The Panamanian team finished their last training session in Panama City before traveling to Benonomi and continuing their preparations for their next commitments.
The national team of the Mayor of Panama trained for the last time in Panama City, at Los Andes Stadium, before traveling next Monday 5 June to Benonomy and continuing preparations for the friendly match against Nicaragua and the final stage of the CONCACAF Nations League 2022-2023.
During the morning session, the players called up by Spanish strategist Thomas Christiansen started with ball exercises combined with low-intensity physical work.
Then, the selectors went to perform traditional rondo exercises and finally worked out the entire field divided into two teams, in this part of the training Christiansen was seen getting more involved with his team’s movements and correcting every opportunity that presented itself.
In today’s session, Michael Amir Murillo was seen training again with the other players on the field. Murillo, who belongs to Belgian club Anderlecht, has just suffered from physical problems, so it is not entirely known if he will be available for the match against Nicaragua, but if he can arrive in time for the match against Canada on June 15 in the League of Nations semi-finals. CONCACAF.
Once he finished training, goalkeeper Cesar Samudio of Honduras Club Marathon spoke to the media and stated that he was ready and motivated for the friendly match against Nicaragua.
“We’re focused, every player knows what’s being played in Panama. Being in Honduras, I’ve been listening to what the countrymen say and they say we have a good team, which has developed very quickly. I think we have to keep pretending that and give a good image in the next games.”
Samudio was also proud to be called up to the national team, both for himself and his family. “The national team is what one aspires to achieve after being on a daily basis with his club,” he said.
Whether or not he saw himself start the friendly against Nicaragua on June 10, Samudio replied that it was a decision of the coaching staff. “The coach will know who to line up, there is good competition and whoever goes out to play will do it in the best way.”
Sporting de San Miguelito striker Tomás Rodriguez also had words after training and at a young age (24 years old) he has the opportunity to play an important tournament with the first team.
“I am very happy to be called up to the national team. Everything happens for a reason and the coach must have seen some quality in me. I have to take advantage of training and give 100% in training. I try to get everything. Experienced strikers with more time here Not paying attention to doing things well.”
Rodriguez, who used to play on the wings in the previous inaugural Panamanian Football League (LPF) tournament, Christiansen chose to position him as a center forward. For this, the young Panamanian declared his natural position as a centre-forward, but due to different circumstances with Sporting, he played as a winger.
“Yes, the Sporting coach put me on the wing, but you always try to help the club in whatever way you can. Here in the national team, they put me more in the middle and I try to do my best where they put me.”
Finally, the Panamanian team’s physical coach, Christian Biger, spoke about the absence of Ismael Diaz due to injury. Bigger confirmed that the Universidad Católica de Ecuador striker already has a medical discharge, and he had the opportunity to speak with the Panamanian forward yesterday.
“I hope he has minutes with his team this week and next so that he can arrive in the best conditions for the match in Canada,” he said.
