Bolivarism celebrates its beloved 'Liberator'.

 It could not be otherwise. The Bolivarista fans celebrated yesterday their beloved Simón Bolívar Libertador Stadium with a party and in one of its last functions, they celebrated a sentimental moment but also a moment of joy that they will never forget.

Nearly two hundred people gathered at the old stadium in the Tembladerani area at the call of the management, who decided to make the stadium the center of attention in the commemoration of the 97th anniversary of the La Paz team.

The doors of the stadium opened at 11:00 a.m. and entire families were present. All the celebration took place on the pitch. Sports dynamics such as soccer-tennis, penalty kicks and informal matches were organized there.

Around the field, foosball tables were installed and in another sector an improvised museum where the trophies won by the Academy throughout its history were exhibited. Attendees did not miss the opportunity to take the famous selfies.

There were also food outlets, the chola sandwich and the choripán, the most requested by diners. An exclusive point for tasting the club's muscatel wine and other snacks. Sale of official sports apparel and other attractions.

After midday, the musical festival began. Los Juglares del Sur opened the event with a folkloric rhythm, the show was also animated by Grupo Hit, Son Mestizo, Hermanos Romero, DJ Danilo Mix and the central act was in charge of the famous tropical singer Jorge Eduardo who made the crowd dance with songs that are part of the musical repertoire of the academics such as 'Bolivarista señores soy yo' or 'Celeste a morir'. The activity lasted all afternoon and closed around 19.00.

"Ninety-seven years are not celebrated every day, the party in Tembladerani is to celebrate this great stadium because its essence is not going away and will remain the same forever, the demolition has not yet proceeded so we will continue to carry out some other final activities," said marketing manager Mariano Alvarez.

The people vibrated with the entertainment numbers, but also expressed their sentimentality for the history captured in this old building that was Bolivar's home for more than 40 years.

"Tembla is leaving us, it is sad for all that we lived here but also fill us with happiness because they will build a better one," said Veimar Chuquimia.

"As a child I came to see the Academy here with my dad, who is no longer with me but they are unique moments that we will never forget, Tembladerani forever," emphasized Yuri de la Gasca.

The ladies are also fans and were not left out: "For me this stadium and Bolívar are everything and I am going to celebrate to the max, long live Bolívar and Tembla," said Albita Quiroz. 

It was one of the last events to be held at the stadium, which will be demolished at the end of the month or beginning of May to make way for the construction of the new sky-blue temple.

At her hotel Salqui, Ines Quispe says she will return to Tigre in two years

 The former president of The Strongest reappeared and said that she will continue the legacy of César Salinas (+). 

What am I going to take away from this life? He asks himself. "Nothing," she answers. That's why Inés Quispe de Salinas is convinced: "In about two years I will return (to Tigre) because it's what I like". Although she is saddened by her club's current situation, the former president of The Strongest is motivated "because I'm a die-hard stronguista". At a party organized by her children - at her hotel Salqui Resort Mecapaca - the businesswoman says she wants to continue the soccer legacy of her husband César Salinas (+).

"He was in charge of making me like the sport and the truth is that I will return, but not now. In two years it is in my plans to return", she reinforces. Flower petals cover almost all her hair.  She is the queen of her party. "This is a surprise my children made for me. They gave me the surprise of my life," she laughs.

The band Veneno plays music to her dialogue.  "The truth is that I left the institution for health reasons", she explains while listening: "People say that I am a stronguista at heart...".

For a year and two months, Quispe (April 19, 1964) has been following his Tigre from the stands. "First there was my health and now I feel fine, but I always have some treatments to comply with and then I'll be back," she insists.

Quispe is the first female president (July 2019-February 2021) in the history of the dean club of Bolivian professional soccer.

"In this time, the club has changed a lot and time will be in charge of judging the people who did things in a bad way", he protests, remembering that "I didn't even receive an invitation for Tigre's anniversary (April 8). It is a very unfortunate situation I am going through, not economically, but emotionally because the club I love did not even give me an invitation. But well... that's the least of it. I will continue to be a stronguista to death and I will finish with that. I left so that they manage well and continue to do things well. There were some tax debts, but there were not many anymore. It was a matter of complying a little more and keep going forward".

