Marked for Javier Olivas
From our football correspondent
Steady
Squad10 Dec 2029
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Iquique this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Squad10 Dec 2029
“The easiest signature of my career.” Javier Olivas and Iquique agree another 3 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
Market10 Dec 2029
It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until Zacarías López signs something — a contract at Iquique or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.
Back issues
From our football correspondent
Upbeat
Squad26 Mar 2029
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Iquique this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Player ratings26 Mar 2029
There is a version of this player everybody suspected was in there, and on this evidence it is. 9.20, and no argument anywhere in the ground.
Match24 Mar 2029
A 2‑1 win over Palestino, earned rather than given, and the sort of afternoon that sends everyone home talking about next week instead of this one.
Player ratings26 Mar 2029
One of those days for Enzo Hoyos
There is a version of this player everybody suspected was in there, and on this evidence it is. 8.16, and no argument anywhere in the ground.
Player ratings26 Mar 2029
One of those days for Micael
There is a version of this player everybody suspected was in there, and on this evidence it is. 8.13, and no argument anywhere in the ground.
Squad26 Mar 2029
The manager makes an example of Nicolás Ayala
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
Squad26 Mar 2029
“I never wanted to be anywhere else. There is unfinished business here.” Javier Olivas commits to Iquique for another 3 years.
Market26 Mar 2029
It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until Zacarías López signs something — a contract at Iquique or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.
Squad26 Mar 2029
The first one is the one every signing is asked about until it arrives. It has arrived, and he can stop being asked.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Match14 Jun 2028
Cup progress for Iquique
A 3‑0 win over Santiago Wanderers, a place in the next round, and the quiet arithmetic every supporter does on the walk home: how many more until a final?
Squad19 Jun 2028
There were 8 saves in it, and at least three that had no business being saves at all. The ten outfield players owe him a drink and they know it.
Squad19 Jun 2028
Javier Olivas: that is not what I was promised
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Iquique have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
Squad19 Jun 2028
Agustín Venezia was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Player ratings19 Jun 2028
A performance of 9.26 does not come along often, and when it does the rest of the team becomes scenery. He was magnificent.
Player ratings19 Jun 2028
Marked 9.19 — the sort of number a correspondent writes down twice to be sure. Everything he tried came off, and what he did not try was not worth trying.
Match17 Jun 2028
Ask anyone on the way out what separated the sides and you will get one name: Iam González. 2‑1 against Union La Calera, and the applause at the whistle was mostly his.
Player ratings19 Jun 2028
Marked 8.74 — the sort of number a correspondent writes down twice to be sure. Everything he tried came off, and what he did not try was not worth trying.
Player ratings19 Jun 2028
Marked 8.48 — the sort of number a correspondent writes down twice to be sure. Everything he tried came off, and what he did not try was not worth trying.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Squad20 Mar 2028
There were 11 saves in it, and at least three that had no business being saves at all. The ten outfield players owe him a drink and they know it.
Match15 Mar 2028
Cup progress for Iquique
A 1‑0 win over Union Espanola, a place in the next round, and the quiet arithmetic every supporter does on the walk home: how many more until a final?
Squad20 Mar 2028
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Iquique this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Squad20 Mar 2028
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
Match18 Mar 2028
0‑1 to Colo-Colo, and no complaints worth printing. The performance asked for nothing more than it got.
Player ratings20 Mar 2028
Marked 8.54 — the sort of number a correspondent writes down twice to be sure. Everything he tried came off, and what he did not try was not worth trying.
Player ratings20 Mar 2028
There is a version of this player everybody suspected was in there, and on this evidence it is. 8.03, and no argument anywhere in the ground.
Squad20 Mar 2028
“I never wanted to be anywhere else. There is unfinished business here.” Alonso López commits to Iquique for another 4 years.
Player ratings20 Mar 2028
Successful dribbles: 16. Every time he got the ball somebody had to make a decision, and every time the decision was wrong.