“CLOSE WITH EVERYTHING:” FIDEL MARTINEZ
Club Tijuana striker analyzes match vs. CD Victoria (Honduras) in CONCACAF Champions League
TIJUANA –Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente faces CD Victoria of Honduras Thursday Sept. 26 (7 p.m. Pacific) in a Week 4 match of the CONCACAF Champions League to close out the group stage of the international tournament.
The Xoloitzcuintles close out Group 7 against the Honduran squad in its first time competing in the tournament that gives the champion a ticket to the FIFA 2014 Club World Cup.
Focused on the match against the Central American club, the Xoloitzcuintles trained in Tijuana Tuesday Sept. 24 at Estadio Caliente. Coach Jorge Almiron’s team went through some fitness work and intersquad scrimmages in reduced spaces.
Forward Fidel Martinez spoke with the media after the morning practice and talked about the international matchup.
“We are happy and motivated t be playing in this tournament and we hope to be at the top,” said Martinez, the 23-year-old from Ecuador. “We want to get a positive result and continue to the next round. We want to close with everything. The team is motivated and wants to make history in both tournaments we are playing in.”
Martinez talked about his individual efforts since arriving in Tijuana in 2012, which include scoring important goals, including the 2012 Apertura final. Martinez has scored 17 goals in 43 games as a Xoloitzcuintle.
“I am not a goal scorer, really,” Martinez said. “I like to play on the wing, step into the area and I like goals. I have had opportunities and they have gone in. Let’s hope it continues on the same path. We hope to keep doing that and keep improving as a team and at a personal level to benefit the club.”
The Xoloitzcuintles close out preparations for its match Wednesday Sept. 25 for its match against CD Victoria Wednesday at Estadio Caliente. Tickets to the match remain on sale from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the stadium box office. Adult fans who bring a basic food basket on game day will receive a free adult ticket and another good for kids 12 and younger. The basket needs to have non-perishable products with a minimum value of $100 Pesos. Fans bringing a basket need to access the stadium through Acceso 1.
