QSTK600 champ Qubaisi joins QORC Moto at last minute SUNDAY, MAY 10, 2020 PAGE 13 Trinche Carlovich: Argentina mourns the maverick Maradona called the greatest GOAL.COM It was Diego Maradona who afforded him the WITH preparations for the 1974 World Cup in full flow, with their greatest praise: asked upon moving to Newell’s minds focused on the potential challenge ahead from the likes of in 1993 what it meant to be the best footballer Brazil, hosts West Germany and in the world, the ex-Napoli star replied “the Italy, the Argentina national team had little reason to fear a cursory best player in the world has already played in friendly organised against a re- gional selection from the city of Rosario, his name was Carlovich.” Rosario. But they had failed to reckon with one man: Trinche Carlovich, the legend of the lower leagues who would soon become the Albiceleste’s nightmare. On Friday, Carlovich passed away at the age of 74, the victim of a violent robbery two days ear- lier in the west of his hometown. His aggressors struck him in the head in order to take his bicycle, causing Trinche to suffer a stroke and slip into a coma from which he would not awake. The news caused an outpour- ing of grief across the world of Argentine football, touching those lucky enough to witness his tal- ents and many others who know of the legend through the infa- Messages of condolence are seen next to a graffiti of late Argentine former Relatives and friends carry the coffin with the remains of Argentine former football player Tomas “El Trinche” Carlovich mous tales of his finest moments. football player Tomas “El Trinche” Carlovich, outside the Gabino Sosa Stadium during a homage at the Gabino Sosa Stadium in Rosario, Argentina, on Saturday. (AFP) Of all those stories, his mastery of in Rosario, Argentina, on Saturday. Carlovich died after suffering an assault in Argentina’s World Cup hopefuls is the central province of Santa Fe. (AFP) Later, playing in Mendoza I had at the time, it would have professional game but remains perhaps the most notorious. for Independiente Rivadavia, he changed my life. For me, playing alive thanks to the folklore of Tomas Carlovich was two days nothing could be further from asked by a Rosario reporter upon contrived to earn a red card in at Central Cordoba was like play- his city, the younger generations short of his 28th birthday on April the truth. “He is the most marvel- moving to Newell’s in 1993 what the first half of one particular ing at Real Madrid. feeding hungrily on grandpar- 17, 1974, when the national team lous player I have ever seen,” Jose it meant to be the best footballer game in order to arrive on time to “What does it mean to ‘make ents’ stories of his goals, nut- came to Rosario. A native of the Pekerman once affirmed, placing in the world, the ex-Napoli star re- catch the bus back to his beloved it’? In truth I never had any other megs and antics. port city, birthplace of Lionel the mythical figure in his all-time plied “the best player in the world Rosario. That spell did throw up ambition than to play football. Shortly before his death, the Messi, Marcelo Bielsa and count- greatest Argentina XI in the heart has already played in Rosario, his one memorable moment: moon- Above all, to stay close to my legend finally met face-to-face less other Argentine football leg- of midfield. name was Carlovich.” lighting for Andes Talleres, he neighbourhood, my folks’ house, with Maradona, who presented ends, he had come up through the Jorge Valdano, a World Cup The player’s inclusion on gave Franco Baresi, then 19, a to stay with El Vasco Artola, him with the gift of a Gimnasia ranks of Rosario Central but left winner in 1986 and one of the most that fateful afternoon against torrid second half as the tiny club one of my best friends who took shirt. “He started speaking into my having played just one game. astute observers of modern foot- the Albiceleste was almost an af- beat mighty AC Milan 3-2 during me as a kid to play for Sporting ear and wouldn’t stop,” he recalled It was at Central Cordoba, his- ball around, told Movistar+ that: terthought. In order to avoid ac- their 1979 South American tour. Bigand... I’m a solitary person. to reporters. “He even signed a toric poor relations to local giants “His legend is well known in Rosa- cusations of favouring either of In 1976 he received the call When I played at Central Cor- shirt for me and wrote, ‘Trinche, Central and Newell’s Old Boys, rio. He is the symbol of a romantic Rosario’s arch-rivals, Newell’s from Cesar Luis Menotti to doba, if I could I would change you were better than me.’ that he came to the fore, scoring football that practically does not and Central, coaches Juan Carlos join up with the Albiceleste; he by