Gonzalo Olid Apaza did not have the career she dreamed of from the beginning, the young promise that stood out in the lower ranks of River Plate he lost his taste for soccer like a job, and He stopped playing professionally in 2014with scarcely 22 years.
Although it did not explode in first and that today works selling vegetables and bottlesfew footballers can boast of the experiences they gained in their short career.
Under 17 World Cup: his experience with Dibu Martínez and Tagliafico
Since he was little he already stood out in the lower ranks of River Platewhich aroused the attention of the coach of the Sub 15 team from that time, neither more nor less than Ubaldo Matildo “Pato” Fillol.
His good level continued, and he brought it non-stop to the team Under 17which was also directed by a world champion, in this case it was José Luis “Tata” Brown. He was called to the world championship in the category, Nigeria 2009. There the team was defeated in round of 16 in view of Colombia by 3 to 2. Olid Apaza He saw it from the substitute bench.
On that campus, Gonzalo had the luxury of sharing a locker room with Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez and with Nicolas Tagliaficowhich were already appearing in Independent and banfield respectively.
Olid Apaza, Messi and Maradona, all on the same field
At the same time as the squad Under 17 was preparing for the World Cup event in Nigeriathe Major Selection he trained for South Africa World Cup 2010 and every Wednesday the youth players practiced soccer with the first team. There the midfielder had an opportunity that almost no one can boast about: being able to share the field with Lionel Messimaximum figure of that team and with Diego Armando Maradonawho was going through his experience as technical director.
Maradona and Messi in training.avif
“We arrived at training and they greeted us one by one. It was crazy. Diego was the referee of the match. We played with Messi, everyone was there. At that time, I didn’t have a cell phone, I remember that I had Nextel and I couldn’t record anything or take a photo,” he said in an interview with Infobae.
River’s category 92 and his short professional career
As if that were not enough for such a short career, he was part of the outstanding category ’92winner of five titles in the lower divisionsand that had great players who triumphed in first class like Erik Lamela, Rodrigo Rey and Leandro González Pirezamong others.
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Although he played reserve matches and shared training camps with the first team, he never established himself in the first team and had to look for a place in promotion. He played in Deportivo Merlo, Defenders of BelgranoSan Miguel and Defenders of Cambacereswhere he finally decided to hang up his boots.
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How he decided to retire from football and his current life
“In Cambaceres, I realized that I was not going to make a living from football. And the atmosphere wasn’t what I liked the most either. One Wednesday on the court Laferrere I played the last game with Cambaceres, I called my old man to tell him that I was not going to dedicate myself to football anymore.supported me in the decision,” he commented about his fleeting retirement from the sport.
Currently, with 31 yearsis dedicated to vegetable delivery in markets, restaurants and bars and also for sale carafes. Although it may not have been what he craved as a child, he seems to have found a safe place away from the exposure and flashes.
Source: Ambito
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
