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Before they face each other as opponents in the 2018 MLS Eastern Conference Final, New York Red Bulls midfielder Alejandro “Kaku” Romero Gamarra and Atlanta United’s Miguel Almiron and Hector Villalba are teammates in the Paraguay squad that will contest (former RBNY manager) Juan Carlos Osorio’s first game as the team’s head coach. And for good measure, they are accompanied by Portland Timbers’ Cristhian Paredes, another MLS player with a Conference Final waiting for him when this game is over.
This is a low stakes friendly for Paraguay in the greater scheme of things, but Osorio doubtless wants to get his tenure off to a good start and he’s picked a squad that should be as eager as he is to impress: 12 of the 24 players have fewer than 10 caps for the senior national team, and five have yet to make their debut for La Albirroja; 11 players are under 25, and of the three 30-or-older players in the squad, two are goalkeepers. The likes of RBNY’s Kaku - who made his Paraguay debut in June and is hoping to make himself essential to the team’s cause - is more the rule than the exception in this squad.
⚪ @kakuromero17
— Selección Paraguaya (@Albirroja) November 18, 2018
"Mis padres siempre me dijeron que me querían ver jugar en Paraguay, es una motivación y una felicidad enorme vestir esta camiseta. Vamos a tratar de dejar lo más alto posible a nuestra Selección para que el mundo vuelva a reconocer a la Albirroja" #Oñondive pic.twitter.com/Gbqqj8WUlN
South Africa has only won two games in 2018, but it hasn’t lost one yet this year. This match is designated the Nelson Mandela Challenge - an annual exhibition game to honor the memory of South Africa’s legendary statesman, and this year marks the 100th anniversary of his birth.
Per livesoccertv.com, this won’t be an easy game to find at all if you’re trying to watch from the USA. Twitter updates look like the best bet.