A surprising revelation was made last Sunday, February 7, about Sporting Cristal striker Christopher Olivares, who has a chance of being eligible for the Greece team, although certain steps have to be completed first.
On the ESPN Peru sports program, journalist Erick Osores echoed a publication made by Ellas National, an Instagram account that specializes in ‘hunting’ players of Greek origin throughout the world. Well, Olivares is one of them.
“Today we will meet a footballer who has the right and the opportunity to play for the Greece national team. This is Christopher Robin Olivares Burga,” says the publication that dates from January 22 this year.
“Christopher Olivares was born in Greece, specifically in Thessaloniki on April 3, 1999. Of Peruvian parents, he is now 21 years old. He spent his first years in Thessaloniki when his parents decided to return to Peru,” they add.
Was Christopher Olivares really born in Greece? Although there is information that the ‘celestial’ attacker was born in Lima, his father Percy has confirmed that his 21-year-old son was born in the European country.
“I am not saying that he is Greek, but he was born in Greece. Now, how possible is the issue of papers (regarding being called up by the Greece team)? That is a separate issue,” declared the ‘Strider’.
And is that when Christopher Olivares was born, Percy played for PAOK Thessaloniki in Greece. During that same season, he was transferred to Panathinaikos FC also from Greece, where he remained until 2001.
The possibility that Christopher Olivares could be required by the Greece team seems very remote. For this to happen, the player would have to put aside the Peruvian team and initiate documentary procedures for the benefit of the European team.
At the moment, the ‘Zancudito’ has not played any official match with the senior team, a fact that does not prevent a possible call from Greece. He defended the ‘Bicolor’ in youth tournaments as well as in the Lima 2019 Pan American Games.
The truth is that, given the need for center forwards in the Peruvian team, Olivares could appear as an alternative for Ricardo Gareca. However, the ‘Tiger’ has not yet cited him.
Of course, Roberto Mosquera, a Sporting Cristal strategist, managed to enhance his qualities by placing him as a winger in the final stretch of League 1 2020. In that position, Olivares was essential for the ‘celestial’ to reach their 20th title in the Peruvian soccer.