Elections in Tigre

"There should be elections at the club. Two months ago or last year I went to visit the president (of the Bolivian Football Federation) Fernando Costa to ask him to hold elections in the club because that would be ideal", reveals the businesswoman who at the end of last year finalized the purchase of the Hotel Andino, from the leader of Unidad Demócrata (UD) Samuel Doria Medina. 

The former head of Tigre explained that her term of office "expired in November last year. So, now there should be elections in the institution, as it should be, but they have liked the chair, the power.... I don't know how far it will take them".

Last year he interrupted his leadership career that began in 2014, in the administrative section of the club.

Will he run in the elections?

"No, two years from now because I have several things pending because I know how to measure my times, my urgencies and then I will gladly do it," he responds to the query of journalist Victor Hugo Mendoza, of the DXTV program. "God willing, I will come back because I like soccer, so I will come back", he says goodbye to return to the party with approximately 300 guests. 

Marcelo Robledo in Brazil: "We are a very humble team (...) We don't even have a field".

 Independiente's technical director spoke after the loss to Palmeiras 

The Bolivian champion Independiente had a night of terror on Tuesday at the Allianz Parque in Sao Paulo, where they were beaten 8-1 by Palmeiras of Brazil in the second round of the Copa Libertadores.

El Matador started winning with a goal by Erik Correa 6 minutes into the match, but could not sustain the difference in the scoreboard and was overwhelmed by a Brazilian team superior in all aspects.

This was confirmed by Independiente's technical director, Marcelo Robledo, at the press conference after the match.

He emphasized that the first half of the team from Chuquisaca was "the best in our history", highlighting that this is "a new team and we are facing the champion (of America)".

    "It wasn't in the plans such a tremendous thrashing," acknowledged Robledo, also emphasizing the experience and talent of the Brazilian players. "They are all a machine," he added.

For Robledo, the Independiente team had "neither the intelligence nor the capacity" to sustain at least the draw and the goal at the beginning of the second half ended up derailing everything that had been planned.

    "We are a very humble team, we are looking for a field to be able to train on a daily basis, we don't even have a field (...) We had talked about it that if we found ourselves with this possibility (of taking the lead), we had to defend it to the maximum", said the coach.

Thus, Robledo analyzed Independiente's defeat and then returned to the country to face their next match, on Saturday, against Always Ready, in El Alto. For the Copa Libertadores they will play again on Tuesday, April 26, against Deportivo Táchira of Venezuela, at the Patria stadium in Sucre.

Carlos Arias: "I survived twice in less than a year".

 The former goalkeeper of Blooming, Bolívar, Oriente, The Strongest and the Bolivian national team recovered from Covid-19 and an accident that caused burns all over his body. 

Life has given Carlos Arias a new opportunity and he does not miss it. He is slowly returning to normality after a serious work accident that almost cost him his life. It was a complicated moment, but he is getting better and better, and jovial as always, he attended us to talk for a while.

The renowned goalkeeper is now behind him, although the unforgettable moments in soccer are always at hand to relive them. It is not for less, he was goalkeeper of the most important teams of the country and also played in Spain and Israel. At the age of 18 he became national champion and was the goalkeeper of the Bolivian national team for a long time.

El Pollo' played for Blooming, The Strongest, Bolívar, Maccabi Netanya, Córdoba C.F., Oriente Petrolero, Guabirá and Sport Boys Warnes.

But he moved away from the courts and started a new life, with private enterprises such as the broasted chicken shops he runs. It was precisely in one of them where he suffered the accident that almost cost him his life and left him with scars that he still suffers in the flesh.

 "I survived twice in less than a year", says the 42 year old Portachueleño, and tells that first it was the Covid-19 that squeezed his lungs and then the accident in his restaurant "Pollo" Arias in which the flames almost extinguished his existence.

Three months after the accident, he still has after-effects. Carlos is optimistic, with faith in God and grateful to all those who gave him a helping hand when he needed it most.

Pollo relives the accident as a terrible movie. He has very clear images...

-I remember that I went out in the middle of the fire; when the gas was mixed with the fire I received a blow that knocked me backwards. I understood that I had fallen because I wanted to get up but I couldn't, maybe it was because of the kitchen floor... it was a desperation, a screaming on my part... When I managed to stand up I saw fire everywhere and the first thing I did was to run for it.

