Marco Rojas - The return of the Kiwi Messi
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.
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.
No Rojas in match day squad. His time in Chile may quickly be coming to an end.
Colo Colo with a mid week trip to Buenos Aires & Boca Juniors in the Copa Libertadores.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/04/29/chile/primera-division/union-la-calera/club-social-y-deportivo-colo-colo/4010506/
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.
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.
Rojas it seems unlikely to get any minutes, but cool experience all the same.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/05/04/south-america/copa-libertadores/club-social-y-deportivo-colo-colo/boca-juniors/4061125/
Edit - Boca lead 1-0. Peruvian CB Luis Advíncula (who played against Hudson's AWs in 2017) with the goal.
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.
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.
No Rojas. Packing up for a return to Melbs?
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/05/10/chile/primera-division/club-social-y-deportivo-colo-colo/audax-club-sportivo-italiano/4010517/
Rojas actually subbed on at 65 mins (1-1).
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/05/14/chile/primera-division/union-espanola/club-social-y-deportivo-colo-colo/4010522/
Edit - Colo Colo win an upset lose 0-1. They went down to 10 men from 65 mins (0-1).
Next 2 away games in Copa Libertadores. Monagas in Venezuela & then Boca Juniors in Buenos Aires.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/05/24/south-america/copa-libertadores/monagas-sc/club-social-y-deportivo-colo-colo/4061140/
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.
🥰 Thank you, Marco! 🥰
— Melbourne Victory (@gomvfc) May 24, 2023
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.
Story via @NickDurbano_ on @keepupau.
Carlin
@carlxn_
Copa Libertadores debut for Marco Rojas away in Venezuela - the first NZer to play in the comp.
His time in Chile has been tough of late, but an historic moment to play in such a storied competition.
Also completes the set of NZers playing in all 6 confeds’ Champions Leagues
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.
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.
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.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/06/07/south-america/copa-libertadores/boca-juniors/club-social-y-deportivo-colo-colo/4061158/
5th round game.
Table after 4 rounds
Boca Juniors (7pts, +2 GD)
Deportivo Pereira (7 pts, +1 GD)
Colo Colo (5 pts,-1 GD)
Monagas (2 pts, - 2 GD)
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
Streaming Online
Streaming Online
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.
Streaming Online
You were right. Rojas should have been the assist hero for Colo Colo, his pass creating chance for fellow sub Thompson. From Flying Kiwis.
Marco Rojas was thiiis close to an assist in what’ll probably be his final game for Colo-Colo - a 1-0 defeat away to Boca Juniors in the Copa Libertadores #FlyingKiwis
https://twitter.com/thenichecache/status/1666562221101711360
https://twitter.com/i/status/1666562221101711360
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.
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.
FIFPRO @FIFPRO
Jun 22
Hello, Marco Rojas!
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
https://www.minutod.com/internacional/2023/6/23/se-quiso-ir-quinteros-despotrico-contra-un-jugador-que-se-marcho-de-colo-colo-45747.html
Colombians therefore edge Colo Colo on GD for 2nd spot behind Boca Juniors, and the Chileans don’t progress to the knockout stages
Bit strange Marco didn’t stay around until that game. His heart not in Santiago anymore it would seem
“We need to show women’s players that they have allies in the men’s game.”
— FIFPRO (@FIFPRO) July 18, 2023
Marco Rojas recently donated $20,000 to former club @gomvfc to develop the club’s women’s football programme 🙌
He talks about his passion for human rights, his story & the importance of unions.@NZPFA
“We need to show women’s players that they have allies in the men’s game.”
— FIFPRO (@FIFPRO) July 18, 2023
Marco Rojas recently donated $20,000 to former club @gomvfc to develop the club’s women’s football programme 🙌
He talks about his passion for human rights, his story & the importance of unions.@NZPFA
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.