Mutiny takes on Colombian team

Carlos Valderrama once played for exhibition opponent Millionarios.

By RODNEY PAGE

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 8, 2000

Before the three World Cup tournaments, before his travels to France and Spain, before Major League Soccer, Carlos Valderrama was a 22-year-old, bushy-haired rising star of the Colombian First Division when he joined Deportivo Millionarios in 1984.

Valderrama transferred to the team after three years with Union Magdalena. His stay was short -- one season -- and he went to Deportiva Cali, France, Spain, back to Colombia and then to MLS in 1996.

Valderrama will have a chance to relive some of his past tonight when the Mutiny plays Millionarios in an exhibition match at Tampa's Pepin-Rood Stadium. As part of the Mutiny's season-ticket package, one international exhibition is guaranteed.

Valderrama is not as fast as he once was, but he is looking forward to showing his old club that at 38 he still has skills.

"I still feel very good," Valderrama said through interpreter Orlando Conguta. "I think we have a very good team as well. I think it will be a game that the fans will enjoy seeing."

Valderrama is a fan favorite this season. He has a league-leading 19 assists, which ties his MLS record set in 1997 when he played in 20 games.

He has played in 20 games this season, but unlike '97, when Valderrama missed 12 games because of Colombian national team duties, he has no commitments outside MLS.

Valderrama likely will set the league record for assists again, and it didn't hurt when in April the team added striker Mamadou Diallo, a physical player who goes straight for the goal.

"Carlos is best when we're playing the ball straight ahead," coach Tim Hankinson said. "Last year we didn't have the player that would go straight at the goal. We relied on crossing the ball in the box and getting a goal in the air. That's not Carlos' game. Now we have players like Mamadou that can go forward. That's more to Carlos' liking."

Whatever Valderrama does in MLS, folks in Colombia find out about it. Every Monday, the Bogota newspaper El Tiempo updates statistics of Colombians in MLS.

Valderrama doesn't think his gaudy assist total is surprising.

"I've been working for this," he said. "From the preseason, that was my objective, not only to be better than what I was but also for the whole team to get better during the season and to go to the playoffs."

He is showing no sign of slowing. Valderrama, in the last year of his contract, will not entertain thoughts of retiring.

But when his retirement day comes, Valderrama said, he would like to return to Colombia and coach. Perhaps one day he will coach Millionarios instead of playing against them.

"There is always the possibility of doing that," Valderrama said. "I just have to find a way. I need to show that I can handle a team like that."

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.

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