‘Chalaca’ Gonzales: “If Celi does not go abroad, he will not end up as ‘Kukín’, but as Manco” | INTERVIEW

A photo published a few weeks ago with Paolo Guerrero and Alberto Rodríguez recalled that Cesar ‘Chalaca’ Gonzales He was one of the first coaches to have that 1984 youth promotion. That selection that also included Jefferson Farfán, among others, did not qualify for the Youth World Cup at the beginning of the 21st century, but had its revenge in Russia 2018. ‘Chalaca’ in this interview not only recalls that stage, but also advises what is what It should be done with recent appearances, like the controversial Yuriel Celi. It also asks you to follow the Bag of Minutes in League 1.

– This year, what has been your work in the Peruvian Football Federation?

In January of this year, the Federation invited me to join the FPF Youth Soccer Commission. Jaime Duarte, Tito Chumpitaz and myself are on that Commission. We see the technical part of the junior tournaments. Our role above all is advisory at the time the U18 youth championship was organized.

– From your position do you have any criticism of the annulment of the Minutes Bag for the next tournament?

As you will understand, I have defended youth promotion all my life. I think there are a lot of 18-year-olds who are ready to play in Primera here or anywhere in the world. It seems to me an aberration that the bag of minutes is annulled, it is shooting ourselves at the feet. All the members of the Youth Soccer Commission have this opinion. It seems that this decision comes from above. With statistics we already gave our position. 80% of current selections have debuted with Bolsa de Minutos.

– And as for the quota of foreigners, what would your position be?

There I do express myself personally, it seems to me inadmissible that the quota of 5 foreigners is maintained and that they do not give the option to a juvenile. In just one local soccer date, between 80 and 100 foreigners will play, and one or two youth players would play at most. And now older foreigners are coming, ages 36 and up, who come to take the job away from a young Peruvian 18 or 19 years old. I will never agree. In addition, the technicians who direct in First, the majority are foreigners. In this type of situation I say: what is the Association of Footballers doing to avoid these things? The Association must sue the Federation, since Roberto Silva entered, there are no longer protests by the clubs that do not pay, they do not say anything. I do not know what Silva Pro or Revilla does in the Association, I miss the presence of Manassero a lot, who had them all at bay. And note that now in the Assembly, the Association will have a voice and vote.

– What would be your diagnosis about youth soccer in Peru?

In the last U18 tournament we have found a large number of players, I was able to see all the matches until the finals. The truth is that there are a huge number of players. Despite this, the outlook is bleak for having been unemployed for two years. There are clubs that continue to work for Zoom, others only two or three times a week and others in secret because there are no official regulations on the subject of youth soccer. We also don’t know tournament start dates. Everything is a question mark. And the problem is greater for generations that come back, for example the promotion of 2010 or 2011. Every time I see tournaments in these categories, there are overweight boys who do not run, they have lost their basic physical condition. Those categories are going to suffer in the future.

– Are there names of Under 20 players that you would ask for a special follow-up?

To start the three archers of the ‘U’, Alliance and Crystal. All three are one meter 95. I am tall and carry a head. In Cantolao there are players who are still on that margin like Yuriel Celi. In Boys we have raised three players to First last season. Cristal has a scorer, Marlon Perea, who is spectacular. I wanted him on loan to the Boys, but at Cristal they told me that they will take it into account for this season in the first team. You have to take care of this generation, but especially the boys of 2006, because that team will play the U-17 World Cup, which will be played in Peru. The 2006 works should start now.

–Since you mentioned Yuriel Celi. What should be done so that such talents are not lost?

Well I had ‘Kukín’, I think that with Celi the opportunity to send him to Europe or abroad was lost. He was able to go to Argentina, but due to economic issues the signing was not made. Celi is not going to finish her training process in Peru. Here it will end badly.

– Is it an exaggeration to say that it will end up as ‘Kukín’?

I don’t know him that much. Anyway, if Celi doesn’t go abroad, I don’t think she’ll end up as ‘Kukín’, but as Manco. ‘Kukín’ is incomparable. Celi has to leave as soon as possible, she should have left last year.

-Did you ever direct or follow Jean Deza?

No, I did not have it in any selection of minors. I stayed in the 1984 generation and then I dedicated myself to school soccer for several years.

– Why a player like Deza can decide to retire before the 30 years?

I also retired young, but it was for a study issue. In his case, I think he has lost his taste for football. He has lost the pleasure of football, beware that he is a great player, he is very good. It seems very strange to me, or capable he has written that so that no one bothers him.

– Do you still feel that you are not recognized for having had the 1984 promotion (Paolo Guerrero and Jefferson Farfán) from youth?

Sometimes it hurts me a lot that the appearance of all that litter of footballers has not been recognized as it should be. So many players apart from Paolo and Jefferson: Alberto Rodríguez, Diego Penny, the ‘Loco’ Vargas, Michael Guevara, Donny Neyra, the ‘Zorro’ Aguirre. I remember that we toured all of Peru to form that team. The five forwards I had in that youth team came to Europe: Farfán, Guerrero, Aguirre, Labarthe and Gonzales-Vigil. And almost all of them made it to Primera and the best clubs. In that promo 84, even the substitutes went to Europe.

– What was the success factor of that generation?

That we have been with them a lot from a very young age, my work style is much like that of a school teacher, because that is my daily job. I am not a baseball coach, I am a teacher, teacher, trainer. I recently met Paolo again and everything was hugs, kisses. That team could go further, but I made the mistake of not taking Jefferson out in a game, they gave him a double yellow and he couldn’t be in the decisive match against Ecuador. If we won, we qualified and we only tied. They were four very good formative years with them. They are such great players that Paolo and Jefferson with one foot continue to stand out in the national team.

–And the ‘Loco’ Vargas wants to return …

He called me recently and I wanted to encourage him to get into the technical part. I would like you to be my assistant in the future. If you do the basic course, left over. The ‘Loco’ has a character that must be transmitted to the youngest. He would be a spectacular technical assistant, and now he is more orderly and calm.

–And how do we do with the replacement with Paolo and Jefferson? Lapadula is not that small either …

Lapadula is quite big and eye that it does not play in First. What have we done in the last 20 years to train players? That’s where the real problem is going to come.

– Do you want to direct in First or are you going to stay permanently in minors?

Physically I feel fine, I am even younger than Gareca. I am a mature coach. I announced my retirement a while ago, but now the bug entered me again, especially seeing so much foreigner.