Archive for March 11th, 2013
Oh Mother, What A Shambles From CD Tenerife

Two defeats on the trot doesn’t make a crisis for CD Tenerife but it’s a warning to sort themselves out before they throwaway their healthy lead at the top of the table. Self inflicted mistakes proved costly in this 1-2 defeat and Aridane enhanced his reputation as out main striker by not even playing. The suspended forward was missed for his physical presence and sheer nuisance value to opposition defences – and his 14 goals have been a bit handy too.

It was a similar story with right back Javi Moyano also forced to sit out the game, his replacement Sergio Rodriguez had a mare, he kept backing off when he should have been putting in the telling tackles. Guijuelo are in the relegation zone and Manu Moreira was the only player that looked to have any attacking threat, striker German and midfielder Abel both had to sit the game out as part of their loan agreement from CD Tenerife.

It was a very shaky start from Tenerife Moreira made a half chance and from the corner Aragoneses had to punch the ball away with Yeray mopping up after him. Alberto made a silly slip and was thankful to Llorente for coming to his rescue before Guijuelo could think of exploiting it. The visitors goalie Calvo looked strong and commanding in the air – maybe battering ram Aridane could have tested him. Tenerife wasted a free kick on the edge of the box, Suso chipped over and coach Alvaro Cervera called a couple of his players over during a break in play to presumably ask them what the hell their problem was.

Just before the half hour Guillem Marti put pressure on the Guijuelo defence after a cross from Llorente, Manolo got a touch to it and everyone froze as the ball sneaked in to the net with slippers on for an own goal. Time to take control, or maybe not, bad concentration just before the break proved costly as Rodriguez again dithered leaving Jaime Moreno to flight in a quality goal at the near post that Aragoneses flapped at instead of pushing it away. Cristo Martin raised hopes early in the second half with a decent free kick but Calvo was down on it. A neat back heel from Cristo set Llorente away but he flashed the ball wide, changes were needed. A double substitution saw Ayoze Perez and Chechu replace Guillem and Yeray and Tenerife showed some renewed urgency.

Chechu sprinted down the left and got close with his shot and followed up with a cross that carried on past the post and out of play. The killer blow came after 70 minutes, Llorente was caught out this time and Volero scored with from one of the few real efforts his side had on goal. Nico took over for Rodriguez but couldn’t make the difference, Alberto managed a header that the Guijuelo keeper took low down and in injury time Alberto had another fruitless attempt that went wide as Ayoze called for the ball. I was so angry by the end of the game that I almost had a Justin Beiber hissy fit but the soccer Gods bailed us out again as Leganes and Oviedo both drew leaving us five points clear and they go head to head next week.

Arona Carnaval By Night And By Day

Women in skimpy costumes, bizarre fancy dress, industrial quantities of alcohol, and ear splittingly loud music into the small hours. Arona Carnaval serves all these ingredients up on my own doorstep, well a short walk down the hill, but as it has a duty to delight all the municipality the opening Cabalgata parade started in Playa de Las Americas just outside Veronicas.

The threat of heavy storms hung over the big launch but that didn’t stop the party people from squeezing into their dresses, tunics, and high heels. Parents passed on their Carnaval make up skills to the next generation as they preened and polished the young guns ready to set off down Avenida Rafael Puig Lluvina. Brazil was the theme vaguely kept in mind but basically it was a dressing up box free for all driven along by the usual strident drum rhythms. Crowds were big all along the route and the rain held off, the smiles and kisses radiated out from the dancers and tipsy holiday makers came out from bars and restaurants to do their dad or mum at a wedding routine with the sort of dance moves that would make Bruce Forsyth’s wig spin.

Gloomy stall holders around the showground in Los Cristianos had a few lean days as the rain lashed down and gales rattled the stage but it all held together and the sun was back in time for the main stage events. The following Saturday was the all day Carnaval and on a scorching hot afternoon I started at the showground mingling among the music fans enjoying a string of dance and pop acts. The Espacio 40 Principales show brought a younger mix of acts rather than the usual old favourites and had people up and bopping as they clinked and clanked endless bottles and glasses of happy juice.

The all dayer brings out families with cute photogenic kids, and yummy mummies distracting me at every turn. The smell of the food stalls adds to the atmosphere and the mojitos were proving to be the favoured form of refreshment. There was more action to be found at the Plaza del Pescadora down near the old beach so I wandered off there to check it out. A couple of free face painting stalls has been set up along the way and young singers and dance groups were gathering ready for their turn on the plaza stage.

The party mood was infectious and older holiday makers were shimmying in their sandals and shaking surplus sun cream off their gyrating bodies. As well as the performers there were contestants lurking around for the later fancy dress competition, all very ingenious but a bit hot in the full blaze of the sun. Ice cream and cold drinks were flying off the shelves of nearby shops, and restaurants and cafes where the views were good had full tables. The sea was calm and twinkling and the sand soft and sizzling, all that and free music wafting across – we really do spoil our holiday makers.

Heading back towards the showground there was a bonus attraction as more drum based groups performed outside the Cultural Centre. With the election of the drag queen set for the evening it was shaping up for another late night and the previous night had only finished at 5 am. Deep breath, the Coso Parade and Sardine Funeral were still to come.