Hello and welcome to every readers. In this edition, we'll look back at what happened in Peruvian football during last week.
The 2008 Apertura season's just ended, and one might think, as it is the silly season, nothing interesting has happened. Well, it is far from the truth.
First of all, the break between Apertura and Clausura is only one week (!) in this year. So the teams have small time left to search for reinforcements. The market reflected it, being really busy, but there are two issues, which outshined even the market recently, and excite the Peruvian football fans.
One of them is the status of Sport Boys. The team is one of the oldest, and most prestigious team in Peru , having many supporters, though you cannot compare their numbers to the big four, but the Callao based team certainly deserves a place right behind them.
Well, the team lives hard times. Recent years always saved itself in last rounds from relegation, but its financial status just turned from bad to worse. The team has big debts, owing three months salary to the players, who were really patient. The Peruvian Football Association gave an ultimatum to Sport Boys, that unless by the 27th of July it pays his debts towards the players, the 1st round match's three points will be awarded to their opponent. Also got another one week reprieve to pay the sum, and if it won't be fulfilled, the team relegates to 2nd division.
The players already started to leave the club. Nine of them, we would say the core of the squad announced their will to leave. Three of them have already signed to other teams. The future looks really gloomy and dark.
The other issue is the "Great Purge" á la Stalin (sic) in Alianza Lima. Several players took part at the farewell party of Reimond Manco, one day before the important encounter vs Cienciano.
The management of Alianza learnt it from a TV station. Richard Páez, the new coach after a couple of day's hesitation brought his decision.
Waldir Sáenz, Jorge Soto, Martín Tenemás, Renzo Reaños and Renzo Benavides are excluded from the team. Actually none of them were important part of the team. Others got only minor forfeits.
Certainly the decision split the team, and caused much bitterness. The team was really unlucky in its last three matches, and moral is not at its best.
However, Páez is a good coach, and we hope, he will build a new and strong team for the Clausura.

El Virrey