He worked as a goalkeeper and as a teacher during the pandemic: now he is excited about eliminating River from the Argentine Cup | Football24 News English

Sergio Chitero will have his debut as technical director against River, for Copa Argentina (club_depro)

After putting an end to his long career in soccer in the interior of the country, where he was an important part of the promotions of the Patronato and Atlético Paraná, the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic hit Sergio Chitero hard.

Czech, as he is known within the world of football, he was looking forward to an opportunity that did not come. Months passed and his savings began to disappear. “Those of us who play in Ascent football are not financially saved”, stressed in dialogue with Infobae.

Faced with this complicated situation, and thanks to the unconditional help of some people, he found a way to provide financial support for his family, which is made up of his partner and two children. He began working as a building janitor and as a teacher in a school.

Nevertheless, When he least expected it, a call completely changed the scene. After the departure of Hernán Orcellet, the Defensores de Pronunciamiento leadership decided to bet on that forward who gave so much joy to the Depro between 2017 and 2018. “Life is like that, one day you can be cleaning floors or throwing garbage and then be linked to football. Hopefully this is a kick for a long career, “said with a smile the brand new coach, 37 years old.

The town of Pronunciamiento, located in the Molino district of the Uruguay department, Entre Ríos province, is convulsed by the historic chance of taking on the current champion of this competition. The Argentine Cup puts the powerful face to face with the humble, who on more than one occasion have known how to strike.

Sergio Chitero had an outstanding step as a Depro footballer between 2017 and 2018. He also achieved promotions with Patronato and Atlético Paraná (club_depro)

Chitero, despite the great differences, is excited about the possibility of making history: “We know that we face River, we are not stupid. We face the best team in Argentine soccer and it should have been America’s, but they can be beaten. It will depend a lot on the decisions and executions that we have. We have no margin for error. They have a lot of hierarchy ”.

How do you find this opportunity to be a coach?

I was in a moment of uncertainty in the workplace. I was working outside of what football is, for those issues of life. We, those of the promotion, when we finish playing football, we do not have a good economic time, we only have for the day to day or to make an investment, but nothing that saves us. He was working as a building manager and as a teacher in a school. With this of the pandemic he covered some positions. Yes, I was still linked to football, watching videos, games, following Depro, because I played here. After the resignation of Hernán (Orcellet), the leadership contacted me and we immediately reached an agreement. Today I am happy here, training with the boys, already preparing the game with River.

That this situation presents itself to me right now gives me great happiness. I always fought her. I always believed that I could be linked to football, and today luckily I have to be here. I was a player and I know how players think about these kinds of games. Since we were kids we dreamed of playing in First, or before a great, and today it is presented to them. It can change their lives. They will face a River that has won everything. They will represent a province, the club, the people of Depro, which is a town with a tremendous heart. To the leadership, who made so much effort to get to Federal A and bet on infrastructure. We live it like a dream.

Depro’s last game was in mid-January, in the loss to Douglas Haig by the Reduced for the second promotion to the First National. How is the campus after that blow?

Taking out what happened in the tournament, they are fine. They want to go for more. We seek to build a competitive squad, according to what the tournament is. Now they are motivated, it is the game for us, as for the people, for Entre Ríos, for soccer in the interior. It is the good that this Argentine Cup gives, which is so federal. They are working seriously, it is a unique opportunity that presents itself to us.

Sergio Chitero, in his time as a striker for Defensores de Pronunciamiento (club_depro)

Were you able to maintain the team’s base in this passing market?

The base stays. There are all those who played Federal A for this game. I spoke to almost everyone and told them to stay. I would think it will be like this. I am trying to convince them. It would be fantastic, because we would buy time. They already know each other, the club, the tournament. Then I will have to instill my idea in them, but in the other it would save a lot of time.

Having recently played at the institution allows him to meet most of his team. Is this an advantage or can it work against you?

Yes, it is definitely an advantage. I know well how the boys think and how they are. I know the leaders, everything that the club is. It is a tremendous advantage. And there was the plus that the players did not leave to be able to work with more tranquility.

