Much improved was the fans reaction to a couple of superb headers in a 3-2 home win for CD Tenerife. Must do better was coach Aritz Lopez Garai´s assesment of the two defensive mistakes that nearly let Numancia back into the game. But a damming verdict of clueless and slow was the judgement of the 10,550 crowd and most players on VAR, once again the party pooper.

The summer signings had created an air of hope and expectancy. Slovakian left back, Robert Mazan made his bow and had a steady game, Serbian Nikola Sipcic resumed his place in the centre of defence thanks to a last minute 50-50 fitness call after his whack on the head at Zaragoza in the opening game. Malbasic was keen from the start and welcomed the visiting goalie to the action with a testing shot. Adrian Ortola got the nod in goal and hardly ruffled his beard with a routine take of a cross from Mistou. The Suso, Luis Perez combination on the right mixes youth and experience well, the captain hangs back when needed to let the young gun hit the pedal, but can still add his own threat. Numancia had to clear a couple of the skippers early half chances.

Just before the break, Milla floated in a deep corner into an open space, Borja Lasso soon filled it with a sneaky run and a lunging header that left the goalie grasping at air. Into the second half and d the party pooper. Malbasic set up Naranjo to score but the unwanted guest, VAR, butted in and after an agonising wait the ref ruled a no goal. A few minutes later there was another embarrassing gap before the ref gave an obvious hand ball penalty for Suso to convert. The lack of communication between the ref, the players, and the crowd was particularly annoying.

Maybe it was the delay, frustration, or just a lapse in concentration but with the defence absent, Ortola raced to the edge of his area as Higino swerved around his wild lunge. Alberto was racing back but could only watch the ball trickle into the net. Dani Lopez got his chance to join the attack as he replaced Naranjo but it was Suso and Malbasic whose link up should have increased the lead but the Serbian´s shot didn´t have the staying power. The slender lead needed fattening up, Borja crowned one of his best games with a slick set up, Malbasic judged it perfectly as he flicked his head to direct the ball into the net.

As if the antics of VAR weren´t enough, the stadium scoreboard went into meltdown and blanked out, at least it ha already shown the message of solidarity with the fire ravaged people of Gran Canaria. With no way of telling if enough time had been added for the lengthy stoppages, it was a nervous ending to the game. Curro was unmarked and saw the empty spaces where the Tenerife defence should have been. Racing through he kept ahead of another fruitless back track by Alberto and reduced the lead to 3-2 just before the final whistle blew. There´s plenty more to do on the training ground but as the rest of the new arrivals get their chance, competition for places should sharpen up and already promising outlook.

Repelled all game by visiting goalie Edwin, CD Marino kept coming back for more and were rewarded with two late goals to overcome a Buzanada first half strike for a 2-1 opening day win of the Tercera season.

Stephane caught the eye on the left wing on his home debut for the blues, his pace and vision translated well from the Belgium second division. Javi Gonzalez was again leading the Marino attack and only a stern block from Ramses halted his early progress. The summer break brought big changes for both Tenerife south squads. Kiko de Diego returned to the ground where he played to take over the home bench and last season´s coach Zeben Hernandez, made a swift return in charge of Buzanada.

Edgar found plenty of space from left back for Buzanada but his high, wild cross was no threat. Ayoze was closer with a long range dipping shot but David Ruso´s gloves weren´t called into action. Marino grew into the game, Roy, a new recruit from mainland side SD Ejea, teed up the ball for Stephane, his shot was straight at the keeper. Buzanada lost Edgar to injury after 20 minutes but his replacement, Pirri, gave his team mates a big target man to aim for. It didn´t take long for Pirri to show his worth, picking up a loose ball in space he unleashed a powerful shot wide of Ruso and into the bottom corner of his net for a 0-1 lead.

Marino had their own enforced change, Stephane went off injured, Niki came on at left back with Nami moving forward. Charni, another Belgium import, added midfield experience gained from spells with Inter Bratislava, Manchester United youth, and even Carlisle United. The new boy shut the door on Ayoze as he looked to break just before half time. Ayoze returned to clip the Marino bar with a long shot, and Alberto found Bamba in space, his effort failed to test the confident Edwin. Javi Gonzalez tried to increase the tempo, he rounded the visitors defence before Edwin smothered his shot. Nikki exposed the Buzanada defence down the right but put the ball wide of the goal.

