinho (Tottenham)
Fernandinho (Manchester City)
Ramires (Chelsea)
Oscar (Chelsea)

Strikers:

Willian (Chelsea)
Hulk (Zenit)
Neymar (Barcelona)
Bernard (Shakhtar Donetsk)

Boca: el retorno de Riquelme es incierto

BUENOS AIRES -- En medio de una práctica que debió suspenderse por la intensa lluvia que cayó sobre Buenos Aires el martes por la mañana, Juan Román Riquelme siguió entrenando diferenciado junto al kinesiólogo Leo Betchakián. Todavía es incierta su presencia para el encuentro ante Belgrano de Córdoba, el próximo domingo, a las 21.30 en La Bombonera, por la segunda fecha del Torneo Final.

El enganche primero realizó trabajos físicos y luego tomó contacto con la pelota pasando por un circuito compuesto por conos. Riquelme no juega desde el 24 de noviembre, cuando sufrió un desprendimiento en el aductor de la pierna derecha. Pasaron 79 días de aquel partido ante All Boys, por la 17° fecha del torneo pasado, cuando el capitán de Boca debió retirarse a los 15 minutos del encuentro.

Serán claves los entrenamientos de mañana y pasado para constatar el regreso de Riquelme. La disyuntiva es quién sale: Cristian Erbes tiene un margen mayor para permanecer en el equipo, ya que Carlos Bianchi quedó conforme con la labor defensiva en Rosario. En tal caso, el que dejaría el equipo sería Juan Manuel Martínez.

Por otro lado, Diego Perotti fue derivado al gimnasio para fortalecer la musculatura. El ex jugador del Sevilla tiene programado realizar un trabajo preventivo antes de saltar al campo de juego, y recién estaría en condiciones de ir al banco ante Atlético Rafaela, por la tercera fecha.

El resto del plantel, que salvo Riquelme, Perotti, Nicolás Colazzo y los que no jugaron ante Newell´s regresó a los entrenamientos tras tener día libre el lunes, sólo pudo realizar movimientos físicos. Al cabo de una hora de práctica, los jugadores se retiraron a sus domicilios y volverán al trabajo el miércoles por la mañana.

Boca recibirá el domingo a Belgrano de Córdoba en una Bombonera sin público, tras la sanción recibida por el uso de pirotecnia en el encuentro ante Gimnasia.

Carbonero volvería ante Rosario Central

BUENOS AIRES -- Tras gozar del día libre luego del triunfo en el debut ante Gimnasia, el plantel de River trabajó bajo la lluvia en el Estadio Monumental, ya con las miras puestas en el partido de la segunda fecha ante Rosario Central.

Aquellos que jugaron el domingo hicieron trabajos regenerativos, mientras que el resto de los futbolistas realizaron ejercicios físicos y fútbol en espacios reducidos, con la gran novedad de que de dicho grupo formó parte Carlos Carbonero.

El mediocampista colombiano, ausente ante Gimnasia por una lesión en una de sus rodillas, trabajó a la par de sus compañeros y será evaluado a lo largo de la semana para determinar si el domingo puede estar ante Central. De llegar en condiciones, ingresaría por Augusto Solari.

Mientras tanto, en el predio de Ezeiza, se disputaba el partido de reserva ante el conjunto platense, pero a los 43 minutos del primer tiempo debió ser suspendido dado las fuertes lluvias caídas en la zona.

Hasta ese entonces, jugaban con el objetivo de sumar minutos Leandro Chichizola, Emmanuel Mammana, Bruno Uribarri, Ariel Rojas y Federico Andrada, entre otros. Además, debutaba Ariel Ortega debutaba en su nuevo puesto de ayudante de campo.

River jugará el próximo domingo, desde las 18:15 hs, ante Rosario Central en el Gigante de Arroyito. El "Millonario" no gana en dicho estadio desde hace cinco años, siendo el 2-1 del Clausura 2009 el último triunfo, con los goles de Martín Galmarini y Cristian Fabbiani.

Hvor er det deprimerende at læse om Salvador Cabañas ...

Hvor er det deprimerende at læse om Salvador Cabañas ...


Ja det er synd, de kunne godt have brugt ham ved sidste VM og nu...

Central America Recap: February 10, 2014

Universidad de San Carlos won again to stay at the peak in Guatemala, while Real Sociedad and Olimpia picked up three more points in Honduras.

GUATEMALA

Universidad de San Carlos (13 points) extended its winning streak to four consecutive games and remained in first place after topping host Halcones, 2-0. Goals by Julian Priego (19’) and Jose Monterroso (75’) proved to be decisive.

