Under heavy rains, Ecuador prepares to face Chilean national team

SANTIAGO.- Ecuador's national soccer team began training yesterday for their upcoming South Africa World Cup 2010 qualifying matches against Chile and Venezuela.

Amidst intense rainfall and frigid temperatures, the team began their first day of practice at the Parcayacu Athletic Complex. The coach of the "Sixto Vizuete" was forced to change his plans due to the poor attendance of scheduled players: only 10 of the 23 that had been initially summoned arrived.

In light of the situation, and knowing that the players belonging to the Universitaria Athletic League would not be able to play today due to the South American Cup return match, Vizuete increased his starting team to seven players to create a sparring team that played against a team of the official national players, which did not include those who currently play abroad.

Meanwhile, speculations were made as to the confirmation of the replacement for suspended goal keeper José Francisco Cevallos. The playmaker used against Chile could be naturalized Argentine citizen Marcelo Elizaga.

Following the qualifying matches, it has also been announced that Ecuador will face Mexico on November 12th in Phoenix, Arizona, marking the national team's last game of the season.