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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Rodallega took time to develop into superstar

Resurgent Colombian is showing Wigan that he was well worth the wait

By: Jerrad Peters

7/11/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

The 2005 FIFA Youth Championship will forever be remembered as Lionel Messi's coming-out party. And for good reason. Over those three weeks in June, the frail 17-year-old scored six goals and led Argentina to its fifth title.

Hugo Rodallega flew somewhat more under the radar. A 19-year-old at the time, he was part of an entertaining Colombian side that many believed would eventually rise to the top of the heap in South America. Porto striker Radamel Falcao was also on that team. So were Cristian Zapata and Abel Aguilar, both of Udinese.

But Rodallega was the superstar. Having scored 31 goals in 32 matches for Deportes Quindio in the small Colombian city of Armenia, he had moved to league heavyweights Deportivo Cali in early 2005, where he promptly delivered a championship. A big paycheque lured him to Mexico the following year, and things quickly went downhill.

Rodallega floundered from one club to another in his 18 months in Mexico. His brief tenure at Monterrey was a disaster, and he was quickly loaned to Atlas. A decent 2007-08 season at Necaxa served to resuscitate his career, somewhat, but he was largely viewed as a failed prospect.

This backstory will come as a surprise to many fans of English soccer. After a quiet introduction into the Wigan Athletic squad last winter, Rodallega has taken the Premier League by storm. He has five goals already this season -- his combination of size, speed and enthusiasm combining to make him one of the deadliest goal scorers in the division.

He announced his arrival with authority -- and a stunning, 20-yard effort into the top-left corner of the net -- against Aston Villa in the first game of the season, and added another two goals against Burnley in late October.

In between, he notched the match-winner in a surprising 3-1 victory over league-leading Chelsea.

Rodallega brings a formidable frame as he makes his cutting runs from the left of midfield. He also has a sense for the dramatic: He has scored the winning goal in each of Wigan's four victories this season.

Not surprisingly, the 24-year-old's resurgence has coincided with the revival of the Colombian national team. Los Cafeteros were in contention for a 2010 World Cup berth until the final round of South American qualifying and finished just one point out of the playoffs.

They'll be one of the sides to beat at the next Copa America and should be a lock for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Rodallega is a major reason why. He may have taken a few extra years to fulfill his destiny. But judging by the results, it was well worth the wait.

African Champions League

HEARTLAND and TP Mazembe will contest the second leg of the African Champions League final today in Lubumbashi. Heartland lead the total-goals series 2-1, although hosts Mazembe can claim the trophy with a 1-0 win, by virtue of away goals.

Mazembe -- who won their last of two Champions League titles in 1968 -- enter the match as slight favourites. They have won three of the past our Congolese championships and have gone 21 years without losing a Champions League match at Stade Municipal.

On the other side of the ball, Nigerian side Heartland have not won a major piece of silverware since 1993. They are also making their first ever appearance in the revamped Champions League, although they finished runners-up to Algeria's Entente Setif in 1988.

jerradpeters@gmail.com

Matches to watch

Hoffenheim vs. Wolfsburg: today, 8:30 a.m. GolTV.

Barcelona vs. Mallorca: today, 1 p.m. GolTV.

Chelsea vs. Manchester United: Sunday, 10 a.m. The Score.

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Chivas USA: Sunday, 6:30 p.m. GolTV.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 7, 2009 D10

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