18174: (Hermantin)Miami-Herald-Copa Latina begins (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>


Posted on Fri, Jan. 30, 2004

Copa Latina begins
BY SANTOS A. PEREZ
sperez@herald.com

Although the tournament begins tonight, the popularity of Copa Latina
required earlier weeks to finalize the 32-team event.

The paring included qualifying matches last month, but the field is finally
set. Defending champion C.D. Cortez will face Paradise Argentina to kick off
Copa Latina's 12th anniversary tonight at Ted Hendricks Stadium in Hialeah.

''We turn down 60 to 75 applications every year, so we always wanted to do a
qualifier,'' tournament organizer Tom Mulroy said. ``It makes it more
fair.''

Three teams reached the tournament by advancing through the qualifiers, yet
Copa Latina fans will find familiar tournament entrants competing again this
year. In addition to Cortez, previous Copa Latina champions such as
Seleccion Haiti and Uruguay S.C. are part of the tournament draw.

Seleccion Haiti's first-round match against Estudiantes De Guayaswill
coincides with Sunday's Super Bowl. Mulroy, however, is not concerned about
attendance problems.

''The Haitian media have been talking Haiti's game for weeks,'' Mulroy said.
'[Coach] NoNo [Jean-Baptiste] told me, `Copa Latina is our Super Bowl.' ''

The single-elimination tournament will feature first-round matches through
next weekend. The tournament final will be Feb. 22.

Tonight's opening match, which begins at 8, will be preceded by an hour
ceremony featuring the parade of nations represented in the tournament.

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