logo
Argentina-born Holgado sheds blood for Malaysia

Argentina-born Holgado sheds blood for Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: New heritage player Rodrigo Holgado literally shed blood for Malaysia in an Asian Cup qualifier against Vietnam yesterday.
The Argentina-born striker suffered a bloody cut on the back of his head in Malaysia's spectacular 4-0 triumph over the Red Star Warriors at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
After a clash with a Vietnam player, Holgado had blood stains on his jersey.
Holgado also had a memorable debut for Malaysia, scoring a goal against a team deemed as the strongest in Southeast Asia.
Blood and a goal, that was Holgado's answer to those critics who have questioned the commitment and quality of heritage players.
Holgado said he was pleased with his performance for Malaysia. After having played his part in putting Harimau Malaya on top of Group F (with six points from two matches) and in a strong position to qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup, he has to quickly return to his Colombian club, America de Cali.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Rugby-Dangerous Argentina ready to build on Rugby Championship progress
Rugby-Dangerous Argentina ready to build on Rugby Championship progress

The Star

time7 hours ago

  • The Star

Rugby-Dangerous Argentina ready to build on Rugby Championship progress

Rugby Union - British & Irish Lions v Argentina - Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland - June 20, 2025 Argentina's Gonzalo Garcia in action REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne/File Photo CAPE TOWN (Reuters) -Argentina have grown more competitive in the Rugby Championship in recent years, and with key players back, they're set to open this year's campaign at home against New Zealand on Saturday with renewed confidence. Argentina won six matches in their first 10 seasons competing in the southern hemisphere championship, but have claimed as many victories again in the last three years alone. That includes their best ever campaign in 2024, when they won in New Zealand for the first time, beat the world champion Springboks and claimed a record 67-27 victory over Australia. They have gone from whipping boys to a team that, while perhaps not feared yet, has gained huge respect and on their day are a match for anyone in the competition. Recent form has been mixed, including a 2-0 home series loss to a severely under-strength England in July, but coach Felipe Contepomi had rested several players for those matches too. He has recalled Juan Cruz Mallía, Santiago Chocobares, Marcos Kremer, Bautista Delguy, Mateo Carreras and Ignacio Ruiz in what is a significant bolster to the squad. The likes of Tomas Albornoz, Gonzalo Garcia, Franco Molina and Joel Sclavi, who all featured in the 28-24 win over the British & Irish Lions in Dublin, but missed the England series, are also back. Kremer says the experience built up over the last few years in the Rugby Championship has given the team confidence. "The team has been doing things very well, the staff has been doing things very well," he told reporters. "We have to put nerves aside and dedicate ourselves to playing rugby, we know how to do it and what to do with the players (we have). "The work that the forwards have to do is to try to give those opportunities to the three quarters, those fast balls or those balls advancing. We know that if the forwards work and are going well, then behind we have things to fly a little more." Argentina host New Zealand in their first two Rugby Championship fixtures before a two-match trip to Australia. They then face the Springboks in Durban and finish their campaign in London on October 4, the first time a Rugby Championship game will be played in the northern hemisphere. (Reporting by Nick SaidEditing by Christian Radnedge)

Rugby-New Zealand hunt for true identity in Rugby Championship
Rugby-New Zealand hunt for true identity in Rugby Championship

