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South American roundup Maradona returns as coach; Brazil coach suspended
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) -- Fresh from releasing his controversy packed autobiography I am the Diego, Diego Maradona is returning to the soccer world as a coach of lowly Argentine first division side Almagro. In Cuba since the beginning of the year to receive treatment for his cocaine addiction, Maradona could arrive in Argentina this weekend, in time to see his new team take on Racing. The hero of Argentina's 1986 World Cup championship quit the game in 1997 after an unhappy return to Boca Juniors, the club where first gained fame. Before his return to Boca, Maradona tasted coaching at first-division clubs Deportivo Mandiyu de Corrientes and Racing. Neither was a happy experience, and Maradona quit both clubs within a few mnths. Almagro hopes that it will be a case of third-time lucky. On Maradona's request, the club appointed his 1986 World Cup colleagues, Jorge Luis Brown and Hector Enrique, as fellow coaches and even invited Maradona to play for the club next season if he is fit enough. Meanwhile, the club said it will wait before Maradona takes full charge of the team, preferring him to coach the youth side while he continues his drug rehabilitation program. "Our goal is long-term and Maradona's going to be in charge, our goal being growth and not just staying in the first division," Almagro's Vice President Dardo de Marchi told reporters. But Maraona's task is daunting. The club, promoted last year, is at the bottom of the league. With no victories in its first 11 games, Almagro could return to the second division in June if it does not improve dramatically. On the immediate horizon is a chance for its first victory: Sunday's match against fellow struggler Racing. Racing, once continental champion but now a bankcrupt club with a starless, inexperienced squad, is just ahead of Almagro in the standings and -- like Maradona's new club -- it still has yet to win this season. However, after the club appointed two new coaches last month, the team has improved vastly, appears better organized, more rigorous in defense and more positive in its play. Racing is unbeaten in four matches, in contrast to Almagro, which has lost four of its last six. But if Racing has momentum, Almagro will have a new optimism created by Maradona's presence. "A year ago we were playing in the Second Division, now we are in the top league and Maradona's going to coach us," defender Francisbo Maciel said typifying local supporters attitudes. "It's a dream." Meanwhile at the other end of the table, all the leading contenders will be expected to pick up three points in this weekend's outings. On Friday night, River Plate had an ideal chance to record its first victory in five games and keep their fading championship hopes alive when it faced Union in River's Monumental stadium. The team was to be without striker Pablo Aimar and winger Claudio Husain, both suspended after their expulsions in last week's thriller against Argentinos Juniors. However, River was to welcome back playmaker Ariel Ortega for a match that the player admits they simply needed to win. "If we lose any more points, we can wave goodbye to the championship," Ortega said. Meanwhile on Sunday Gimnasia travels to struggling Buenos Aires side Lanus, while Talleres takes on Los Andes at home. If this weekend's matches are going to offer up a surprise it seems most likely to be in Santa Fe, 390 kilometers (250 miles) north west of the capital, where local side Colon takes on league leader Boca Juniors. Colon's stadium is nicknamed the "Cemetery," because of its history of being witness to many upsets of name sides. Moreover, Colon goes into the match having won three of its last four, a run that has lifted it to sixth in the standings. Boca also will be hampered by the absence of suspended striker and league scoring leader Martin Palermo, who will be replaced by 23-year-old Antonio Barijho, who already has four goals this season. This weekend's other games are: Central vs Chacarita; Huracan vs Newell's; Velez vs Argentinos, Independiente vs San Lorenzo, Estudiantes vs Belgrano.
Colombian Asprilla joins Brazil's FluminenseRIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- Colombian striker Faustino Asprilla will join Rio's Fluminense club, the current leader of Brazil's national soccer tournament, the team said Friday. Asprilla will add speed and scoring punch to an offense that includes Olympic team all-stars Roni and Roger as well as league scoring leader Magno Alves, Fluminense spokesman Elias Almeida said. Asprilla, whose contract belongs to Italian dairy giant Parmalat, will play for Fluminense until next June, Almeida said. He would not reveal financial details but said Parmalat would pay 70 percent of Asprilla's salary. The 30-year-old striker joins one of Brazil's most traditional clubs as it struggles to recover its past glory. The 1984 Brazilian champion, which fell to the third division in the late 1990s, has emerged as a contender for the national crown. Asprilla, now playing in Saudi Arabia, was a member of four-time Brazilian champion Palmeiras until earlier this year. He also has played for Italy's Parma and England's Newcastle, as well as the Colombian national team. Though still speedy and able to craft scoring opportunities in tight spots, Asprilla no longer is the player once acclaimed as Colombia's best. At Palmeiras, he usually got playing time only in the second half, and his complaining reportedly soured his relations with coach Luiz Felipe Scolari. On the Colombian team, Asprilla played poorly this year in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean, and was dropped from the squad. He has not played in Colombia's qualifiers for the 2002 World Cup.
Brazil's new coach to miss first gameRIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- Brazil's new soccer coach was suspended for 20 days Thursday and will miss his team's first game, a World Cup qualifier against Colombia. Emerson Leao, who also coaches the first-division Sport of Recife, initially drew a 60-day suspension for insulting a referee during a match against Vitoria on Sept. 2. He appealed against the decision, and the tribunal on Thursday reduced the suspension. Leao was named last week to replace Wanderley Luxemburgo, who was fired after Brazil's poor showing at the Sydney Olympics. Although Leao only promised to announce the roster for the Nov. 15 game against Colombia next Monday, one name almost certain to be on it is Romario. The veteran striker has been a standout in league play and, at 34, is hoping for yet another World Cup title. "He's in a great phase. For that, he deserves to be called up," Leao said Friday in an interview with the sports daily Lance. Leao also announced a streamlined training staff, eliminating five posts that included assistant coach, coordinator and team psychologist.
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