South American football is like this, many players come in and out in post season and team dynamics change quickly, that is a reason. Not to mention coaches change often, it’s a very fickle and difficult environment over there MetalLegNZ
His first season at Cola Cola went well - wonder why he is not trusted this season to play?
Mentioned in Niche Cache that Colo Colo have recently changed formation, which contributes to Rojas being on the outer.
He had an itch to play in his parent's homeland for the club they always supported. Did it & even won the League title. He'll get to visit Boca Juniors for a Copa Libertadores tie (even if he just sits in the stands). Worse ways to see a bit of Sth America.
Being reported in Chilean media that Rojas wants to terminate his contract six months early, so that it will end in June as opposed to the end of the year. The reason for wanting to leave is apparently personal, rather than sporting, even though he's played once for about fifteen minutes since February.
With the news that Nani is apparently not coming back for his second season at the Victory, it'd be no surprise if he comes back and makes his fourth stint at the Victory next season.
Story of his career really, runs things at A League level, goes overseas and doesn't make an extended impression - even for the All Whites he's hardly had a memorable 90 minute performance in 50 caps - before coming back and starring in the A League again.
If that does happen he will probs go to Victory but would be nice if he wanted to return to the Nix as we do need some quality local players for next season.
Being reported in Chilean media that Rojas wants to terminate his contract six months early, so that it will end in June as opposed to the end of the year. The reason for wanting to leave is apparently personal, rather than sporting, even though he's played once for about fifteen minutes since February.
With the news that Nani is apparently not coming back for his second season at the Victory, it'd be no surprise if he comes back and makes his fourth stint at the Victory next season.
Story of his career really, runs things at A League level, goes overseas and doesn't make an extended impression - even for the All Whites he's hardly had a memorable 90 minute performance in 50 caps - before coming back and starring in the A League again.
been saying this for years about Marco, he'sgood but not good enough to carry the "NZ Messi" tag. He did ok for the nix, left for greener pastures and barring his time at Victory has ever really kicked on. Good on him for trying but at 31 it's time to realise he's only ever be really good enough for aleague football.
At A-League level the team is built to support him - he's a marquee and core to how the team play, at international level and overseas it's not the same.
Being reported in Chilean media that Rojas wants to terminate his contract six months early, so that it will end in June as opposed to the end of the year. The reason for wanting to leave is apparently personal, rather than sporting, even though he's played once for about fifteen minutes since February.
With the news that Nani is apparently not coming back for his second season at the Victory, it'd be no surprise if he comes back and makes his fourth stint at the Victory next season.
Story of his career really, runs things at A League level, goes overseas and doesn't make an extended impression - even for the All Whites he's hardly had a memorable 90 minute performance in 50 caps - before coming back and starring in the A League again.
been saying this for years about Marco, he'sgood but not good enough to carry the "NZ Messi" tag. He did ok for the nix, left for greener pastures and barring his time at Victory has ever really kicked on. Good on him for trying but at 31 it's time to realise he's only ever be really good enough for aleague football.
At A-League level the team is built to support him - he's a marquee and core to how the team play, at international level and overseas it's not the same.
which is my point - he's a decent player but not that great that he can make any shape/style work for him. The true greats can make a mark on any team in any system - Marco has never been able to that.
Colo Colo tomorrow with their biggest pool game in the Copa Libertadores, hosting Boca Juniors. Both teams (1st & 2nd) on 4 points. So Colo Colo win, put themselves in the box seat to progress to the next round.
Rojas it seems unlikely to get any minutes, but cool experience all the same.
Boca win 2-0. 2nd goal at 65 mins, and Colo Colo go down to 10 men, 2 mins later.
Maybe after that the hosts just parked the bus to protect their GD?? - which could be important as they try to get out of their pool. Colo Colo made 3 late subs, and none of them were 'Kiwi Messi'
Tomorrow Deportivo Pereira host Monagas. The winner of that will join Colo Colo on 4 points. Boca Juniors now on 7 pts.
watched the game, classy finish from Peruvian Luis Advincola to score first, Colo Colo couldnt take their chances. A horrible giveaway for the second goal, all fall apart from there coochiee
Boca win 2-0. 2nd goal at 65 mins, and Colo Colo go down to 10 men, 2 mins later.
Maybe after that the hosts just parked the bus to protect their GD?? - which could be important as they try to get out of their pool. Colo Colo made 3 late subs, and none of them were 'Kiwi Messi'
Tomorrow Deportivo Pereira host Monagas. The winner of that will join Colo Colo on 4 points. Boca Juniors now on 7 pts.
From Venezuela to Argentina away to Boca Juniors, next week. Hopefully Rojas gets on in that one as well. One of the world's iconic stadiums, Boca's home ground La Bombonera.
Marco Rojas has made the first private contribution to Victory's Women's programs, donating $20,000 towards the development of female coaches as well as Afghan Women's and A-League Women's operations and equipment.
