FOOTBALL
Firing on all cylinders!
Unión Deportiva Lanzarote’s
home form has been simply
mustard this season with eight
played, seven won and the other
a draw. Ian Lane reports:
he Reds’ terrible away record has been
addressed, with three wins out of their last
four games, which in all has pushed the
Rojillos skyward into second spot - just a
point behind league leaders CD Marino in
Spain’s Tercera Division (Fourth Tier).
For manager Adolfo Pérez, this season was once
again about survival. The club remains broke after this
long-standing fight with the Social Security Department
over a player injured in a match 10 years ago. This
matter is now mostly resolved, with the club being
forced to pay social security payments of around 1000
Euros per month - probably for the next 100 years.
This means the club is alive and, after losing many
older but highly influential players, it was the youth that
got a go. Among the youngsters are the two British
lads Brad Cockerill (19) and Louis Kennedy (21). Brad
is already a fixture in midfield in his first season and is
getting stronger with every match.
And winger Louis is simply on fire. He joined the club
last season and, even though it was easy to spot his
talent, he was too lightweight and it was obvious to
see he was lacking in confidence. What a contrast
now! After a summer in which he built up his frame and
confidence, he now looks as though he could play at a
higher standard.
In Lanzarote´s last home game he was simply
devastating, waltzing past defenders with a little of that
Chris Waddle swagger, and baggiing two goals in the
3-1 win versus CD Laguna.
But it’s not only Louis who is bang on form, its
everybody. When a player is out injured, his deputy
steps in and does a better job. Midfielder Falo has had
to drop to centre back following a season long injury to
Luis Arráez and has been formidable.
A Dutch 16-year-old lad who plays for the youth
team made his debut versus Tenerife side CD Laguna.
In his eight minutes on the park he was exciting and
came within inches of scoring.
The old guard is still there, too. Captain Rosmen is a
Louis Kennedy shows a turn
worthy of Johann Cruyff!
T
114
| January 2015 | The Gazette
huge reason why Lanzarote are the league
top scorers with his 10 goals. Marcos Cabrera
and Echedey have owned the midfield and
vice-Captain Ángel Gil and all the older
players have been given a new lease of life.
Everyone knows in football things can
change in an instant but whilst it’s like this you
just have to surf the wave and smile.
FORTHCOMING HOME GAMES
AT THE CIUDAD DEPORTIVA,
ARRECIFE. (CHECK CONTACTS
BELOW FOR TIMES)
4th Jan
Lanzarote v UD Ibarra
11th Jan
Lanzarote v SD Tenisca
25th Jan
Lanzarote v UD Telde
The amount of expats and British tourists
watching the matches is increasing and
manager Adolfo and all his players hugely
appreciate the support.
At the start of the season the Lanzarote
manager was solely focused on reaching 40
points. Only 16 matches in out of 38 and
Lanzarote currently have 33 points and are flying.
Is it too early to dream of returning to Segunda B
(League 1)?
Season tickets are still available from me at the
Sunday Teguise and Friday Puerto Del Carmen
markets. At both markets and the Playa Blanca
Rubicon market the club has a new shirt available
this season which is the first time it has been
chang VB