Wednesday, August 12th, 2009
There is no doubt that the long awaited Heredia – San José is a great success. Yesterday, users of the train had to line up for hours at the Estación del Ferrocarril al Atlántico, in barrio La California, getting in line shortly after noon to be the first on the 4pm train to Heredia.
According to Miguel Carabaguíaz, president of the Instituto Costarricense de Ferrocarriles (Incofer), a 3:30pm train was added and two more trains were added for the 4pm run, where only has been scheduled.
The train is expected to carry some 3.000 passengers daily, however, if the demand continues that number maybe much higher.
Carabaguíaz said that people are getting on the train as a novelty and is asking that only those who need the train to go to and from work or school to use it.
The railway president added that the old “blue” trains had to be added to the service to assist the modern trains as the demand yesterday peaked at 5.300 passengers.
“People got on the train to Heredia and then had to be asked to get off and get in line again to go back to San José”, said Carabaguíaz.
The train service runs Monday to Friday during morning and afternoon rush hours only, taking less than a half hour to go one way from Heredia to San José.
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Wednesday, August 12th, 2009
After fielding a young squad that advanced to the CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals, Honduras coach Reinaldo Rueda has called his first choice XI for Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier against group-leading Costa Rica.
Inter Milan’s David Suazo is still out with a leg injury, but captain Amado Guevara from Toronto FC, Tottenham midfielder Wilson Palacios, Parma’s Julio de Leon join veterans Carlo Costly and Carlos Pavon on the Catrachos squad to take on the Ticos in the 50th edition of the Clasico Centroamericano at Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula.
“They know us very well and we know them, but it all depends on what you do, not Costa Rica, but what we do,” Guevara told La Prensa. “I think that is the key to the game.”
Honduras has seven points from five matches and is currently third in six-team group, three points behind the United States. However, the Catrachos are just one point in front of Mexico, which is home for a clash against the United States at Estadio Azteca, and two points ahead of El Salvador, which is at winless Trinidad & Tobago.
“At this point they’re all tough games, but our meetings with Honduras are always extra intense,” Costa Rica coach Rodrigo Kenton told FIFA.com. “We’ll just have to focus and get back to the form we had that brought us to first place.”
Costa Rica has the slight edge in the all-time series between the neighboring counties, winning 19, losing 14 with 16 draws since 1930. But the Ticos have enjoyed a distinct advantage of late, playing in the last two World Cups and firmly establishing its place among the top teams in CONCACAF.
“El Lobo”Guevara is aware of the history.
“In 50 years, we have only won twice,” Guevara said.
The Ticos sit atop the group in the final hexagonal stage with 12 points from five matches, including a 3-1 victory against the United States on June 3 in Costa Rica’s capital of San Jose.
Costa Rica has not lost to Honduras since 2005, but Kenton is aware of Catrachos’ confidence, especially playing in San Pedro Sula where they have won six consecutive qualifying matches.
“Honduras (is) a strong team physically, and they are always difficult at home,” he told FIFA.com “They’re technical and they move the ball around very well. We’ll need to be aware of that.”
While his team has historically struggled against Costa Rica, Honduran midfielder Ramon Nunez is hoping his team’s recent form at home can continue.
“Here at home we must be invincible,” Nunez said. “We hope that the streak will continue and hopefully be a great game.”
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Wednesday, August 12th, 2009
Followers of ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya Tuesday demanded the United Nations (UN) suspend economic aid for the country’s general elections, scheduled for Nov. 29.
“We have requested the UN to suspend the economic aid to Honduras so as to stop the elections,” a pro-Zelaya syndicate leader Israel Salinas said at a press conference in Tegucigalpa.
Members of the pro-Zelaya group said they would reject the result of an election organized by the coup government and would continue fighting for Zelaya’s return to power.
“We are going to protest all this week, and will keep resisting until the coup-mongers resign,” Salinas said.
Zelaya’s followers gathered in Tegucigalpa Tuesday to march in the streets.
On the same day, protestors arrived in San Pedor Sula, a city north of Tegucigalpa. A World Cup qualifying match between the country’s national soccer team and Costa Rica is to be held there on Wednesday.
Zelaya was seized from his bed and sent to Costa Rica in a military coup on June 28, just hours before a scheduled referendum on a possible constitutional amendment that would have extended presidential term limits, allowing Zelaya to seek another term.
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