Tegucigalpa.
The president of Olympia, Rafael Villedaaddressed various topics related to the club’s planning for next season, including the arrival of new reinforcements and rumors linking the team with players such as Anthony “Choco” Lozano and Deiby Flores.
Furthermore, he referred to the recent signing of Alberth Elis for Marathón, ensuring that he is happy for the forward and considering that his departure to Portugal when he was active in Olympia It was a mistake, since now he needs stability and continuity to recover the level that led him to become one of the main figures in Honduran soccer. Will there be more casualties?
STATEMENTS BY RAFA VILLEDA
Are there more signings coming?
We are working on some new features. We hope to announce them between tomorrow and next week. First we are waiting for them to be finalized. There is also respect for some players who were finishing their contracts and that is why they are still waiting for them to sign. We are eager to announce it as soon as each of the new signings that we are going to have in the institution are defined and arranged.
President, taking advantage of the fact that yesterday Olimpia Reserva was champion, in the same way, how to bet for the future? We know that with Professor Espinel they have had that progress, they have had players, from Moncada to say one. How can we continue betting on that for Olimpia and with the experience that this team also promises?
That’s how it is. I believe that, as you rightly say, the important thing is to know how to make that combination between experience and youth. We are taking those steps little by little because it is not easy to find replacements for many of the players who may no longer be here, but who were important in these last 10 or 11 tournaments where so many championships have been achieved. The truth is that the professor has definitely been betting a lot on these guys too.
We are extremely happy that we were able to win the Clausura de Reservas tournament yesterday and that shows that there are guys fighting for that opportunity in the First Division team and that they will soon have it. I am sure that the teacher is going to give them the opportunity and we are going to see that transition that all clubs require at a certain time between youth and experience in order to achieve the successes that an institution like Olimpia is accustomed to and that its history also demands.
President, in the Central American Cup group there are very complicated and difficult rivals. One of the largest is Saprissa. How do you take the fact of also being able to face one of the greatest in Central America and above all, what does it make you feel to have him in the group?
Well, the truth is that it is important to me. I was talking about it with the previous president of Saprissa, the lawyer Juan Carlos Rojas, who unfortunately had not been given the possibility of having official confrontations between both teams because it is the Central American classic. The truth is that for us it is good to be able to have it and fortunately we are playing at home, so we hope that we can have a real party that day at the National Stadium with the support of all our fans and obviously that we can achieve qualification to the next phase after that match and, if possible before, even better.
President, specifically, how many more signings await Olimpia and how many departures?
Today the episode of casualties in Olympia for this tournament is over. Of the casualties, yes, there are no more. And the additions, we hope maybe three, possibly four, but at least three more would be joining the club.
President, this is a nice opportunity to get out of the debate about who is the biggest in Central America, since they are going to face Saprissa. Do you believe?
I think it will be a good time to clarify that opinion, which is very different in both Costa Rica and Honduras. But the most important thing is that our fans consider their team to be the largest in Central America.
But for the president of Olimpia, is Olimpia the largest in Central America?
Yes, for me yes. I’m sure that if you ask the president of Saprissa, he will tell you that Saprissa is the biggest.
How do you see that game? Because it is the classic of Central America, the two hierarchical teams in the area.
I think it will be a nice opportunity to relive old stories from the matches that have been played over many years between Olimpia and Saprissa. So we hope, as I said before, to have a full stadium with all the support of the fans and for it to be a real party.
Were there offers for Alberth Elis? There was also talk about Deiby Flores a moment ago and there is the issue of Anthony Lozano, which transcends that Olimpia could be repatriating him to return to that good level. How real is all this or is it just a smoke bomb?
Offers from us? No. The truth is that in the case of Deiby, we have not had communication. Obviously I would love for him to be able to come, but we know that his mission at the moment and that of his representative is still that he has the opportunity abroad. I think he still has a lot to give abroad.
And the truth is that with Choco and Elis they have not been part of the plans of the coaching staff or of us and, therefore, there has not been any type of communication. I don’t know, I understand that Choco still has a contract. I think that is the information I read today, that he still has a contract with Santos, but the truth is that there has been no communication.
Are the doors open for both players if they want to join Olimpia?
We would have to see the moment when he can realize it. On this occasion, right now they are not within the plans of the reinforcements that we are looking for.
The signing of Elis for Marathón, how did you feel knowing that Elis grew up in Olimpia?
I’m happy because I think what Elis needs is stability, to play an entire championship. As I said yesterday, I feel that it was a mistake to have gone when he left Olimpia for Portugal, but I respect the decision he made. I think that at this moment the most important thing is that I can catch the rhythm and the level. We all know the ability he has, so we hope, for the good of Honduran football, the national team and obviously for him, that he can recover his level and have a good tournament.