Did you lose consciousness?

-No, not at any moment, because after I heard the cylinder start to ring I went in to turn it off because of the serious danger it meant, because there were more cylinders in the place and one thinks that everything is going to explode.

What caused it all?

-They are accidents that happen. They thought that the cylinder was closed but it had been turned... I fought and fought but it was too late because the fire broke out because the 'flamazo', as they call it when gas accumulated in the kitchen. I went out, ran, went back in, called for help, I wanted them to call the ambulance. At one point I could not stand it any longer and they took me to the Ucebol clinic where they gave me first aid; then I was in the Caja Petrolera de Salud receiving great attention.

How much of your body was affected by the fire?

-I ended up burning almost 70% of my body with second degree wounds and only one third degree wound (the most serious). Thank God now I only have the after-effects of the burn spots. I have to wear bandages on both arms for several more months to protect me from the sun, because it cannot hit me directly; they are bandages that apply pressure and prevent further damage to my skin.

She stands up and shows the upper part of her arms, on the left one she has places where the skin has not yet completely regenerated and permanently has blisters.

Was your life in danger?

-Yes, my life was in danger. Hours after the accident I had the first emergency cleaning..., I really could not stand so much pain because there were many wounds and they were very big. The next day they had to sedate me and intubate me to be able to perform a total cleaning; but the bad thing was that I had a cardiac arrhythmia, that's why I was in intensive care for three days.

A complicated moment...

-Of course, I was saved, thank God.

And what is happening now, three months after the event?

-On April 5 it was three months since the accident, after which I started to walk, jog and even ride a bicycle, trying to get back to almost normality... it will be normality for me when I can go back to practicing the sports I like, without having to run away from the sun.

The important thing is that everything is evolving well?

-My vital organs are perfect. When I went into the operating room for the first time, on January 8, I suffered a cardiac arrhythmia, I suddenly became hypertensive because I had played 18 years in professional soccer and we always had complete examinations before starting each preseason, but they had never detected any problem in my heart. The doctors explained to me that this was normal because of the accident I had suffered, in which the body loses many of its properties, so it is normal for the heart to start beating faster to recover everything it needs.

And how long will you need for a full recovery?

-I have been told at Cerniquem that it will take between 8 months and a year for me to recover the dermis and epidermis I lost. The burns leave stains, scars, but I am not really worried about whether I am stained or not; what is most important for me today is that I am alive and that I have another chance in this world after life has hit me so hard in one year.

What happened before...?

-In April 2021 I was attacked by Covid, which affected 85% of my lungs... I almost died because I had to be intubated with so much lung involvement. A doctor told me that it was a miracle that with 85% of my lungs affected and that they had not intubated me... But of course, I needed oxygen at home, they put me on 15 medications a day.

But at the end of the year you were fine?

-Of course, in December I went to play the Oriente-Blooming classic in Naples (United States), I was hit by Covid again, on December 30 I tested negative and on January 5 this happened to me (the accident in your restaurant)... so I came back beaten up.

But you always received a lot of support and affection?

-In all this the support of the family is very important, my wife, children, siblings, many relatives and -of course- so many friends who collaborated; I am grateful to all of them for these shows of solidarity in Santa Cruz, in the interior of the country... they have helped us to alleviate the burden because, as you know, a person died and the relatives have to be compensated. The expenses were impressive because although I had insurance in the Caja Petrolera (my wife had insured me 3 days ago) but the medicines were not covered by the insurance, precisely because of a matter of seniority; anyway, we saved a lot because I needed an operating room five times, specialists and so many expenses that an event of this nature demands.

But you are getting ahead...

-God knows why things happen... and at the end of the day he will know when I am going to leave. Look, in one year I was on the brink of the abyss in the two most serious deaths: drowning (lack of oxygen from the Covid) and burning alive. If you ask me which of the two (deaths) is the ugliest...I really don't know because in both cases the feeling is horrible.

Did what happened to you in a year change your life or did it change the way you look at life?

