🇵🇦 - What's up with ... Panama?
Expert David Sakata gives us the scoop on the new coach, how the new World Cup qualification format is being received and more...
Thomas Christiansen is the new coach of Panama (Courtesy: Fepafut)
Welcome to the inaugural edition of what I intend to be a monthly feature here on the ol’ Getting Concacafed newsletter.
I’m going to check in with experts from around the region simply to say hello and find out what’s up with the team they cover, a competition they are following or even a certain controversy. So often our Concacaf coverage, such that it exists at all, is laser-focused on the big countries, but soccer is news in other places, too.
David Sakata is one of the top experts on the sport in Panama. In addition to his written work at Diario Pro and his TV work at COS, David also runs Panama’s top Peruvian restaurant and is the biggest New Orleans Saints fan in Central America.
Make sure you follow him on Twitter so you can keep finding out what’s up with Panama.
Jon Arnold: David, thanks so much for taking some time to join us.
So, despite the pandemic there’s a lot going on in Panamanian soccer. Let’s start with the new coach of the men’s national team. First of all, remind us what happened with the old one, Américo Gallego.
David Sakata: Yes, a lot "going" on. Lots of admin-level type of things and not much play going on. Actually, no games since March.
Well, ‘Tolo’ Gallego never delivered. He came here with the River Plate and Argentina titles from a long-gone era, the nostalgia from his Toluca days, but more importantly the lack of work in recent years, and that's what we saw the most: A coach disconnected from the Panamanian reality.
JA: For sure. The new coach, Thomas Christensen, also comes in with some history, with impressive clubs on his resume like coaching Leeds United, but how has he been received and is there reason to believe he’ll be more plugged in to what Panama needs right now?
DS: He has been received fairly, I'd say. We are still waiting on his arrival. From inside Fepafut, I heard that he should be here no later than Aug 15th, but I feel the expectation is fair.
He has a good chance for a better connection. There's a high possibility of a bubble of sorts in an area outside of the city where he will gather 30-40 players and start working with them, preparing for the qualifiers. It is up to him to deliver and take advantage of that.
JA: And even though he seems to be from the outside, being Danish, isn’t there some previous connection to Panama?
DS: Yes, he was here in the earlier stages of his life, as a kid. So maybe that helps.
JA: You mentioned the potential of a bubble and obviously his initial challenge, which is World Cup qualification. How did Panamanian fans feel about the modifications to the format?
DS: Relief and happiness. Those are the feelings. We get a re-do. The shot for the ... wait … what are we calling it? No Hex now, the Octo? ... Well, we get a shot at that. All from scratch. So, people are happy about it.
JA: It’s interesting because it seems like some countries in similar situations think it’s a conspiracy against them and others are ecstatic.
DS: Yes, I understand how those countries can feel. That's kind of how we felt when the whole FIFA Ranking system for the Hex was put into effect.
JA: The pandemic has hit in another way, too, with Panama deciding to step out from hosting the U-20 Women’s World Cup, which it was set to co-host with Costa Rica.
What went into that decision?
DS: It is very unfortunate to have the U-20 Women’s World Cup go away. Those girls, that generation, had so much to look for during that event.
It was down to the highest office to decide. All the efforts are focused now on health. So, there’s no budget for other things and - like that - in one day we lost two major events.
JA: Thanks so much, David! Is there anything else our readers should know about Panama?
DS: There's a couple of things going on. There's a new idea, vision and format for our local league that we will definitely discuss soon. And also keep an eye on the new generation of players trying to establish themselves in Europe.
JA: Ah, yes! We talked about José Luis Rodriguez in a previous newsletter and will be watching the Edgar Barcenas transfer saga as well. We’ll speak again soon!
Thanks for your time and I sincerely hope we are enjoying Peruvian food in Panama City before a big qualifier very soon.
