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Pumas plus Mexico side at U.S. Cup has 13 players from Pumas
Posted: Saturday June 03, 2000 12:10 PM
NEW YORK (AP) -- Mexico will be represented at the U.S. Cup by a team comprised largely of players from UNAM Pumas and will be managed by the club team's coach, former Mexican international Hugo Sanchez, the U.S. federation announced Friday. Of the 22-man roster submitted to the USSF on Friday, 13 play for Pumas, although U.S. federation chief operating officer Tom King said teams will be allowed to change their roster after this weekend's games. The United States opens the seventh annual U.S. Cup on Saturday against South Africa in Washington, while Mexico faces Ireland in Chicago on Sunday. The four-team league-style event runs through June 11. Players from six teams other than Pumas, including the American MLS side Los Angeles Galaxy, were selected for the Mexico team, which is coming to the annual event for the fifth straight time. King said although the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) had agreed in December to send its regular national team, the late finish of the Mexican league season and the involvement of America in the Copa Libertadores semifinals had precipitated the FMF to ask the USSF for a postponement in the tournament as early as late April. After the USSF rejected that proposal, the FMF scrambled to put together a team and settled on Sanchez, rather than regular manager Manuel Lapuente, to bring essentially a reinforced Pumas. "A total of seven different teams are represented," King said. "I don't know if it is fair to say just Pumas is coming. You must give credit to the players who do represent Pumas -- they who qualified for the playoffs and had an excellent season. "The also have a very charismatic, intriguing coach, who will generate more than a little interest. So I don't believe this is a situation where this is just Pumas coming." Privately, some U.S. federation officials have expressed frustration with the Mexican federation, realizing the selection of the roster may impact ticket sales and profitability of the tournament. "I think what we will do, candidly, is evaluate the success of tournament, and then make a decision if they will be invited back," King said. Although Luis Hernandez was included on the roster submitted Friday, he will not be available for Sunday's game owing to Los Angeles' league match Saturday against the MetroStars. King said the FMF is to advise the USSF as to Hernandez's availability for the rest of the tournament on Monday. The FMF also may add Jorge Campos, although Mexican media reports say he has a personality conflict with Sanchez and is unlikely to be added. --- Roster Goalkeepers: Sergio Bernal (Pumas), Esdras Rangel (Pumas). Defenders: Gilberto Jimenez (Puebla), Oscar Mascorro (Pumas), Joaquin Beltran (Puebla), Christian Ramirez (Chivas), Raul Alpizar (Pumas), Carlos Carino (Pumas). Midfielders: Isreal Lopez (Pumas), Gerrado Torrado (Pumas), Luis Perez (Necaxa), Paulo Cesar Chavez (Chivas), Antonio Sancho (Pumas), Gerardo Galindo (Atlas), Rodrigo Barragan (Pumas). Forwards: Horacio Sanchez (Pumas), Luis Ignacio Gonzalez (Pumas), Jesus Olalde (Pumas), Daniel Osorno (Atlas), Luis Hernandez (LA Galaxy), Ignacio Flores (Pumas), Jaime Lozano (Moreila).
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