Santa Cruz (Bolivia), May 25 (IANS) The Bolivian national team is now in the final training stage for Copa America, the oldest South American football competition, to be held from June 11 to July 4 in Chile.
Bolivian team coach Mauricio Soria said on Sunday that so far 27 players have been included in the list but next week four players will be left out, reports Xinhua.
Before boarding the plane to Mendoza, Argentina, Soria said three important players have been left out from the national team. These players are defenders Diego Bejarano, who plays in Greece’s Panetolikos and Abraham Cabrera, from Bolivia’s The Strongest and Rodrigo Ramallo from the same club.
Previous to Copa America, Bolivia will hold two friendly matches against Venezuela on May 31 and against Argentina on June 6. Their debut in the regional tournament will be against Mexico on June 12 in the Chilean city of Vina del Mar. Later they will face Ecuador and Chile, the hosts.
“The players who remain in the list have done an excellent job in training and we thank them for their willingness,” said Soria.
A total of 23 players will travel to Argentina, including Ronald Raldes, who is recovering from an injury, while three others will join the team in Mendoza. The Bolivian Football Federation (FBF) have until June 1 to deliver the final 23-player list for Copa America.
Three of them should be goalkeepers so it is sure that Romel Quinonez, Hugo Suarez and Jose Penarrieta will be part of the team unless they get injured or are replaced.