With barely 20 minutes of the second half gone, Charni got a second booking for a foul on Efren and ended his debut early. Marino regrouped and continued to take the game to Buzanada but found Edwin in top form. His opposite number, Ruso had seen far too little action, even the scorer Pirri hadn´t forced any saves from the goalie. Marino made a change, Prince for Bamba and pushed to get back into the game. It paid off, Javi created havoc in the Buzanada box, and Juanmi finished off a rebound from a half clearance to level with just over 10 minutes left. Ayoze looked odds on to restore the away lead, he made space but hit a soft low shot which Ruso handled easily.

Buzanada were slipping as Marino camped in their final third. Roy fired in a series of corners, Nami skied the ball from one. Another corner in the last minute went beyond the onrushing keeper and a frantic defensive scramble produced a hand ball. Javi slotted the penalty into the net to seal the comeback win and set the new season off on a positive note.

With a thud that could almost be heard back in Tenerife, Real Zaragoza’a Blanco and the visitors Nikola Sipcic met head on as they leapt for a 50-50 high ball. The CD Tenerife Serbian defender crumpled to the floor, and that was the end of his debut game as he went off for treatment. It was typical of a cruel evening that saw Tenerife´s good work undermined by misfortune and a ludicrous VAR decision on the way to an opening 2-0 league defeat.

Coach Aritz Lopez Garai was hampered before the game even started, two other new players, Slovakian full back Robert Mazan, and striker Ramon Mierez missed the big kick off with injury niggles. That didn’t stop their team mates from making the big spending, hotly tipped promotion favourites look very ordinary in the first half. Shinji Kagawa ,nicknamed the Japanese Messi, is Zaragoza’s big coup of a signing but the Tenerife defence and midfield restricted him to an early wide shot after a break down the right. Borja Lasso tested the home defence with a blast from outside the box, and Suso combined well with Luis Perez whose cross was taken off the head of Sipcic.
Right back Perez had been the star of pre season games with his driving runs down the wing, he wriggled free of the home defence but his shot was a little wayward. The Tenerife front line had a familiar look, Malbasic brought a long pass under control and was shaping up for a shot when the Zaragoza goalie came out to deny him. There was even some cheeky stroking around of the ball to frustrate the home players and crowd. By the half hour water break the local fans only had a luke warm impression of their new side. Luis Milla tried his luck but powered the ball over the Zaragoza goal.

In the final five minutes of the half, Zaragoza upped their game. Adrian Ortola, who had wrestled the gloves off seasoned regular Dani Hernandez, made a clean stop to deny Raphael. Zaragoza charged again and caught the Tenerife defence flat footed, Aitor Sanz was too late with a sliding intervention and Suarez fired past Ortola to take the lead. That changed the whole mood of the game, Zaragoza looked more at ease in the second half, Raphael put another effort just the wrong side of the goal post. Suso rushed a shot at the other end and it gave the keeper no problems. Then that clash of heads made matters worse, Sipcic had been influential in defence and supporting the attack. Carlos Ruiz took over his role and Dani Gomez replaced Naranjo up front. When Zaragoza pressed again, Ortola let the ball squirm away from him and was grateful to Ruiz for clearing the threat.

On a sultry night, water seemed to be a prelude to disaster, after the second cooler break Carlos Ruiz brought down an opponent and was sent off for two bookings. More frantic shuffling was accompanied by the arrival of Alex Bermejo for Sanz, but new coach Garai had more setbacks heading his way. With two minutes of regular time left, Bermejo tripped an incoming Zaragoza player just outside the box, both sides were gearing up for a free kick when the ref pointed to the penalty spot under advice from VAR, on the first day of its introduction to the Segunda Division. It came just hours after another shocking call in the Manchester City v Tottenham game and underlined the faults in the system. Ros converted the kick to complete a frustrating match, and after the game Luis Perez needed seven stitches in a face wound and Sipcic was kept in hospital overnight for observation.. Coach Garai was the one with the biggest headache, a bundle of selection problems to juggle before the home opener against Numancia but should draw some encouragement from the first half display.

Barely 20 minutes out of Los Cristianos harbour, pilot whales and dolphins converged on the Travelin Lady boat to show why Tenerife is the perfect place to watch these graceful and enchanting creatures. It’s a labour of love for the three strong crew and up to 80 passengers, and has been since they started trips in 1991.

A hot, clear day was unfolding for the 11 am two hour voyage, the sea was rippling gently and a pleasant breeze wafted through the two deck boat. One of the smallest of the local fleet to unlock the wonders of the Canary Island coast, Travelin Lady had an informal and friendly atmosphere as we headed out to sea. Ferries were rushing away to the neighbouring island of La Gomera but our pace was more leisurely and was rewarded when the crew spotted a mix of pilot whales and dolphins just ahead.

