TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras – Honduran Futbol Club Motagua is putting the pieces in place ahead of its 2018 Scotiabank CONCACAF League campaign.
The Aguilas kicked off its preseason last Monday, July 2 with five new additions in the mix: DF Carlos Sanchez, MF Matias Galvaliz and FW Roberto Moreira, plus the return of GK Marlon Licona and MF Kevin Castro who each spent the 2018 Clausura out on loan.
Sanchez is a familiar name in Honduran football circles with previous spells at Platense, Real Espana, Marathon and Honduras Progreso.
The 27-year-old also boasts CONCACAF experience, having appeared in the 2015/16 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League with Honduras Progreso (3 matches) and last year’s inaugural SCL (2 matches), also with Honduras Progreso, in which the Catracho club were eliminated in the Round of 16 by Universitario of Panama in penalty kicks.
Galvaliz joins Motagua after spending his entire career in his native Argentina. The 29-year-old played last season with third division side Defensores de Belgrano.
Like Galvaliz, Moreira arrives to Motagua after a career mostly spent in Argentine football. The 31-year-old Paraguayan spent the 2017/18 season with Ferro Carril Oeste in Argentina’s Nacional B, but is best-known for his five-year stint (2012-17) with Estudiantes San Luis where he scored 51 goals in 180 matches.
Licona and Castro will give Motagua Head Coach Diego Vazquez needed depth, with Licona getting 14 matches under his belt during the 2018 Clausura at Honduras Progreso, while the 19-year-old Castro hopes to make his first-team debut.
Among the matches on the docket for Motagua prior to the start of the domestic season in Honduras and the SCL is a friendly with Costa Rican side Alajuelense on July 15 and then a Copa Presidente clash versus Las Delicias on July 22.
Motagua will host Belmopan Bandits in the first leg of the SCL Round of 16 on July 31, before traveling to Belize for the second leg on August 7.