USL Feature
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
RIVER PLATE PUERTO RICO
Coach: Walter Zermatten
2010 Season: PRSL SuperCopa DirecTV Champions
The Lowdown – After four successful seasons in the Puerto Rico Soccer League, River Plate enters its first season in USL PRO with high expectations and major opportunities. Bringing home silverware in each of the past two seasons, as regular season champion of the Puerto Rico Soccer League in 2009 and the SuperCopa DirecTV in 2010, River’s strong returning squad has been bolstered in the offseason.
Key Losses – Two important figures to the club’s SuperCopa victory have moved on, with Argentinean goalkeeper Mariano Graziano returning to his home country and Puerto Rican midfielder Andres Cabrero making the switch to Puerto Rico United. Graziano’s position will be filled by Craig Hill, formerly an MLS SuperDraft pick of FC Dallas.
Key Returnees – Cuban forward Yaikel Perez was crucial to the club’s success last year and brings a good amount of experience to the club. He is joined by Puerto Rican international Peter Villegas, who spent almost five seasons in Major League Soccer before landing with the Puerto Rico Islanders until last season, which he spent with River.
Key Additions – The addition of Puerto Rican international Chris Megaloudis already paid dividends for River as he scored one of the goals that helped the side advance past Bodden Town in the CFU Club Championship. He is joined by experienced Argentineans Matias Arce and Gustavo Paurolo.
If it all goes to plan – The experience and depth River’s squad appears to have would seem to make the club on paper the favorite to win the International Division. If Perez and Megaloudis can form a strong attacking partnership, River could also be a threat in the playoffs.