Editorial– On September 6, 2016, the El Salvador National Soccer team came forward with claims a Honduras business man approached them with money, in return for throwing the final match against Canada to ensure that Honduras progressed to the Hexagonal round. Their manager, and captain Nelson Bonilla stood before the media that day, and played their recording. Their resilience then has helped lead them to where they are now, a resurgence that has led to a daunting, but salivating matchup with CONCACAF’s elite in this year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup.
El Salvador Resurgence Provided by Younger, Committed Core
“In reference to what we heard, we want to make it clear that we are against anything of this kind. We want to be transparent about everything that has happened with the national team,” was the message from captain, Nelson Bonilla.
Bonilla has been instrumental, scoring two of their three goals so far in this tournament. But Bonilla isn’t the only one who has stepped up for them in this resurgence.
Following El Salvador’s major punishment and max fixing scandal, the El Salvadorian National Team was left with an extremely young group after 14 of their national team members were banned for life by FIFA. Now, the oldest of this team is barely 30, and is a goalkeeper. We all know how well that position ages after 30.
After a disappointing result to Mexico in the first match, El Salvador came out firing. They knocked off Curacao 2-0, and then got the draw against Jamaica to move on to the Quarterfinals. If they had been able to bag a second goal against the Reggae Boyz, they would’ve gotten a well deserved second place finish in Group C.
Nelson Bonilla, Rodolfo Zelaya, Darwin Ceren, Alexander Larin, are just a few of the unhearalded, but quality names El Salvador has to bring to the table. Most of their squad plies their trade within the El Salvadorian Premier League, and mainly with their three big clubs.
As most hail from Santa Tecla, C.D. Aguila, and Alianza FC, a majority of this club has played well enough to stake their claim as worthy players outside their National League. Plenty of teams in MLS could use a Rodolfo Zelaya, or an Alexander Larin, and they would be stars in the NASL or USL.
Despite the 3-1 loss to Canada on the final game of the fourth round of CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying, the lead-up to that match has been what has set the tone for them going forward. They’re a team with personal and national pride. It’s evident in how hard they work, both on and off the ball.
They’re expected to go home after their match against the United States, but it won’t be from a lack of effort. They weren’t out-hustled in their 3-1 loss to Mexico, they were simply outclassed. The U.S has that quality as well. And even if they lose, there is plenty to be proud of in this tournament’s showing for El Salvador.
It has been a success. And plenty of players are going to earn some big pay-days after this. The biggest thing going forward for El Salvador is World Cup Qualifying for 2022. El Salvador would love to get themselves back in the conversation as a contender in CONCACAF, and they can do that with this young core. But right now, they’re focused on pulling off a shock. If they can, it’s all eyes on them.
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