TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras – There is perhaps no player better identified with Honduran club Motagua FC than Cesar “Nene” Obando.

The former midfielder enjoyed a successful career in football both at the club and international level, including two spells with his beloved Motagua for whom he scored 23 goals.

Like all Motagua fans this week, Obando is hopeful that Thursday night will produces some magical moments, as Motagua seeks to overturn a 2-0 deficit to Herediano in the second leg of the 2018 Scotiabak Concacaf League final at the Estadio Tiburcio Carias Andino in Tegucigalpa.

“It’s a final, a match with great emotion, with Motagua playing against a deficit, they will come out and attack in search of a goal,” said Obando in an exclusive interview with Concacaf.com.

“I think they can come back. They have shown in the league and in Concacaf that they are a great team and have made similar comebacks before. Motagua is used to playing in these types of matches. I think with sacrifice and the push from fans, they can turn the score around,” added Obando.

Should Motagua mount and comeback and claim its first ever Concacaf trophy, Obando knows it would mean a great deal to the club and its fans.

“Motagua is one of the biggest clubs in the country and always wants to win. It has won a UNCAF title (2007) but this would be a bigger accomplishment. The club is always seeking to achieve great things, and winning this trophy would mean a lot for the institution. This is a special club because it has a lot of fans, it is a big club, but it has also suffered. For me personally seeing Motagua win would be very special,” said Obando.

More than 16 years after his last professional match, Obando remains a Motagua icon and is appreciative of the love and kindness he still receives from fans.

“I feel privileged. For me, coming from the club’s youth system and playing for the team, I feel a special connection with the fans. I had some great moments with Motagua and won important things. Fans still write to me, they will stop and talk to me if they see me on the street. For me, Motagua is a family and I will always feel identified with this club,” concluded Obando.