Slowing to a patient amble, our new friends hardly seemed to notice us. That’s partly down to the quieter new engine, one of several voluntary measures to comply with a code of conduct that is officially certified by the yellow flag. A third of all the worlds species of cetaceans either live in or pass through the waters of the Canary Islands, that brings a big responsibility, Travellin Lady has an enclosed propeller for extra protection. It’s good to know that care extends to the passengers, signs in English and Spanish explained safety procedures and pointed out life raft and jacket spots. A small bar ensured that drinks and snacks could be bought to answer the effect of the warm, salty breeze.

With cameras and videos filled with special moments, it was time to cut back nearer the shoreline at the base of the 428 metre high Guaza Mountain, a protected area of natural beauty. The basalt stacks of the cliffs are home to countless seagulls and rarer birds, and the erosion of the ocean has carved a series of inlets and deep caves. The curious sight of the fish farm cages showed a modern side to the fishing industry that has provided for the local people for many generations.

Working back around the coast, we headed past the harbour and out beyond the modern man made Las Vistas beach. The sparkling water and yellow sand were further reminders of the attractions of Tenerife. On the 1 and 3 pm sailing, the boat moors up for passengers to take a cooling swim before returning to the port. It was a very enjoyable trip with a well informed crew, Tenerife has many wonders but a voyage on the sea adds a whole new understanding to the rich harvest of life that call the island home.

Travellin Lady heads out to sea every day at 11am, and 1 and 3pm from the small quayside on the old Los Cristianos beach. The basic adult price is 25 euros, childrens prices depend on age, and ask about the VIP options. For more information, or to book right up to departure time, visit the first kiosk to the right of the beach. You can also visit the website.  Here is the full gallery of my photos from the trip.

You could almost feel sorry for football´s pre season friendly games. Few fans remember them and the results often confound, mislead, and confuse supporters. For CD Tenerife the 2019-2020 build up was even more of a leap into the unknown than usual. Latest coach on the conveyor belt, Aritz Lopez Garai, a sprightly 38 year old, arrived via brief experience at the helm for Reus and Numancia. Then new players started to arrive, and arrive, and arrive.

The opening two games served up 13 goals scored and none conceded. A 0 – 9 triumph over three levels inferior Aguillas, at T3 in La Caleta, and a 0-4 win at CD Marino featured the usual mass changing of players at half time.Top scoring at Top Training went to Luis Perez, Sevilla recruit Alex Bermejo, and B teamer Josue with two apiece.The most pleasing sight though was to see midfielder Aitor Sanz return from a 16 month achilles tendon nightmare.
The goals quartet was crammed into the first 28 minutes at CD Marino. Borja Lasso with a header, Naranjo chipped the home keepers bad clearance over his head, and Malbasic looked sharp with two well taken strikes. The big Sebian and Naranjo tied as top scorers last season with just six league goals each, both were big earners and may well go before the big kick off. Nano, who only struck four times, is back at parent club Eibar. Josue and 20 year old Dani Gomez from Real Madrid B looked willing in the opening games but a little light weight. the wait for new fire power was underway.

The new coach was in the spotlight. Using full backs to overlap and create openings stood out in his first games, three more captures in the run up to the Teide Trophy game, fitted that tactic. American right back Shaq Moore, and Slovakian Robert Mazan (25) got brief run outs but Cultural Leonesa had a fairly comfortable 0-3 victory. The next new signings were also in the 23 to 26 age bracket, we had been promised younger players with fire in their boots. Centre back Alex Munoz (24) from Real Zaragoza can cover left back or midfield. Nikola Sipsic, a 6 foot plus centre back from Serbia was next to make a show at the south airport.

It wasn´t all hard work, fitness and team bonding were helped along by running in the Tenerife hills, and river rafting at a weeks training camp in Portugal. That included a less impressive 4-2 defeat to Sparta Braga B with goals from Bermejo and Malbasic, and a much better 0-1 win v Celta Vigo with a Malbasic finish from a Luis Perez cross. Adrian Ortola from Barcelona via Deportivo started in goal and will fancy his chances of replacing Dani Hernandez for the starting role in the league.

Unlike the UK, Spain´s transfer window closes on 2 September, Argentinian striker Ramon Mierez could be the goal bagger we wanted, the 22 year old Argentinian has netted a fair record at Alaves and did better on loan in Croatia last season. A couple of more new boys may arrive but the worry is fending off admirers of our best stars like Alberto and Luis Milla. Real Madrid Castilla, the final warm up, will see us return to the Heliodoro Stadium in Santa Cruz before a tough league opener at Real Zaragoza on 17 August. Anything can happen this season, and probably will, but being back with the Armada Sur for a weekly football fix is a joyous prospect.