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Guabirá Coach Confirms 20% Salary Cut for Players, Denies Player Sanctions
🇧🇴 Bolivia /Elections & Politics

Guabirá Coach Confirms 20% Salary Cut for Players, Denies Player Sanctions

From El Deber · (10m ago) Spanish Mixed tone

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Guabirá's coach Leonardo Égüez confirmed a 20% salary deduction for the team in April due to poor performance.
  • Égüez stated the decision was made by the club's management and not the coaching staff, emphasizing his own job security is backed by the president.
  • Despite the team's struggles, Égüez expressed confidence in the team's progress and his commitment to staying and improving results.

In Bolivia, the sporting and economic realities of football clubs often intertwine, and the recent decision by Guabirá's management to implement a 20% salary cut for the players in April reflects this harsh truth. Coach Leonardo Égüez, while confirming the measure, was careful to distance the technical staff from the disciplinary action, highlighting that it was a directive from the club's leadership.

Estamos en una situación en la que no pudimos sumar frente a Always Ready, pero hemos encontrado una evolución en el funcionamiento, tanto con pelota como sin pelota. Sin embargo, en el fútbol se gana con goles y no con merecimientos.

— Leonardo ÉgüezThe coach analyzes the team's recent performance, acknowledging the lack of wins despite perceived improvements in play.

Égüez's statements to DIEZ reveal a coach under pressure but resolute. He acknowledged the team's inability to secure victories, even when performance suggests merit, a common lament in football. However, he pointed to an "evolution in the functioning" of the team, both with and without the ball, suggesting a belief in a positive trajectory despite the current standings.

Estamos en el camino correcto y a veces en el fútbol los procesos varían de equipo a equipo. Seguramente ya vamos a empezar a cosechar frutos en los próximos partidos.

— Leonardo ÉgüezÉgüez expresses optimism about the team's development and future results.

The coach's emphasis on the unwavering support from club president Rafael Paz is crucial. This backing, reportedly reaffirmed after the latest match, serves to insulate Égüez from immediate dismissal and allows him to focus on the "correct path" he believes the team is on. His determination to "not jump off the ship" underscores a commitment to navigating the club through its current crisis.

El viernes tuve una reunión con el presidente Rafael Paz y me manifestó que, independientemente del resultado ante Always Ready, respaldaba mi trabajo.

— Leonardo ÉgüezThe coach reveals that the club president had previously assured him of his support, regardless of the outcome of the last match.

From a Bolivian perspective, such measures, while severe, are sometimes seen as necessary to instill discipline and financial responsibility within clubs facing performance slumps. The local media's focus on the coach's relationship with the president and the team's internal dynamics offers a different lens than international coverage, which might simply report on a team's poor form. Here, the story is about leadership, accountability, and the intricate balance of power within a struggling football institution.

El desempeño del sábado me dejó tranquilo. No entro en desesperación y el presidente nos volvió a manifestar su respaldo.

— Leonardo ÉgüezÉgüez states that the team's performance in the recent game was reassuring and that the president reiterated his backing.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Deber in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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