2023-06-26 00:13:35
Luis Sotomayor’s (26) first contact with soccer was when he was four years old. The Iquique goalkeeper tells it like this. “My mom says that I decided to go to the arch one day and I stayed. When I was a boy in friendlies in the neighborhood I played forward, but I always liked that feeling of throwing myself and avoiding goals, ”he says with a laugh in a conversation with AS Chile.
More than 20 years later, the goalkeeper lives special days. Due to injuries and good performances from his colleagues, the man from Iquica has only played two games in the last three years, the most recent being the one he played a few weeks ago once morest Santiago Wanderers. Against the caturros, Sotomayor was one of the great figures in the 1-1 tie that then left the northerners in sixth place, six units behind the leader San Luis de Quillota.
That day, the goalkeeper had an important mission: to replace Daniel Castillo, who had notable recent performances in Miguel Ponce’s team. “I suspected that I might play, because ‘Dani’ (Castillo) had had a problem warming up for the previous match ( once morest Deportes Santa Cruz) and the ‘teacher’ had told me that depending on my partner’s test results, it was a option to be able to play”, he says.
– How were the days following that game that you were able to play?
– I’ve been very calm. I took the game very calmly, although I had not been training normally because I had knee surgery, so I was out for a month and a half. I trained five days and I had to play, so I was a bit uneasy regarding that, but at the same time I have always been aware of my abilities, of what I can give. My family has always supported me, they are super soccer fans, so they are very happy for me. That they feel like that for watching me play is something very nice. I have many cousins with whom we played and the only one who is surviving in quotes in professionalism was me (laughs). None of them might make it and today they are very proud to see me there.
Luis Sotomayor in the Deportes Iquique match once morest Santiago Wanderers. He was one of the great figures. Luis Sotomayor
– Did you feel comfortable in the game despite not playing for so long and with few training sessions?
– I think I adapted quickly and one already understands when he starts playing what he has to do. I talked a lot with my teammates and they have a lot of confidence in my abilities, so that also helps one to perform in the best way.
– With ‘Dani’ we are very close friends. We have a nice working group with all the goalkeepers. He has supported me at all times and when it is his turn to play, I fully support him, because we are a team and we want to win.
– Did you get more messages than normal on your post-game networks?
– Yes, it was full (laughs). Almost all the messages were positive and that’s a nice thing, because it means that my performance was good.
– How has it been for you to face a secondary role in Deportes Iquique? This was his second match counting the two most recent seasons, a situation different from what he experienced in Colchagua and Independiente de Cauquenes in the Second Division…
– In Colchagua I had to play practically the whole year and it went well. In Iquique I have not had to do much, but I am calm. You always want to play, but you have to keep working. I had injuries and operations and that may have cut me off from being able to play a bit, but I’ve always stood firm. I have never doubted my conditions nor did I want to give up football because I played little.
– And is it harder mentally than in other positions, taking into account that there is generally little rotation in the goal?
– Psychologically it is hard, but one has to be professional. You have to work twice as hard to have an option and even more so in this situation, because ‘Dani’ (Castillo) has shown a very good level. The competition we have is very good and that makes me grow. If you do things right, the option can come at the least expected moment and you have to be prepared not to miss it.
– Do you have references in your position?
– When I was a kid, I looked at Dida a lot, but Claudio Bravo is my greatest reference. Everything he’s earned, what he’s done. He is the best. It’s not for nothing that he has stayed at the top world level for so many years, because he has the conditions and mentality to do well.
– He previously told that he started playing bow at the age of four. Some unforgettable anecdote must have…
– (Laughs). There is a very funny story with my dad. Once when I was a boy we went to a baby championship and I started talking to him next to the goal. He distracted me from the game and he tells me ‘here comes the ball!’ and he throws me just like a very famous video that exists. He pushes me and I hit a tremendous fly and save (laughs). We always remember with my family because I had never done such a big ride (laughs).
– What goals do you have for your career?
– I am a person who goes from day to day, although I would like to consolidate myself here in Iquique. I am from the city and it is something very nice to represent the club. I want us to achieve promotion, which is everyone’s goal. The rest will be seen over time.
In 2022, Sotomayor only played one game. It was in Iquique’s 0-0 draw once morest Deportes Melipilla.Carolina Reyes
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