Football: Bolivia to play for pride against Peru

La Paz, Oct 14 (IANS) Bolivia travel to Lima for their last game of Brazil 2014 South American qualifying tournament against Peru Tuesday. The Bolivian team has no chance of qualifying for the mega event in Brazil.

According to its spokesperson, the team will not have a training session in Lima’s Nacional stadium, while Azkagorta decided Sunday to be a day-off for the players, reports Xinhua.

Azkagorta’s contract with the Bolivian Football Federation will end Tuesday, after the game against Peru, in the last matchday of the South American tournament.

The game against Peru will be played behind doors due to a sanction imposed by FIFA to the Peruvian Football Federation (PFF) for the violent actions that occurred after the 1-2 loss to Uruguay in Lima Sep 6.

Azkagorta regretted FIFA’s sanction against the Peruvian stadium, adding that “it is very sad because every player feels much more calm and comfortable when the fans cheer a game and the team is motivated to give their best.”

According to the recent training sessions, Azkagorta’s lineup for Tuesday will include three defenders, five midfielders and two forwards.

The players include Romel Quinonez in the goal, central defenders Edward Zenteno, Ronald Raldes and Abraham Cabrera, side midfielders Diego Bejarano and Leandro Maygua, center midfielders Walter Veizaga, Jose Luis Chavez and Edivaldo Rojas, while forwards will be Juan Carlos Arce and Marcelo Martins.