Uruguay showing signs of recovery

GOING TO the Centenario Stadium must be a sort of pilgrimage for every footballer. The ground, in Uruguay's capital Montevideo, has a special place in the game's history. The World Cup began there in 1930. And Uruguay was the first champion.

And for the Uruguayan, playing at the Centenario means that he has climbed a few big rungs in his soccer career. ``Only our national teams and the national league's top two clubs - Nacional and Penarol - train there,'' said Uruguayan coach Antonio Alzamendi Casas.

Antonio Casas has had quite a few magical moments at the Centenario. First, as a dreamer in the stands and later as the country's star striker. The 44-year-old, who starred in two World Cups, came to Kochi with a bunch of dreamers for the Sahara Cup.

Dreamers, who hope to do a Schiaffino or a Francescoli some day. Today, one of the world's highest-paid player - Inter Milan's 24- year-old forward Alvaro Recoba ($7.5 million per year) - is an Uruguayan. And every year, nearly 90 top Uruguayan stars sign for some of the world's best clubs in Italy, Spain and France.

The year 2000 set a record of sorts with 100 players making their overseas debut. That's the equivalent of nine teams moving out !

But despite the exodus of stars, the Uruguayan system keeps churning out top-drawer stuff year after year. Behind this eternal spring is a brilliant talent machine.``Our children take to football very early, when they are just five, even before they go to school,'' said Casas, who was adjudged South America's `best player' in 1986.

``And there are so many matches among our `baby clubs' that children harden up very early in life. The big clubs keep an eye on these small competitions, pick promising youngsters and polish them further. Thus the players are ready even for major professional leagues at a very young age,'' explained Casas.

``We have a population of only 3.5 million but the early start gives us a big edge. India, with such a big population, can very well try this formula with success. You have the talent. An early start and a lot of international exposure will take you places,'' said Casas, the coach of Uruguay's third team, the side that figured in the Sahara Cup.

Daniel Passarella, who led Argentina to victory in the 1978 World Cup, is the coach of the senior Uruguay side while Victor Pua trains players in the 17-20 age-group.

Football is a passion for Latin Americans like cricket is, in the sub-continent. And often games in the Copa Uruguaya, the national league, turn violent. Nine players were jailed for ten days recently after a post-match brawl between the league's traditional rivals, Nacional and Penarol.

The strong competition also means that clubs have to shell out big money to rope in or retain players. Many clubs have run into debts owing to this.

To help out clubs and to ensure that the players are paid their salaries in time, the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) has decided to take over the first division clubs' finances this year.

Big clubs like Nacional, Penarol, Defensor Sporting and Danubio which are financially healthy have been exempted from the AUF interference.

Uruguay won the Olympic soccer title twice, in 1924 and 1928, the year India wore its maiden hockey crown. The Latin American magic was just beginning to wow the world soccer stage. And apart from the 1930 triumph, Uruguay bagged the World Cup again in 1950, beating host Brazil, the 10-1 favourite, in front of 200,000 shocked fans. Incidentally, India was invited to play in this World Cup but withdrew at the last minute.

``Uruguay also has the best record in Copa America, winning the title 17 times while Argentina (15) and Brazil (9) are the other major winners.

The last two World Cup campaigns, however, brought only disappointment for Uruguay. The side failed to qualify for the finals after 1990. ``The field is getting tougher,'' said Casas, who figured in Uruguay's last two World Cups, in 1986 and 1990. The away matches in Bolivia's La Paz National Stadium, at an altitude of 3,600 metres, also upset Uruguay's chances.

Uruguay will bounce back nicely in time for the 2002 World Cup, said Casas. The team's chances of making the finals, to be jointly hosted by Japan and South Korea, are good. The national team will be meeting thrice a week to prepare for the Cup qualifiers.

The Uruguay youth side also performed creditably in the last two under-20 World Cups, finishing runner-up to Argentina in 1997 (Kuala Lumpur) and fourth in 1999 (Lagos). Significant signs of recovery.

For sure, the Latin American flair will soon be back to charm the big stage.

STAN RAYAN

Kochi

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