The Guatemalan midfielder played 25 minutes with Deportivo Achuapa in the duel against reigning National League champions Cobán Imperial
JUTIAPA — One day after 39 months of his last appearance in the National Soccer League, the Guatemalan midfielder Marco Pablo Pappa Ponce He again added minutes in the highest category of Guatemalan football and he did it with the shirt of Deportivo Achuapa that drew 0-0 against Cobán Imperial on matchday 1 of the Clausura 2023 Tournament.
Mark Pappa he had last played in the senior category on October 23, 2019 with Deportivo Mixco that ended up losing 0-3 against Antigua GFC in the 2019 Apertura Tournament. After that, he had reached an agreement with Deportivo San Pedro in the First League Division, but for reasons of the COVID-19 pandemic he no longer made his debut and then for personal reasons he was in prison.
With one day left to complete three years and three months of that commitment in the Santo Domingo de Guzmán Stadium, Mark Pappa he returned to professional soccer under coach Ramón Enrique Maradiaga at the Winston Pineda Gudiel Stadium in the department of Jutiapa.
He had participation for 25 minutes, since he entered to replace Diego Ruiz, after the controversy that existed at the beginning of the week that questioned his continuity with the onion club.
“I feel very happy and grateful to be back on the courts. We received the champion, we proposed at home and we had chances to score in both halves. We knew that we had to conclude them and the goal is what determines a game and today it was not achieved. Surely we have many things to analyze after six weeks of work. We are a young team that wants to do things well in this tournament and we are left with a point at home”, were the first impressions of Mark Pappa during the television broadcast of Claro Sports.
When asked about the personal feeling that being back on the courts generated when it seemed impossible at 35 years old, Marco Pappa commented: “There are many mixed emotions. Grateful first with God, with my family and all the good people who were supporting me for my return to the courts. Playing again after a long time on a high-performance court makes me feel very grateful to be with these players. Today was a nice experience for me in my career, I’m going to mark it again and I hope to do important things for this club”.
Then he sent a message to the fans of Deportivo Achuapa so that they trust the work they are doing in this championship. “We ask the local fans to be patient, to know that we are working hard to make things strong in this tournament. It is known that they did their best to be able to form a team, there is a good coaching staff and a group of players, we hope that everything turns out in the best way”.
Lastly, he thanked all the support he has received from the general public on his return to National League soccer. “To the football fans in general, I thank you for your messages of support, you know that I have come from a difficult situation and You go back to where you are happy, like football is, and on a pitch I am happy. For me, this moment is unforgettable and I hope to enjoy every moment on the pitch, I definitely know what it takes to be at my level, but we are going to work hard to come back”.