As was said in the squad speculation thread there's a rumor that Rojas is returning to NZ: https://twitter.com/AleagueNow_/status/1662665294169636865?s=20
I assume they got that from this article: https://www.encancha.cl/futbol-chileno/colo-colo/2023/05/28/duro-menos-de-un-ano-marco-rojas-ya-tiene-fecha-de-salida-en-colo-colo/
Any Spanish speakers may correct me on this but it doesn't appear to actually say he's returning to NZ just that he's returning home for personal reasons and has a desire to play where he's comfortable. That could be back in Melbourne or it could be NZ.
correct, it says he wants to go back to "familiar" settings, which can apply Melbourne
Ryan
As was said in the squad speculation thread there's a rumor that Rojas is returning to NZ: https://twitter.com/AleagueNow_/status/1662665294169636865?s=20
I assume they got that from this article: https://www.encancha.cl/futbol-chileno/colo-colo/2023/05/28/duro-menos-de-un-ano-marco-rojas-ya-tiene-fecha-de-salida-en-colo-colo/
Any Spanish speakers may correct me on this but it doesn't appear to actually say he's returning to NZ just that he's returning home for personal reasons and has a desire to play where he's comfortable. That could be back in Melbourne or it could be NZ.
Colo Colo away to Boca Juniors, in the Copa Libertadores tomorrow.
Hopefully Rojas makes the trip & gets on. One of the world's iconic stadiums, Boca's home ground La Bombonera.
Kudos also to him being available for the AWs. Long trek to Europe from Santiago (if he's still there), and with an uncertain club future you could excuse him for giving the AWs friendlies a miss.
Monagas currently lead Deportivo Pereira 1-0 in Venezuela. Stays that way will be a great result for Colo Colo.
Colo Colo host Deportivo Pereira in the last pool game, which could be a shoot out for 2nd place, and through to the next phase.
Edit - Monagas with a 1-0 win. So regardless of how Colo Colo go today in BA (currently 0-0 after 30 mins), they beat the Colombians Pereira in their final game they are through to next round - unless Monagas upset Boca in their final game, a home match for Boca. Hard to see the minnow Venezuelans winning away at La Bombonera
Finishes 1-0 Boca. Marcelo Weigandt who played for Argentina U20s, in 2019 in Poland with the winner.
So basically all in Colo Colo's hands now. Beat Deportivo Pereira at home in their final pool game (30th June), and barring a shock Monagas win away to Boca, Colo Colo will definitely go through to the next round of Copa Libertadores.
Rojas keeps ticking bucket list items of his little South American OE. Now doing stuff that very few non Sth American footballers would have done before.
Will have some good yarns for the AWs camp from next week.
Oh what might have been. Marco Rojas sent on for the last 25 minutes of the Copa Libertadores game away to Boca Juniors of Argentina. Colo-Colo were down 1-0 and in need of a goal to boost their hopes of making the knockout stages. They’d kept it close enough during the first half despite some dodgy moments at the back (along with some excellent goalkeeping and one outrageous goalline clearance by a defender) but ten mins into the second spell they were beaten by a wicked strike from Marcelo Weigandt.
But a little desperation can be a useful ally sometimes and Colo-Colo had their chances in the latter stages. That through ball from Rojas was the best of them, to no avail. The game ended 1-0 to Boca which doesn’t eliminate Colo-Colo yet since they can still go through with a win in the final round of fixtures as long as Boca also win their match. However Marco Rojas won’t be around for that.
That’s because his early release from the club is going to be granted. Reports had already suggested that’d be the case so everyone kinda knew that this was going to be his final appearance for Colo-Colo beforehand with the international window being a convenient milestone on which to wind up that contract. Although he will have to return to Chile after the All Whites tour in order to sign the documents. Bureaucracy, aye? Cool that he got to experience another Copa Libertadoes game before his departure, particularly one away against one of the biggest clubs in Argentina with a huge crowd in attendance. Unreal scenes.
Rojas leaves with a goal and five assists in 17 league games (624 minutes)… which is actually a really good record but changes to the team’s formation had limited his role this season and he wasn’t really settling in off the pitch either. Still, the goal he did score was a beaut that clinched the league title for Colo-Colo and he also recently became the first New Zealander to ever play in the Copa Libertadores.
Up Next: Gotta think the A-League surely beckons, right?
Looks like FIFPRO are based in the Netherlands. Colo Colo play tomorrow, so it does look like Marco has played his last game in Chile. Does Sara Gregorious work for FIFPRO?
The New Zealand internationalist has been at #FIFPRO House this week to talk about his human rights advocacy, and learn more about the role of unions in professional football. NZPFA
Gee imagine paying it back to the club where fans stumped up their own money to get you noticed by the club…
I know right? it's all good giving money to a great cause, going back to your roots so to speak and looking like a GC in the process, but he seems to have totally forgotten about the people/fans and the club that made it all possible.