The Star

time7 hours ago

  • The Star

Rugby-New Zealand hunt for true identity in Rugby Championship

FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup 2023 - Semi Final - Argentina v New Zealand - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - October 20, 2023 New Zealand team huddle before the match REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq/File Photo (Reuters) -An evolving New Zealand squad will be under pressure to challenge South Africa for Rugby Championship silverware amid growing impatience with progress under Scott Robertson. After dominating the southern hemisphere tournament from 2021-23, the All Blacks surrendered last year's title to the Springboks in Robertson's first season in charge. Two losses to South Africa and a home defeat by Argentina showed the New Zealanders struggling to move on from a post-World Cup exodus of senior players. The All Blacks have since won seven out of eight tests, including a 3-0 whitewash in the home series against a depleted France in July. However, home media remain sceptical about their regeneration mid-way through the World Cup cycle. "I think it's a team that's really trying to find our identity this year," prop Fletcher Newell told New Zealand media in Cordoba. "I feel like we showed glimpses of it against France but we want to build on those areas. "We want to play fast and to be really strong in our set piece, and pride ourselves in those areas." The All Blacks may be glad to start their Rugby Championship campaign with a two-test tour of Argentina where they have never been beaten by the hosts -- despite losing to them at home and in Australia in recent years. They will hope to build momentum before a pair of all-important home tests against Rassie Erasmus's Springboks in Auckland and Wellington next month. While Erasmus is eager to build depth to reinforce an ageing Springboks squad before their World Cup title defence, Robertson has tinkered at the edges of his roster while keeping the core intact. He unveiled a couple of tactical shifts against the French, shifting centre Rieko Ioane to the wing to make way for Billy Proctor while moving Tupou Vaa'i, who played mostly as a lock, to blindside flanker. But after cycling through his entire squad of fit players against France, Robertson included only one uncapped player in his 36-man Rugby Championship squad -- the big and bulky loose forward Simon Parker. To the chagrin of some rugby pundits at home, Robertson will again be relying on familiar names and veterans, like hooker Codie Taylor and flyhalf Beauden Barrett, who will be 36 during the World Cup. The squad is laden with injured players who will miss a test or two at the start, including loose forward Wallace Sititi, prop Tamaiti Williams and scrumhalf Cameron Roigard. Robertson will hope his squad can avoid further damage on tour against Argentina before the looming showdown with the Springboks. (Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Christian Radnedge)

Rugby-All Blacks compared to Argentina's World Cup winning football team
Rugby-All Blacks compared to Argentina's World Cup winning football team

The Star

time8 hours ago

  • The Star

Rugby-All Blacks compared to Argentina's World Cup winning football team

FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup 2023 - Pool D - Argentina v Samoa - Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne, France - September 22, 2023 Argentina's Marcos Kremer in action REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier/File Photo (Refiles fixing typo of Kremer in second paragraph) CORDOBA, Argentina (Reuters) -Argentina loose forward Marcos Kremer reckons Saturday's opponents New Zealand are rugby's equivalent of his country's World Cup-winning soccer team. Kremer is due to return to the line-up after a injury layoff when they open this year's Rugby Championship in Cordoba at the weekend against the All Blacks, a team he has long admired. "What I admire about the All Blacks is their culture, their passion for rugby. So, as Argentines, even if you're in better form than them, you'll always respect them because they're the All Blacks. It's like what any football team must go through with Argentina," he told reporters in the build-up to the test at the Estadio Mario Kempes. "It's going to be a great match. We're at home, with our people, in Córdoba, a place where rugby is a thing. "I think right now it's going to come down to the final minutes with a small difference between the teams, depending on how things go and how each team's mindset and mentality work during the week. That's going to be the key." Kremer missed Argentina's June tests against England and Uruguay, having struggled with his knee over the last year. "Playing in this jersey after not having played for two or three months, I don't think there's going to be much change," he said. Alongside Kremer, the Pumas welcome back Mateo Carreras, Santiago Chocobares, Bautista Delguy, Juan Cruz Mallia and Ignazio Ruiz, who also did not play in the mid-year tests. However, injury has ruled out Emilino Boffelli, Thomas Gallo and Benjamin Grondona. "We have to go all out, put those nerves aside, and focus on playing rugby, which we know how to do. We have what it takes, we have the players," Kremer added. "We know that if the forwards are performing well, we have players at the back that will allow us to fly a little bit more, so we'll see on Saturday. "In the meantime, we have to stay calm. There's work to do, so we have to fine-tune the details and be ready for the weekend," he said. (Writing by Mark Gleeson in Johannesburg; Editing by Christian Radnedge)

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store