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TIUANA –Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente introduced its newest players Jaimen Ayovi and Hernan Pellerano Friday Dec. 27 during a news conference at Estadio Caliente.  Ayovi, 25, is from Esmeraldas, Ecuador and Pellerano, 29, from Buenos Aires, Argentina come to Club Tijuana for the start of the LIGA Bancomer MX-2014 Clausura.

Club Tijuana Sporting Director Ignacio Palou spoke during the news conference and welcomed the new players in representation of team President Jorgealberto Hank.

“We are happy to count on having both of these players,” Palou said. “We have been following their career paths and now we have them with us and they will try and help us reach our goals.”

The Ecuadorian striker, Ayovi, is coming off playing with Club Liga de Quito of Ecuador after Club Tijuana obtain his rights last summer and after he went on loan the last six months.

“We came to a great team with a great group,” Ayovi said. “We want to compete at the highest level during the two tournaments we will play and we are motivated for both. I am happy with the team competition. I hope to play at a high level so that I am considered for the World Cup in Brazil.”  

Pellerano, younger brother of Club Tijuana defender Cristian Pellerano, talked about the importance of being able to play with his brother at the professional level. The younger Pellerano comes from Club Union Deportiva Almeria of the Spanish First Division where he played from 2008 to 2013.

“I was in Tijuana last year and had the chance to be in the locker room and I noticed it was a united, humble team,” Pellerano said. “There is a reason why they reached great things and this club did it by being humble. That’s the base of this team, humility, sacrifice and great players.

“Mexico has become one of the better places to play soccer and Club Tijuana has grown with great steps in recent years,” Pellerano said. “Being close to my brother was also a motivating factor to come here.”

As for being able to play with his brother:

“We had the chance to play against each other in matches in Argentina and now we get to be on the same team,” Pellerano said. “For my family and I, this is a dream come true.”

Pellerano added that he is looking forward to playing with Club Tijuana.

“Club Tijuana has shown what is capable of,” Pellerano said. “We have two tournaments to play in such as the CONCACAF Champions League and the Mexican league. The team is doing good things this preseason and friendly games. We will try to get to the regular season at 100-percent and give it our best during the tournament.”