Further Chaos in El Salavador

Owing to recent events (see photo) this will need to be brief. There are three stories to fill in on, the under 23 team, goings on at San Salvador, and the exciting “Caso Anel Canales”.

El Salvador Under-23 – Road to Beijing 2008, in Panama.

Firstly, who goes to the Olympics? Well, it is open to players born after 1st January 1985, that is the under 23 teams. CONCACAF have two places, and the final deciding round will be in the USA between 8 teams: - 3 from North America, 3 from Central America, and 2 from the Caribbean. Obviously the three North American teams are Canada, USA and Mexico. The Caribbean countries have decided already on Haiti and Cuba: that leaves three from Central America.

To decide there are two three-way tournaments, Panama, Honduras and El Salvador in Panama last week, and Guatemala, Costa Rica and Nicaragua, next week in Guatemala. Each team plays each team once, for a three-team table (think 2nd round 1982 World Cup). The top countries from each league go to the States, and the two second placed teams play a home and away tie for the third and final place. Then all 8 teams go to USA to decide the two who actually go to China. All very exciting and simple, no?

So first up in the Rod Carew Baseball stadium (I kid you not), in front of very few was El Salvador and Panama. Despite the visitors controlling the midfield, and the game in the most part, they could not find the net. Following a disastrous mix up, basically the goalkeeper was at fault, the hosts went one up. After this El Salvador had to push, and were unlucky to concede another, again errors at the back. They continued to be the better team and scored late into injury time, losing 2-1.

Incidentally I watched all this in a Chinese restaurant, as we enjoyed what will surely be our last night out together ever.

So this takes us to the Friday night showdown v Honduras, a win really required to guarantee at least the second place play-off chance. There must have been fewer than 100 people in the “bleachers”, as I believe they must be known at a Baseball Ground (no – not in Derby…). This was the little City fan’s first game, having been born earlier that day. She sat on my lap and watched as a less convincing El Salvador was brushed aside 3-0, to kill off any hopes at all of going to the Olympics. No matter that the score line once again flattered the winners, this little Salvadoreña has been crying ever since. I haven’t dared tell her about Plymouth Norwich yet.

San Salvador
I have copious notes on their latest loss at home, my last live game for a while, I think. Suffice to say the panteras played well again, and went ahead. A Quintanilla free kick met easily in the box to be headed home by and unmarked Cerritos, one of two home players on their own in the heart of the box, very poor from Vista Hermosa.

Without being spectacular, the visitors hustled well, and closed San Salvador down. They seemed determined to play a short passing game, with all players converging towards the player with the ball. The “Road-Runners” took full advantage of this, closing down the spaces consistently. The defending by SanSal was actually better, but they still went down to a businesslike Vista Hermosa, using the flanks well, 3-1.

Eliseo Quintanilla was a golden boy of Salvadorian football, and went off to seek fame and fortune a few years back at DC United. However a bad injury kept him out, and he returned, now 24, to El Salvador and signed for a year with San Salvador. “Cheyo” is clearly one of the best players on the team. One of the things I enjoyed about the game last Wednesday was how quickly the tiny crowd turned and got personal. When Pablo Hernandez, the keeper, came down to the home end for the second half, we all called his name, and generally gave him a bit of worship. A few minutes later he badly misjudged a long free kick, making it 2-1. The abuse was instant, and very personal, and went on far too long. This seemed worse in a crowd of 30-40 than a crowd of several thousand, although it’s the same I suppose.

Cheyo Qunitanilla was not having a great game, and we did get on his back a bit too. When in Washington there were some unpleasant rumours of drink and girls, all hotly denied. He has now, with 2 games left and less than a month on his contract, announced he is leaving San Salvador as of now, because “The results have not been what I hoped”. There is one word of this: - Character. I can’t see this talented young player amount to anything because of this flaw, although he is talking a lot about many offers and going abroad again, I doubt it. A blow for SanSal, none the less.

Anel Canales
Now, this is a cracker, and I may have mentioned it before, but the story has just exploded. Anel Canales is a Panamanian who was contracted this season by Chalatenango, during their best run ever, looking good for a semi-final spot.

He played in the 2-1 victory over San Salvador who made an official complaint to the federation. The complaint being that Chalat was the third team that Canales had played official matches for during this “FIFA year”, which is strictly forbidden.

He played at least one game for Tecnico Universitario in the second division of Ecuador, although he was only with them 15 days, and he was inscribed with Chorrillo FC in Panama. The directors of Chalat maintain that he was only inscribed, but did not play, and had a fax to this effect, which allowed the committee to throw out the complaint by San Salvador. The Pantera’s directors left the hearing muttering dark threats of appeals, etc.

I have looked into this, and it is astounding how little information is available, as to whether he played or not. I managed to find a listing of the game he was supposed to have played in Panama, but no team lists. An exhaustive search of the Panamanian newspapers online archives came up with no reports at all on this game. San Salvador have repeatedly stated they will not let it lie until the referees official report from the game is produced.

The player is saying nothing.

During the triangular tournament the Salvadorian federation (FEDEFUT) spoke privately with their counterparts in Panama (FEPAFUT), who are now referring everything to FEDEFUT. The head of FEDEFUT, Rodrigo Calvo called Lisandro Pohl, Director of Chalatenango, to say “I’m calling from Panama, as a friend - I advise you not to play Canales anymore this season”. Pohl declined the advice, and he continues to play.

Now with all this coming out, all the other teams who dropped points against Chalat whilst the Panamanian was playing have joined forces with SanSal, asking the points to be stripped, and for them to get the three points. These are:-
Aguila 0 – Chalatenango 1

Chalatenango 2 – San Salvador 1
Firpo 0 – Chalatenango 0
Vista Hermosa 1 – Chalatenango 1
Chalatenango 2 – Metapan 1
This would alter the table immensely, dropping Chalatenango from 1st to 8th, and giving them no chance to qualify for the semi-finals for the first time in their history. Metapan would go from second to first, Aguila 4th to 3rd, and FAS would drop from third to joint 4th, needing a play-off with Firpo, if the league finished today (they don’t use goal difference here).

At the other end of the table San Salvador currently have 11 points to Once Municipal’s 14. This would change to 14 each, and remember that SanSal have a game in hand (home v Aguila this Wednesday night), so you can see why they have been so keen to pursue this.

With only two jornadas left this season, maybe a decision will not be taken in time, and maybe Chalatenango will have to pay for it next season, but I am sure FEDEFUT do not want FIFA stepping in, as they did with Alianza last year, and so expect some swift action, and some bitter resentment from the north.

Teams Not Paying
Nelson Ancheta’s FAS join the list of teams whose players have been on strike over non-payment. This looks set to be resolved rapidly, but again it brings into question how things are run here. I have seen here in the press a movement building to make sure the league does not program games during the FIFA international dates, as the clubs are fed up of playing matches without their best players. Honestly…

Sorry made those exciting happenings all sound a little stale. Too tired probably….