myself in the kitman’s office “The only thing I could answer twice on his debut for the club and exist anymore.” Contemporaries Montes and Carlos Griguol each skipped the call-up. “It was a de- rather than the dressing room. was ‘Diego, now I can leave this in his first season leading the Mat- describe Carlovich as a wizardly agreed to call up five players from light to watch Carlovich play, he I like peace and quiet, it’s not a world in peace, you were the great- ador out of the third-tier Primera mix of Fernando Redondo and their respective sides. The 11th had so much ability on the ball,” question of attitude.” est I ever saw in my lifetime’.” C for the first time in six years. He Juan Roman Riquelme on the field, was Central Cordoba’s talisman. El Flaco told Movistar+ . “I Carlovich remained a legend- Trinche could not have known went on to play over 200 games in with the ability to control a game It was not Carlovich’s ability picked him for the national team ary figure in his native Rosario, how sadly prophetic those words Central Cordoba colours, spaced with one swing of his left foot. that stopped him from going fur- but he didn’t show up. I can’t re- signing autographs and posing would prove, and his death robs out over four separate spells and Legend has it that Bielsa mod- ther, but his stubborn refusal to member if he had gone fishing or for photos with admirers who both Rosario and Argentine foot- marked with 28 official goals. elled his game around Trinche take the game he loved seriously. was on an island: his excuse was due to their age could not have ball as a whole of one of its most So far Carlovich may appear and, after failing to make the A spell at Colon up in Primera fol- that he couldn’t get back because possibly seen him in the flesh engaging, unique characters: proof to be just another lower-league grade as a footballer, followed him lowing his heroics against the Se- the river level was too high.” for Central Cordoba, for whom that away from the intense compe- journeyman, slogging through the around the rundown stadiums of leccion ended after exactly three “I always played the same, he played his last match in 1986, tition and commercial exploitation nether regions of Argentine foot- the Primera B and C for four years games, each of which saw the with the same effort,” the legend but nevertheless swear that he of the modern game, there were ball in a fruitless bid to reach the to watch his every move. It was player retire early through injury, himself explained to El Grafico . was the greatest. His genius was and are figures that take the field big time. According to those who Diego Maradona, however, who before he beat the retreat back to “Maybe if I’d gone to France or forged far from the cameras and for the sheer joy of feeling the ball saw Trinche at his best, though, afforded him the greatest praise: the Matador. the [New York] Cosmos, a chance intense exposure of the modern nestled at their feet. Maradona autographs shirt Bundesliga eyes elbow celebrations to help Buenos Aires poor and away team win if fans turn up AFP The jersey was first offered DPA BUENOS AIRES at auction, but is being raffled BERLIN to those who have given dona- DIEGO Maradona has lent a tions in an initiative that has BUNDESLIGA footballers will hand in the fight against the collected hygiene products, only be allowed to celebrate to- coronavirus pandemic in his masks and around 100 kilo- gether with “brief elbow or foot hometown by autographing grams (220 pounds) of food contact” when the German foot- an Argentina national team for charity. ball top flight resumes on May jersey for a raffle. “Diego can’t even imagine 16 following the coronavirus The sale raised money for what he has done for us, it’s hiatus, Bild newspaper reported an underprivileged area on priceless. I’ll be grateful to him on Saturday. the outskirts of Buenos Aires until the day I die,” said local Eintracht Frankfurt sport- affected by quarantine rules. resident Marta Gutierrez. ing director Fredi Bobic also A man holds a replica of Argentina’s “We’re going to get In addition to the pan- revealed that away teams would football team jersey used during the through it,” Maradona wrote demic, Argentina is facing a be awarded the points if mass- In this file photo taken on February 18, 2020 Dortmund fans display their team’s logo as the teams walk final of the FIFA World Cup Mexico on the jersey, a replica of the serious economic crisis and es of fans congregrate outside in prior to the UEFA Champions League Last 16 first-leg match BVB Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint- ‘86, handwritten and signed by one he wore when he led his is in laborious negotiations home stadiums for the games Germain (PSG) in Dortmund.