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It has been less than a month since Nolberto Solano was appointed coach of the U22 team that will represent Peru at the Pan American Games. However, he immediately started to work in order to win the precious gold medal. Before joining Ricardo Gareca's coaching staff for the Copa América 2019 Brazil, the former “Peruvian team” captain will have completed four short preparation periods and had an idea of the 18 players who will be part of the team in Lima 2019.
In this interview, Solano states that the team will make its debut against Uruguay on July 29, and players are at a good level. In addition, he tells a story that links him to the stadium of the National University of San Marcos, venue for football competitions, and he expects for a spirit of sportsmanship at the Pan American Games.
You have represented Peru in major football competitions. What does it mean for you to be coach of the football national team in Lima 2019?
It is a great honor. The national team is always demanding and it deserves the best in any competition. Despite not being an official FIFA tournament, we are still part of the Peruvian national team. In addition, we host such an important event, so we must make a good impression and prepare well to reach the top.
Do you know that there is an expectation of obtaining a gold medal in football?
That’s our goal since we started to work with the short preparation periods. We’re aware that we’re representing our country and we want to be part of the history of sport in Peru. Likewise, we will have the support of our fans to win the gold medal. It would be an immense joy.
Among the 62 disciplines of Lima 2019, football will undoubtedly be the one that catches most attention
Football is of great interest in Peru, but we expect that the other disciplines will also have the support of the fans. We all love to see the Olympic Games, but if we want to stand out in this kind of events, all people linked to sports must get involved to improve the performance level. And after the Pan American Games, our children must also be given more options. Not only football.
You started to train before other teams, what are you doing in these short preparation periods?
We have focused on specific goals with the shortlist of players, for example, the defense. If a team is not aligned or doesn’t have a defensive tactic, then cannot obtain good results. It is a method that is applied to all those selected team members and, the way we are working on the short preparation periods. We have talented players, but we won't have much time. That’s why we need to know how to use it.
Are you planning to visit other sports venues on days when you are not competing?
Depending on the agenda of the national team, we will surely tour other venues and we will be aware of the other Peruvian athletes, and supporting them. We will be fully involved in these Pan American Games.
Will there be an adaptation period to synthetic grass in San Marcos?
Yes, but it will be very short; we will probably go to the stadium to train two or three times, some weeks before the start of the tournament. Unfortunately, you cannot work there every day, because professional players can get injured. All those aspects will be secondary and we won't have any excuses.
Is it better to play on a Level 1 grass-field allowed by FIFA?
I've had experience playing on top-level synthetic fields like San Marcos, but the hit and bounce are different and it is not ideal for footballers to perform at their best. Anyway, there won't be any problems to adapt.
You, in particular, have a whole experience with that stadium.
I lived a few blocks away when I was a child. My friends and I used to climb the wall to play football there. At that time, the environment around the University of San Marcos was a bit harsh since we needed to avoid tear gas bombs dropped to break up students’ strikes. Once inside, everything was very dark and, many times, instead of kicking the ball we ended up kicking lizards or rocks. It looked like a swamp instead of a football field (laughs).
These are the fields where footballers show their skills
That's where talent emerges as you don't know if the ball bounces near your foot or your head. I realized that when I competed in major leagues. That stadium has a history in our country. We're very happy to see it remodeled because it looks very nice. I had the opportunity to see it in one of the matches of the South American U17 Championship and there was a nice environment.
What do you think of Javier Mascherano's inclusion as a member of the Argentinian team at the Pan American Games?
That means how important it is to play for a national team, anywhere. That someone like Mascherano is on a preliminary shortlist to play in Lima 2019, even having won everything in football, reflects the pride of playing for a national team.