Carlos Geovanny Morales scored in the 51st minute to give host Coatepeque (7 points) a 1-0 win over champion Comunicaciones (10 points). With the loss, the Cremas fell into a tie for second place with Mictlan, a 2-1 winner over Xelaju.

Other matches: Marquense 2-1 Iztapa, Municipal 1-0 Suchitpequez, Malacateco 1-0 Heredia

HONDURAS

Real Sociedad (16 points) and Olimpia (15 points) continued to set the pace with impressive seventh-round victories. The Realeza remained in first place on the strength of a Rony Martinez (38’, 47’, 50’) hat-trick in a 4-2 road win over Parrillas Uno. The 26-year-old forward now has a league-best eight goals.

Olimpia is still the only unbeaten team in the Clausura after a 4-0 win at Marathon. Honduras international Roger Rojas scored twice in the triumph, giving him five for the season.

Other matches: Vida 3-1 Deportes Savio, Platense 0-0 Victoria, Motagua 1-1 Real España

COSTA RICA

After six rounds, the Verano table continues to be tight as three points separate the top four teams. First-place Herediano was shutout for the second time in three games with a 0-0 draw at Cartagines (11 points), which is now in a tie for third-place with Saprissa. The Purple Monster won its second straight match, topping visiting Puntarenas in Sunday, 2-1.

CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinalist Alajuelense (12 points) defeated Santos de Guapiles, 3-1. The Manudos have followed a loss with a win over their last four outings.

Other matches: UCR 0-1 Limon, Pérez Zeledon 1-1 Uruguay

NICARAGUA

Four teams with 13 points. That is the situation at the top of the table following another exciting round. In the result of the weekend, Lester Jarquin’s penalty kick gave Juventus Managua (13 points) a 1-0 win over previously undefeated Walter Ferreti (13 points). Defending champion Real Esteli (13 points) played host Diriangen (12 points) to a scoreless draw.

Erick Sierra scored two goals as Managua (13 points) outscored Chinandega, 5-2. Managua had scored only once in its previous three outings.

Other matches: Deportivo Ocotal 1-2 Real Madriz, San Marcos 2-2 Jalapa

EL SALVADOR

FAS (12 points) has secured maximum points from its first four Clausura games after a 2-1 victory over Santa Tecla (3 points) on Saturday. Alexander Larin (22’) and Jonathan Aguila (46’) scored in a winning effort.

Second-place Isidro Metapan (10 points) is the only other unbeaten side, defeating Alianza (6 points), 3-0. All the goals came during a seven-minute stretch in the first half as Milton Molina (12’), Andres Flores (15’) and Diego Peraza (19’) netted once each.

Other matches: Dragon 0-2 Atletico Marte, Juventud Independiente 2-0 UES, Luis Angel Firpo 2-1 Aguila

PANAMA

After a combination of beneficial results, Alianza (10 points) moved back into first place. The Pericos posted an important 1-0 win at Rio Abajo (6 points) on Saturday and, one day later, watched as CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinalist Árabe Unido (9 points) fell out of first place after a scoreless draw with Tauro (6 points). Arabe’s two-game winning streak was snapped, but Tauro is now unbeaten in four straight, including three draws.

In a tightly contested weekend, none of the matches in Panama produced more than one goal.

Other matches: Independiente 0-1 San Francisco, Chepo 0-1 Sporting San Miguelito, Chorrillo 0-0 Plaza Amador

Guatemalan legend Ruiz returns to Municipal

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala – Municipal announced Thursday that it has signed former Guatemala international Carlos Ruiz to an 18-month contract.

The forward is expected to be presented to the press on Monday, marking a return to the club from which his professional career was launched as a 16-year-old in 1995.

“I am actually coming here to work, to win titles,” Ruiz, now 34-year-old, was quoted as saying on Guatemalan radio. “I have not come to take a stroll. I want to retire in an exemplary way and being an example from the locker room to the field of play.”

In his first spell with the Rojos, Ruiz scored 69 goals in 143 matches, winning two league titles (2000 Clausura, 2002 Clausura).

He departed in 2002 for the LA Galaxy, where he enjoyed a remarkable three-year stretch, netting 50 goals in 72 regular-season games. In his first campaign with the club, Ruiz (24 goals in 26 league games) led the Galaxy to its first MLS Cup and won both the MLS and MLS Cup MVP awards.

Ruiz moved on to FC Dallas in 2005 for three seasons and continued his impressive offensive output, striking for 31 additional goals in 68 league encounters.

From there, the “Pescado” spent another year with the Galaxy, before making stops at Toronto FC (Canada), Olimpia (Paraguay), Puebla (Mexico) and Aris (Greece), Philadelphia Union (USA), Veracruz (Mexico) and, most recently, with D.C. United in 2013.

