Word from Andrew Ziemer Abroad as Technical Advisor to Chivas USA U19B in San Jose, Costa Rica

Chivas USA U19 Boys are playing in Costa Rica in the Copa Saprissa.

http://www.copasaprissa.com/calendario.htm

Chivas USA U19 B invited Andrew Ziemer to be a Technical Advisor (Asst. Coach / Scouting all opponents) for the tournament. He is joining Sacha v.d. Most van Spijk the Head Coach and Dennis te Kloese the Technical Director for Chivas USA Pro Team and Chivas USA Youth. (Former Head of Scouting at Chivas Guadalajara and Ajax Youth Player).

Copa Saprissa is an International Top Youth Tournament (Saprissa is owned by Jorge Vegara who is the owner of Chivas in Mexico and Chivas USA in Los Angeles). They pay all the expenses for 6 foreign teams and 6 teams from Costa Rica to attend.

Some of the teams besides all the Top Costa Rican Pro Clubs are :

Game will be played at 9, 11, 1, 3, 5 and 7 each day in the Professional Teams Stadium and will also have 2 days of coaches symposiums and forums to share ideas on youth development.

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3  | Day 4

Day 1 - 5/27/06

Hello all,
Today we opened up the Copa Saprissa in San Jose, Costa Rica against Real Madrid. Our top forward , our number 9 was not able to come, so we started in a 1-4-4-2 formation with our number 4 coming into the midfield. we created a few good chances early, but they scored on a deflection from a corner kick at the 15th minute. We continued to dominate play, switched to 3 in the back at half time and then to 1-3-4-3 with 20 minutes to play. With 5 minutes to play, we got a red card and played 1-2-4-3. we created several chances, but hit the post, and could not score. The boys are very confident, we know we could have won the game.

Tomorrow we play against Olimpia of Honduras. They won against Santos of Costa Rica today 1-0. I scouted them today and we are very well prepared for tomorow´s match. We will play our system - the 1-3-4-3 and go after them. I have been scouting all teams as well as warming up the goalkeepers and helping as an assistant. It is a great experience.

Saprissa is owned by Jorge Vergara and they have implimented the same system as Ajax, Chivas Guadalajar and of course Sac United, SSU and SCA. It is incredible to watch the difference between them and the rest of the Costa Rican teams. One of their coaches wants to come over and work in the Z way or Chivas camps.

There are 2 groups of 6 and only 2 teams from each group advance. In the other game in our group, Saprissa u19 played against Cruzeiro of Brazil and tied 2-2. Anything can happen.

We have 6 players from the u17 national team pool, and the Farfan twins who played in the u17 world cup in Peru. Most of the games are televised down here and all the radio stations have constant updates as well as the games live. Since the season is not going on, the Copa Saprisssa is the main thing Costa Rica for futbol right now.

We are staying in a very quiet part of town , very close to the stadium of Saprissa. Most of the games are played in the stadium which is field turf. It has rained every day in the afternoon.

The people are very friendly and their motto is PURA VIDA . I can not figure out the capital letters, except for pura vida.

Andrew

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Day 2 - 5/28/06

Hello all,

Today we beat Olimpia of Honduras 3-2. We moved into 2nd place in our group. If we beat Santos A.D. of Costa Rica tomorow, we will be looking good.

Today was a battle , we scored 1st in the 6th minute. Olimpia then scored twice to go up 2-1. We came back and tied it up and with 8 minutes left drew a penalty to go ahead 3-2.

The referee gave one of our players a red card for getting mauled and slapped by a Honduran and not retaliating. We are playing against 12 players each game. Life as gringos in Costa Rica.

We played within our system 1-3-4-3 and dominated most of the game.

I will keep everyone posted since manana we play at 11am against Santos de Costa Rica.

For updates go to www.copasaprissa.com 
 
Andrew

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Day 3 - 5/29/06

Hola todos,
Today we beat the champions of Costa Rica Santos A.D. It was a very physical game which we controlled for the most part. One of our guys got a red card with 25 minutes to go. We changed from a 1-3-4-3 to a 1-3-4-2 to a 1-4-4-1 system and still created several chances off the counter with 10 players. Eric Avila of UCSB scored the lone goal in the 10th minute. We were playing without suspended players Gabriel Farfan and Eric Hummell who will both be eligible manana.

We play Cruziero of Brazil at 9am. If we win we will be 2nd in our group with 9 points and in a good position to make it to the next round. Cruziero had 3 red cards and still beat Real Madrid 1-0 with 8 players. They were beat and used alot of energy. They will have a hard time keeping up with the American tempo and energy. Sacha, Dennis, and I are on fire and connecting and inspiring the boys.

For more updates, go to www.copasaprissa.com

Recuerdos,
Andrew

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Day 4 - 5/30/06

Hello all,
We just tied 3-3 against Cruziero de Brasilia. We were up 3-2 with 5 minutes to go and the ref called a phantom penal. Muy malo.

We have to win against Saprissa U19 manana to advance. If they win today, they will win the group with 12pts and maybe rest some guys. They are bigtime, but we can do it.

We are going now to a pool, sauana , hotub, massage for regeneracion. We play at 5pm manana.

I will keep you all posted.
az

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