What does it mean for Defenders of Pronouncement to play against River?

That’s it. Playing against River, or Boca, or against a big team, is a dream. We are preparing for that match. We are trying to be in all the details. This is unique, they have to live it like this, but with responsibility, because they defend a shirt, an institution.

Do you have the faith to strike?

Without a doubt, this is football. We know that we face River, we are not stupid. We face the best team in Argentine soccer and it should have been America’s, but they can be beaten. It will depend a lot on the decisions and executions that we have. We have no margin for error. They have a lot of hierarchy.

Where will the key of the game pass?

River plays very well. Marcelo (Gallardo) has a simple playing philosophy and clear ideas, and the players represent his ideas in a very good way. They have a definite idea. We have our weapons, our work, and we will try to hit them at some point.

Sergio Chitero had to reinvent himself during the pandemic and worked as a goalkeeper and teacher of a school (club_depro)

For many of their managers it will be the first time that they will face a First Division team and that they will have so much exposure. Are you going to work on this issue so that they are calm during the game?

There is no work to do. They know that they will face River, and it is a possibility to show themselves, but always depending on the team. It will depend on the desire of each one. When these games are given, the motivational is not worked on, they already have motivation since the name of the club came out in the draw. I want to clarify that Hernán Orcellet and his coaching staff should be in this game, who were the ones who made the merits to qualify. We will try to represent them in the best way after the effort they made.

On February 10 will be his debut as a coach, and against nothing more and nothing less than River. What kind of coach will we meet?

We are preparing this game, it is everyone’s dream, but we think of Federal A. This is the beauty of football. Today he put me here, but tomorrow he can have me cleaning a building or taking out garbage, and spent again running another club. It’s the beauty of life, you have to be prepared for everything. Our idea is to work, keep learning and pour over everything I learned as a soccer player. This is still a game, nobody dies.

During the interview, he said that he did not have a good time during the pandemic and had to work outside of football. How did you experience this process?

Difficult. There has come a time when one rethinks many things. One has to have an emotional and financial balance. I have a family, with my two children and my wife. She was out of work. We had a few pesos saved and we had made some investments, but then the money goes away. I had to go to work, but without any disgrace. I already did it before I turned pro. With this to remove Federal B, many players, props, people who worked on the fields were marginalized. They are situations where you have to reinvent yourself. Good people, who know me from life, gave me the opportunity, they opened the doors for me to work in a school as a teacher and in a building, replacing people who are at risk. I had to pay bills and provide for my family. Later this possibility came to me, which was a dream, and I gambled on it. I thanked those people who gave me a hand in a difficult moment. Life is like that, one day you may be cleaning floors or throwing garbage, and today I am linked to football. Hopefully this is a kick for a long career.

What do you remember about your time as a footballer for Defensores de Pronunciamiento?

Where I was I have the best memories. Depro is a family institution. It is a small club, but with a giant heart. They are townspeople, who go to the field every weekend. It happens to all of us who like football that we feel that absence because of this pandemic. The club is growing with short but firm steps. Many works were made, such as lighting, a tribune, automatic irrigation, synthetic grass or physical space to train. As a player I have already seen it. The wardrobe is also a family, with (Patricio) Valente, (Milton) Álvarez, (Maximiliano) Villagrán, (Alejandro) Rizzo, (Héctor) Echague, (Johan) Laureiro, (Jorge) Cardozo or (Sergio) Correa. They are kids from the club, who have gone through promotion. Depro catches you, it’s a family. I have many feelings. I’m happy to be here, wanting to work and show that they were not wrong with the election.

Did you set yourself the goal for this season to be promoted to the First National?

I want to go for everything. I’m going to try to build a competitive roster. I want my time at Depro to be long and meaningful. I want to be in the history of the club. As a player I behaved well, and as a coach I want to learn and go for more. Hopefully it can be given to us. We will seek to reach the final. If we all work together I think it can be done.

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