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Soccer / Beitar passes a Peruvian gift to Maccabi Petah Tikva By David Marwani In hindsight, Junior Viza may be just what struggling Beitar Jerusalem needs: A player who could invigorate the champion's tired midfield, someone who could receive a pass from Derek Boateng and pass it on to either the wingmen or the strikers, perhaps even shoot on goal himself. But Beitar, which signed the 23-year-old player from Peru in the summer, lent him out to Hapoel Petah Tikva instead. "He is a gift from above to a small team like ours," Hapoel Petah Tikva Coach Ali Mahpud admits. Advertisement Meanwhile, Viza believes that he could have contributed to Beitar if he would have stayed there but he prefers not to complain. "The team was strong last year and no changes were needed," Viza said. "My problem is that it was hard for me to play in a different position from what I'm used to. I was put up front though I prefer playing behind, pacing the tempo, and when I play close to a striker, it's hard for me to play my game." Despite the initial disappointment that he had when he was lent out, Viza says he is enjoying his time with Petah Tikva. Since the start of the season he has two assists credited to him and plays well with the team's scorer, Shimon Abuhatzira. Indeed, life at Petah Tikva does not seem all that bad for Viza despite the team's recent defeat by municipal rival Maccabi Petah Tikva. Red and white at heart "So far it's going great, thank God," he says about his current team, which used to be a powerhouse back in the '60s and early '90s. "When I first got here, I knew nothing about the club. They told me it was a small one that used to play in the second division and had a small budget. After having played for a club like Beitar, I wasn't exactly happy. But when I saw the offices, the cups, the championships and was taught about its history, I realized this club has a future." A year after he first came to Israel Viza still does not think he has fully adjusted to Israeli soccer. He says the way the game is played back home in his native Peru is entirely different. "Soccer here is faster and more physical," he explains. "In Peru we like short passes and lots of dribbling; more technique and less tactics. It takes time to adjust to these changes. One of Peru's problems is that despite its good players the team has not managed to win titles. It lacks something that would bring all that talent out." Viza says he has paid a price for having moved to Israel by losing his spot in the national team. "In Peru they know nothing about Israeli soccer," he said. "The national team coach has not come here to see me play but in the meantime I must concentrate on the Israeli league though in my heart I will forever be red and white (the national colors of Peru)." Bookmark to del.icio.us   Star is born Report: Hezbollah taps Mughniyah replacement. The namesake Why did Holland fund megaship named after prominent Nazi?

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