The illusion of growing and discovering football outside our borders He brought the Guatemalan Diego Alonso to the military in the Third Division of the Dubai League, where since the beginning of this year he has been adding minutes with the City Football Club.
Alonso is 18 years old, and his first contact with football was not with National League teams, but on the Futeca fields. He measures one meter and 85 centimeters, and plays as a right or left back, although he has also played as a center back.
Sitting in a restaurant in the historic center of Dubai, the national player spoke with Free Press about what the adventure has been like in soccer in that country and of the path that led him to a team where he is the only Latin American and in which he has accumulated 2,700 minutes in the current tournament.
“One of the challenges of playing in this league has been the culture shock, which has been great. The team includes players from Australia, England and India.. This has allowed me to have a bigger vision of life and football,” shares Alonso.
He assures that soccer in Dubai is very different from that in Guatemala, especially because it is more physical and speed is exploited. “Adapting to this reality has been the main challenge, but I have had the support of my parents and many friends. Now, I can say, from my experience, that Dubai football is incredible,” he says.
Long way
Diego’s first adventure in international soccer was at the age of 16, when he participated in a training camp for two months with the Banfield Club, from Argentina. Later, he had the opportunity to work in the city of Estoril, Portugal, and after several months he went to England, where he participated in the tests called UK Trials, where he was finally seen by the City Football Club of Dubai.
The national player’s objective is to continue gaining experience at a professional level. He does not have a military objective in any special league or team. “I’m going to play where the doors open for me,” he says.
The National Team?
Alonso shares that he has not had any contact with the coach of the under 20 team, Marvin Cabrera, but he maintains the illusion that sooner or later he will wear the blue and white shirt.
“The National Team has always been there, but it is not something I push. It is when the technician decides. I never close the doors to being able to represent my country, which would be a great honor,” highlights the defender.
He confesses that he does not follow any special team or current soccer figure. In his free time he enjoys watching the English Premier League. “I have always admired Carles Puyol—already retired—because he was a great captain and passionate about soccer with the Spanish national team.”he states.
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