River Plate arrive for CFU Football clash

Apr 13, 2011 Sports

Visitors expect ‘physical’ game from Alpha United

By Sean Devers
Puerto Rico’s champions, River Plate, arrived in Guyana yesterday afternoon where they oppose Guyana’s two times defending Super League Champions, Alpha United Football club, in the second round of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship at the Guyana National Stadium on Friday from 20:00hrs under lights and again on Sunday at Bourda from 15:00hrs.
Despite having to ‘give up’ home advantage for their return game because the Football Stadium in Puerto Rico is under construction and will not be ready until August and five of their team members are still in Argentina awaiting Visas to travel, River Plate Manager Claudio Alvarez Dunn is confident of success in the Guyana leg of his team’s campaign.
Skipper Petter Villegas, who hails from Ecuador, is one of two players with Puerto Rico National team experience in the side and one of five players who played against Guyana in last year’s competition when the team from the Spanish speaking Caribbean Island held Guyana to a 1-all draw in a game the Guyanese had to win to advance to the next round.
“We had to move from one town to another because we could not get to rent the Baseball Stadium and we made a deal with the Mayor of Fajardo which is on the East Coast of Puerto, to get a Stadium there ready by August. But I would say that I am satisfied with preparations so far,” Dunn told Kaieteur Sports from the team’s Hotel last evening.
He said his side only had 11 players including the reserve Goalkeeper available for their two first round games in the Cayman Islands against Bodden Town but managed to win 2-nill before losing 0-1.
“Everybody had to play for the entire game including the reserve ‘Keeper since our main players were stuck in Argentina waiting for Visas. We now have 16 players here with another expected from Peru later tonight (last night) so although we are still not at full strength we are confident of doing well,” the Manager disclosed.
“Many of the players who played against Guyana last time are not with the team but as part of our preparations we found out about the Alpha style of play and we expect a very physical game,” Dunn said.
“They (Guyana) are more English Football oriented while we play a more South American style with lots of short passes. We will live and die with our style of play and while we understand the National Stadium should be a fast ground we are ready for the matches here,” the Manager noted.
He said that he was pleased that both venues have natural grass since due to their style of Football his players hate artificial grass.
Dunn said his team’s schedule is hectic since they are presently playing in three major competitions (CFU, USL & Puerto Rico League) and their goal is to win all three.
“We leave here on Monday. We are here for Football so I don’t think we will be able to see much of Guyana but once we can leave with two wins we would have had a great trip,” Dunn said.
The Manager said that apart from the Captain and Christopher Megaloudis, who have played for Puerto Rico, Francois Frantz represented the Haiti national side and Goalkeeper Craig Alan Hill was drafted by the Dallas FC in the MLS league and should play key roles on Friday and Sunday.
He added that Matias Arle is a key player with the Boca Juniors which is the largest Football team in Argentina while mid-fielder Gustavo Paruolo has played in Europe and done well in Italy and Romania.
The team which is an Argentina side based in Puerto Rico, will have their first practice session today before their night game at the Stadium on Friday.

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