-I see it like this: although I don't consider myself an angel, I'm not a thumper, I'm not a rogue, I'm not a crook, I try to be fair with people, I've always believed in God. Living a year in Israel changed my mentality about religion: if the Arabs had discovered America, we would be of the Muslim religion, the same as if the Jews had discovered us...in the end it is all that they inculcate in us; the Spaniards arrived first and introduced us to Christianity. There is a God and I believe in him because he saved me, that's why I try to be fair and supportive.

Pablo Salomón, the first person apprehended in the 'audios' case

 The former ACF executive was sued by Fernando Costa, president of the FBF, who filed a lawsuit against him for extortion and criminal association.

Pablo Salomón, former president of the Asociación Cruceña de Fútbol (ACF) and former executive of the Federación Boliviana de Fútbol (FBF), was arrested by the police this Friday in compliance with the arrest warrant executed on April 5 by Lupe Zabala, from the Departmental Prosecutor's Office of La Paz.

Salomón was sued by Fernando Costa, president of the FBF, who initiated legal proceedings against him for criminal association and extortion.

This matter has to do with the audios that were made public at the beginning of the year and that point to the current head of the federation in match-fixing in the last championship and in the purchase of votes for the elections that took place at the end of January.

It was learned that Salomón will be transferred to the Government headquarters to give his statement on the case and that the same fate will have other defendants such as Hormando Vaca Díez, Mary Cruz Soleto, Óscar Ardaya and Miguel Alberto Lozada, who also have an arrest warrant.

Marcelo Martins, top scorer of the World Cup qualifiers

 The national team striker finished the competition with ten goals, ahead of players such as Neymar, Leo Messi, Lautaro Martínez, Luis Suárez, among others.

The 18th date of the qualifiers for the World Cup Qatar 2022 was completed and Marcelo Martins remained at the top of the scoring charts with ten goals. We cannot yet say that he finished as the top scorer of the competition, because the match between Brazil and Argentina, which was suspended last year, has yet to be played.

And the fact is that both the Verdeamarilla and the Albiceleste have players who aim to dethrone the captain of La Verde, the case of the Brazilian Neymar, who has eight goals, in addition to the Argentines Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez, who have scored seven goals. Uruguay's Luis Suárez has eight goals, but his national team has no more matches pending.

Martins was unable to score against Brazil on Tuesday, but he remains the top scorer in the qualifiers and the all-time top scorer for La Verde with 30 goals between friendly and official matches.

The first goal of the 'Matador' in these qualifiers was against Argentina, in La Paz, on October 13, 2020; then he scored another against Ecuador, also at the Government headquarters, on November 12, 2020.

His third goal was scored against Paraguay, in Asuncion, on November 17, 2020; then he scored a goal against Chile, on March 26, 2021, in Rancagua.

He scored two goals against Venezuela in La Paz, on June 3, 2021; then he scored again against the Chilean national team, in Santiago, on June 8, 2021; while his eighth goal was against Uruguay, in Montevideo, on September 5, 2021; and it was the Charrúa team that suffered his ninth goal, in La Paz, on November 16, 2021.

Marcelo Martins' tenth goal in these qualifiers came against Chile, in La Paz, on February 1 this year, which was also his last goal in the qualifiers for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

Qualifiers: Bolivia 0 - 4 Brasil

 An unpresentable version of Bolivia was seen yesterday in La Paz. There is no future for the 2026 qualifiers.

The ordeal is over, the end of one of Bolivia's worst qualifying rounds. An unpresentable national team lost 4-0 last night against Brazil at the Hernando Siles stadium, something that was a foregone conclusion due to the low level of Bolivian soccer, which once again places it among the last teams in South America.

The limitations of the Bolivian national team were even more evident against an opponent of hierarchy, which embarrassed them more than once in the first part of the match.

It was enough for the Canarinha to have possession of the ball and play it with precision, hiding the ball from La Verde, who did not know what to do on the field.

What a nostalgia for those Bolivian teams that beat Brazil three times in the Siles stadium, but with attitude, desire to win, something that the team coached by César Farías lacked until last night.

The Venezuelan failed again in the formation of the team, stubborn as he is he trained with a group since Friday and put other men last night. A clear example was the absence of Ramiro Vaca from the start.

In spite of all the bad things, the best of the Bolivian team was the insistence of Henry Vaca, tireless in his task and the most incisive on the field.