Ruiz’s career with Guatemala was unparalleled. He earned 104 caps and scored a team record 55 goals.

In four CONCACAF World Cup qualifying cycles, Ruiz accrued an astonishing 30 goals in 37 games. He has also competed in five CONCACAF Gold Cups, tallying seven goals.

After scoring his final goal in a World Cup qualifier against the United States on October 16, 2012, Ruiz retired from international football.

In April 2013, he received the first-ever CONCACAF President’s Award for his role in the battle against match-fixing.

Municipal is currently 11th in the Guatemalan table with only two points.

Liga MX Week 6 roundup: Cruz Azul proving title ambitions

It’s still the first half of the Liga MX season, but Cruz Azul fans are riding high.

Not only is La Maquina playing like a well-oiled machine, but instead of missing a beat given the absence of injured veteran midfielder Gerardo Torrado, the team kept rolling this weekend, racking up four goals against hapless Atlante.

Marco Fabian, who scored twice, may finally be reaching the potential he failed to achieve at Chivas. Mariano Pavone, while he didn’t score, expertly pulled the strings on the field to set up his teammates with excellent passes. Coach Luis Fernando Tena has Cruz Azul on top of the Liga MX table with 13 points, and he is looking to guide the team to a trophy. Atlante, on the other hand, appears headed into the goodnight of relegation.

Chasing close behind Cruz Azul is Toluca, which had a tidy 2-0 victory over Chiapas FC on Sunday. Proving he can get goals as well as set them up, Isaac Brizuela opened the scoring in the 49th minute while Pablo Velazquez closed it out in the 86th. Toluca is tied with Cruz Azul on points but has played one game more than the leaders.

Club America may just be realizing how much former coach Miguel Herrera is missed. Or more likely, the team has realized how much Rubens Sambueza is needed in games. Forward Raul Jimenez and his teammates disappointed the home fans in Azteca Stadium, failing to find the finishing touch despite creating some solid chances. That left the door open for Pachuca. One of its young guns, Hirving Lozano, made the most of his opportunity, using his fresh legs as a late sub to shake defender Maza Rodriguez, get the bit of space he needed and fire a shot into the corner of the net to win the game. The Aguilas still claim third place in the table with 12 points while Los Tuzos are now in fifth with 10.

Feisty Club Tijuana fought back from a goal down against Monterrey to claim a 2-1 victory. Things heated up in the second half, when all the goals were scored. First, Cesar Delgado got things going for Los Rayados in the 65th minute, then Dario Benedetto pulled the Xolos even in the 74th. Cristian Pellerano was the Tijuana hero in the 86th minute of play. The club is still unbeaten this season in its home stadium, Estadio Caliente, and moving up the Liga MX table to sixth place. Monterrey is adrift of the playoffs at present, languishing in the ill-omened 13th spot.

At the start of the Clausura 2014 season, a fourth-place position for say, Tigres, would have made perfect sense, but the club in that position is actually Pumas de la UNAM, which has proved that its turnaround from the previous poor season is for real. Pumas continued its good run with a victory over Leon. The defending champions are struggling mightily this season, losing 2-1 on their home field. Leon now claims only five points in the table while Pumas has twice as many.

Tigres, it has to be noted, is unbeaten for the last two games, but the team has also failed to win. At least in the most recent game, a 1-1 result versus Santos Laguna, a Tigres player actually scored. Young star forward Alan Pulido put Tigres into the lead 11 minutes into the game, but Andres Renteria pulled Santos Laguna even early in the second half. Santos is now in the eighth and final playoff qualifying position. Meanwhile, Tigres is still last in the league with a measly three points.

Pumas isn’t the only club on the road to redemption in this Clausura season. Chivas is on that journey as well, holding on to a respectable seventh place in the league table. Against Puebla on Sunday, a fourth-minute goal by Aldo de Nigris was enough to win and keep Guadalajara in the top half of the table, while Puebla has to make do with 12th place.

Two squads struggling this season, Atlas and Morelia, split the points in their clash with a 1-1 draw. Morelia is still winless under its new coach, but it has one more point on the season than Atlas, which has five.

A team that may be showing signs of being a quiet contender for a playoff spot is Queretaro, which defeated Veracruz 2-0. The Queretaro squad, while not flashy, gets the job done against the teams it should beat. Veracruz has only five points now while Queretaro is in sixth place with 10.

The halfway point of the season is fast approaching, and the form of the top teams is beginning to emerge and establish the league leaders. Cruz Azul, for example, is on fire. Meanwhile, the coaching hot seat for Tigres coach Ricardo Ferretti isn´t cooling down any time soon.

