NEWCASTLE, England (AP) — Colombia forward Yoreli Rincon is a rising star in women’s football, so good that many have started calling her the “New Marta.”
And yet she hasn’t played a minute so far in Colombia’s two group-stage losses at the Olympics — and many fans back home are wondering why.
Colombia coach Ricardo Rozo says it’s because she’s injured. Rincon’s father, though, claimed it’s because of a dispute between Rozo and his daughter — a theory that is widespread in Colombian media as well.
Rincon, who turned 19 last Friday, this year became the first Colombian woman to sign a professional contract, with Brazilian club XV de Piracicaba. That meant she had to leave her Colombian club Gol Star — which is also coached by Rozo.
Colombia has failed to score a goal in its two games so far, and fans have been calling for Rincon to get on the pitch. Many have compared her with Marta, the Brazilian forward and five-time world player of the year.
When asked after the 3-0 loss to the United States why Rincon wasn’t playing, Rozo said: “Yoreli is getting back to the level that she was at. She has an injury. And the level of these games is so high. So I will wait until the best time to reintroduce her and I don’t feel that this is the best time.”
Elberth Rincon, denied that, saying his daughter was in perfect shape and that she was being “persecuted” by Rozo.
“All of this is down to the resentment of coach Ricardo Rozo,” Elberth Rincon was quoted as telling a local radio station in Colombia this week. “Yoreli was part of the Gol Star club of Bogota and the initial plan was for her to play (with a team) in the United States.”
“In the end, the negotiations broke down and she ended up playing Brazilian football,” he added. “The coach didn’t like this at all and from there, started taking reprisals against my daughter.”
Yoreli Rincon did not respond to a request for an interview. Ahead of the U.S. game, she warmed up several times on the sidelines and didn’t show any visible signs of an injury.
On the day of her birthday, Rincon tweeted that she had seen the reports coming out on the Internet, writing in Spanish in capital letters “I WON’T DENY IT” and thanking everyone for their support. But she refused to address the issue further, saying it was best to remain quiet. She later deleted the tweets.
Many of the players on the Colombian women’s team play at universities in the United States, while Rincon is the only one with a professional contract outside Colombia.
The Olympic team could have used her pace and creativity in the first match, a 2-0 loss to North Korea, and against the Americans. Colombia plays France in its last group game.
Despite her young age, Rincon has experience in big tournaments, playing at the 2011 World Cup. While the Olympics were supposed to be her big arrival on the world stage, she might leave London without even having made an appearance.