The Canarinha goals

 Brazil measured the tempo and scored when Bolivia least expected it. A warning came after 12 minutes with a shot by Antony that left Sagredo and Fernandez standing still.

Bolivia's best was a play by Henry Vaca, who was left alone, but Alisson responded without problems.

The first goal of the night was a combination of Guimaraes and Fabinho that left Lucas Paqueta alone and he easily beat Cordano (23').

Before the break (44'), Richarlison broke free and Antony scored the second against an unimpressive Bolivian team.

Second half

Bolivia's best were the first 15 minutes of the second half. The presence of Ramiro Vaca changed the tone of La Verde. After two minutes, a header by Martins crashed against the left post. After ten minutes came the best play of the night with a shot by Ramiro Vaca that was saved by the Brazilian goalkeeper and from the rebound Roberto Fernandez was unable to finish.

Brazil showed its forcefulness again and took advantage of a bad start by the Bolivian players to score the third of the night through Bruno Guimaraes (20') and the match was already looking like a rout for the Canarinha.

Gabriel spared Bolivia's life in the final part of the match with a couple of plays that did not end in a goal only by luck in Cordano's goal.

The one who did not forgive was Richarlison in the time limit to seal the Brazilian victory, the biggest in the history of the qualifiers in Paceño territory.

Farias said that he is leaving a team for three cycles, something that is not true. With this group of players we are expecting the same or worse in the next qualifiers. The problem is the weak structure of Bolivian soccer that will continue in the same way, as long as the federation leadership does not present a serious project. 

Tite attacks La Paz and Etcheverry calls him "coward".

Brazil's coach said it is "inhuman" to play at high altitude.

Brazil's coach, Tite, warned that against eliminated Bolivia his team will not be "as vertical" as it usually is, due to the altitude of La Paz, and was encouraged to achieve a victory to break the record for most points in the South American qualifying round. He said that it is "inhuman" to play at high altitude. In response to this version, former La Verde national team player Marco Antonio Etcheverry was quick to retort: "Let the famous Tite keep quiet, he is a coward". 

"We are not going to have a team as vertical as we have had in recent games because (the altitude of 3,600 meters above sea level) does not allow it, it is inhuman," said the coach at a press conference on Monday in Teresopolis, in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

Hours later, Etcheverry sent a message to the players of the national team and another to the Brazilian DT. "I hope they score four (goals) for the excuses they are making. I do not want to say other words because they will think it is discriminatory, but it seems to me that (Tite) is a coward, to be talking about the altitude when they are already qualified to the World Cup. (...) It seems very cowardly to me. It bothered me a lot, I didn't hear it before. Tité is a coward", protested the ex-footballer to Futbolmania. 

Tite

"There are other strategies, to keep possession of the ball. We hope the pitch is in good condition. We won't be able to put the same rhythm, the same speed we usually use in home games or in normal conditions", he added.

Qualified since November for the Qatar-2022 World Cup and undefeated leader with 42 points from 16 games, the 'Seleção' will break the record for most points in the South American qualifiers if they beat the Bolivians on the last day of the qualifiers, without the suspended Neymar and Vinicius Jr.

The record in the current competition format (10 teams, all against all, established for the road to France-1998) is held by Marcelo Bielsa's Argentina, who scored 43 points on the road to Korea and Japan-2002.

Brazil has another chance to break or extend that record, because it has a game against Argentina pending. That match should have been played in September in Sao Paulo, but was suspended due to alleged violations of the anti-virus protocol by the Albicelestes.

Furthermore, if the five-time champions beat Bolivia, second last with 15 points, they would displace Belgium from first place in the FIFA ranking.   

"It has meaning (breaking that record and reaching the top spot). Personally (what's important) is to see the team play very well again, to get through adversity strategically, to have their soccer represented with technical quality and possession," he said.

Without Neymar and Vinicius Jr, Tite would make seven changes compared to the starting XI that thrashed Chile 4-0 on Thursday at the Maracana. Substitute goalkeeper Weverton will also be out through injury.

The 'Canarinha', which will travel to Bolivia on Monday afternoon, will start with Alisson in goal, Dani Alves, Marquinhos, Éder Militão and Alex Telles at the back, Fabinho, Bruno Guimarães and Lucas Paquetá in the middle, and Antony, Philippe Coutinho and Richarlison up front.