El Tri Hot List: Fabian on the up with Cruz Azul

GUADALAJARA -- Watching Marco Fabian play for Chivas since that Olympic gold medal in the summer 2012 felt a lot like repeatedly banging your head against a wall.

You knew he had the ability to carry the team on his shoulders, score important goals and inspire those around him. Yet it just didn´t click, maybe because so much was expected, or perhaps the Chivas side just wasn´t good enough and teams knew that by stopping Fabian, they would stop most of Guadalajara´s creative threat.

The constant rumors about partying made Fabian´s position at Chivas almost untenable and the fresher airs of Cruz Azul -- under Olympic-winning coach Luis Fernando Tena -- are providing the perfect environment for the resurgence of a player that possesses all the natural talent to work his way into the Mexico national team.

At La Maquina, there is much less responsibility on the 24-year-old with players of proven quality all around him, and instead of feeling the heavy weight of expectation, Fabian has been the catalyst in sparking Cruz Azul to first position in the Liga MX after just over a third of the season.

What a waste it would´ve been to see him play in Qatar.

Warming up

Marco Fabian, LW, Cruz Azul (Mexico)

Why he´s here: It took Fabian less than one minute to open the scoring in his team´s 4-1 win over Atlante on Sunday. If the finish was relatively easy, the timing of run into the penalty area was exquisite. Fabian added a second goal late in the game, again with a well-timed burst into the box, but it was his drive in winning a 50-50 header that pointed to the positivity surrounding the player at the moment.

What this means: The race for places in Mexico´s squad is already intense, but if Fabian can continue as he is at present, he´ll likely get a look in for one of Miguel Herrera´s squads ahead of the World Cup, at a minimum.

Isaac Brizuela, RW, Toluca (Mexico)

Why he´s here: "I don´t know what else he can show, you´re not going to see a player in Europe like him. He´s a joyful player, who works very well." Those were Toluca coach Jose Cardozo´s gushing words about Brizuela after his team´s 2-0 victory over Chiapas on Sunday. "El Conejito" cut inside and struck a left-footed shot from the edge of the area to break the deadlock against Chiapas and was a constant threat on the right wing.

What this means: Brizuela is quickly moving up the national team depth chart. He´s a player that has already caught Herrera´s eye and is now impossible to ignore when it comes to the World Cup mix. Cardozo´s words may have been a slight exaggeration, but he´s right in that there are few Mexican players that have the ability to go past a defender with the balance, poise and pace of Brizuela.

Giovani Dos Santos, F, Villarreal (Spain)

Why he´s here: A free-kick of the highest quality from Dos Santos temporarily brought Villarreal back into the game against Real Madrid on Saturday. Aside from the moment of magic, Dos Santos was a positive for Villarreal, who lost 4-2 in the Bernabeu.

What this means: Herrera has demanded consistency from Dos Santos and his performances are living up to what is expected.

Hector Moreno, CB, Espanyol (Spain)

Why he´s here: A key figure in Espanyol´s 1-0 win over Granada on Friday, Moreno headed in the 79th minute winner to secure the three points and was a rock in defense for Javier Aguirre´s side.

What this means: Rafa Marquez may be the only Mexican player guaranteed to be in the squad for the World Cup, according to Herrera, but Moreno is surely next on the list.

Guillermo Ochoa, GK, Ajaccio (France)

Why he´s here: Victoire! Ajaccio secured just its second win of the season and its first in Ligue 1 since September on Saturday, overcoming Rennes 3-1 at home. Ochoa went the full 90 minutes and made a crucial save in the seventh minute, with the score still at 0-0.

What this means: In all probability, Ajaccio is going down this season, but a late-season surge inspired by Ochoa in goal can’t do the former America player´s chance with El Tri any harm at all.

Hector Herrera, MF, Porto (Portugal)

Why he´s here: The former Pachuca midfielder started for Porto as it dismantled Pacos de Ferreira 3-0 on Sunday. It was a major plus for Herrera and suggests that coach Paulo Fonseca considers the Mexican worthy of more responsibility following Lucho Gonzalez´s departure for Qatar.

What this means: El Tri´s coach has said he needs his Europe-based players to be playing and in form. Herrera is now ticking those boxes.

Cooling down

Diego Reyes, CB, Porto (Portugal)

Why he´s here: The flip-slide to Herrera´s success story. Argentine center back Nicolas Otamendi has now left Porto, but the fact Reyes didn´t even make the bench against Pacos de Ferreira was a significant blow to the 21-year-old´s chances of getting more minutes.

What this means: The classy center back failed to convince for Mexico against South Korea last month and there is already a debate about how risky it is to start Reyes for El Tri if he isn´t getting top-flight football.