It’s a topsy turvey life supporting CD Tenerife, but sometimes, when they are really good, it all becomes worthwhile. Yesterday was one of those days, at home to resurgent Primera giants Rayo Vallecano, CDT found themselves a player short after just 35 minutes when Manolo Martinez was sent off for a second yellow card. Were we bothered? strangely the answer is no.
Rayo looked quite a bit short of their reputation as promotion candidates and Tenerife responded well to the red card blow. Luna looked rock like at the heart of the defence and with Ricardo showing his best form in midfield, there was a confidence among the 12.025 crowd. Diame went close for Rayo after 41 minutes, their only decent chance, and Alfaro hit the post for Tenerife just before half time.
Into the second half, and normally the home faithfull would be worried about holding a 1-0 lead, let alone a 0-0 scoreline, but there seemed a determination about Tenerife that was to prove prophetic. Juanlu was making a good partnership with Nino (pic) and after 63 minutes, Alfaro fed the ball to Nino to set up Juanlu to blast the ball into the visitors net. There was better to come, Nino, now enjoying God like status in Santa Cruz, hit the bar late on but went one better after 88 minutes, scoring his 7th goal of the season after good work from Ricardo. Â
Cue the celebrations, and the opening of many Dorada bottles as the Armada Sur enjoyed a very happy trip back down south. My head wasn’t too impressed this morning, but Tenerife are back in 6th spot and all thoughts are starting to turn to the Canarian Derby against the Pios in Gran Canaria in 3 weeks.
Boxing comes in many forms, and Tenerife is becoming quite a ring of fire for the noble arts. Next Saturday November 8th , Siam Park becomes the latest venue to stage a top class card, with traditional, kick and even Thai boxing, at the amphitheatre, above the Costa Adeje water park.
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Top of the bill is a World title Kick Boxing clash between Frenchman Hassan Baou and Michel “Tiger” Silveira, a Canarian based Brazilian. Just to underline the wide ranging nature of the evenings fare, the other headline clash features women boxers, Leticia Candal, a Brazilian based in Tenerife, and the UK champion Angel McKenzie. If you think boxers are more about brawn that brain, prepare to have your pre conceptions shattered.
Angel McKenzie may have the “Eye Of The Tiger” but she has the soul of an artist. The 30 year old was born in Moscow to an affluent, intellectual family and chased her dream to be a rock star, writing and performing in Atas, a band that became known across Russia. Years of studying theatre, performance and anatomy fuelled other creative desires and after moving to the UK in 1997 she started to expand her interests with painting, sculpting and of course music, at her Brixton studio. Sport also inspired her and she got into BMX riding. A spectacular bike accident tore ligaments in both legs and left her unsure if she would walk again. Two years of operations led to weight training and then boxing, a new desire was born, but Angel still makes time to allow her other talents to grow.
Quite a lady, and it should be quite a contest. There is loads more action to enjoy, 3 further boxing matches, 2 kick boxing clashes and even a Thai boxing match up. Thai boxing is a more complete form of fighting, using hands, shins, elbows and knees. The evenings action starts at 9pm and tickets are just 17 euros, phone 922795572 for more details.
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