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In Prime of Career, Cáceres Embraces Switch to Soccer in New York
NYCosmos.com is building up to the 2015 season by profiling new and returning Cosmos players. Previous entries in the series below.
Samuel Cáceres is 26 years old and living on U.S. soil for the first time. Before the New York Cosmos completed an agreement for his transfer from Argentinian club Nueva Chicago he had never played soccer in North America. The six-foot tall defender was born in Asunción, Paraguay and groomed for professional fútbol by Nueva Chicago and Independiente, two Primera División sides.
“This is a new experience,” Cáceres told NYCosmos.com after a practice session at Mitchel Field in early March. “I’ve been playing soccer in Argentina for nine years. I wanted to make a move that would expand my horizons and strengthen my career experience, and coming to a well-known club like the Cosmos was perfect for that.”
Even though Cáceres has been with the team for over a month he has not seen much of his new home in New York.
“This is my first time in here but I haven’t had a lot of time to spend with all the offseason travel,” he said. “I was fortunate to join the team right before our trip to Hong Kong. I’ve only been here something like four days. But everything is close by and my first few experiences have been really relaxed and comfortable.”
He is the first Paraguayan footballer to join the rebooted Cosmos, but many fans of the club remember a Paraguayan international who tallied 63 goals for the green and white in the early 1980s: Roberto Cabañas. Undoubtedly the most famous of those scores was his “scorpion kick” against the Tulsa Roughnecks in 1983.
Cáceres carved out a small place in club lore with an assist just two weeks into his loan. The team’s weeklong trip to California culminated with a preseason fixture against USL side Sacramento Republic FC. Near the midpoint of the second half, with both sides threatening but neither finding the game’s first goal, Cosmos midfielder Marcos Senna teed up a free kick 10 yards outside the left corner of the penalty area.
The ball sailed low towards the far post as Cáceres made a straight run down the right side of the area. Senna’s ball bounced once in front of goal and Cáceres caught it off the hop with his right foot, beautifully finding an unmarked Raúl for the headed finish. It was the Real Madrid legend’s first score stateside with the Cosmos. Cáceres was the link between two former La Roja teammates for the match’s opening goal. The Cosmos went on to defeat Republic FC 3-1.
“I’m really happy and at ease here training with the guys,” said Cáceres. “I came here to work hard and fight for a place in the squad. I want to compliment the style of the team.”
The Cosmos are back in New York preparing for the beginning of their 2015 North American Soccer League campaign. Cáceres will have an extended opportunity to settle into the States.
The Cosmos' 2015 Spring Season begins on the road in Fort Lauderdale - Saturday, April 4 at 7:30 p.m. ET. They make their home debut on Saturday, April 18 vs. the Tampa Bay Rowdies at 7 p.m. ET.
