Interviews


What have you been talking about with Daniel González? What will you be doing from here on till the World Cup is played?
M.URANGA: We will be getting together by the end of February and will begin practicing.

Do you know which other three players will be going with you?
A.N.ASTRADA: We know for sure that Nicolas Espain is one of them.
M.URANGA: As well as Gili or Tapia.
A.N.ASTRADA: The idea is to get two 4s and one 1 to go as our handicap in order to have more alternatives.

Have you played abroad?
M.URANGA: We went over to England with El Negro and Cubi and played in an International Junior Tournament when we were around 12 years old.
A.N.ASTRADA: We were 12 children who went there with Marco Uranga. We also played in Uruguay and Chile in that same International Junior Tournament.

Have you ever played professionally?
I.TOCCALINO: I played in France, but I did that for a friend. It was more on the lines of a visit.
T.MAIQUEZ: Hugo Barabucci took me to Ellerston (Australia) last year, when my handicap was 0.

Are any of you planning to dedicate yourselves to polo professionally?
M.URANGA: The ideal thing would be to continue doing both, that is, studying and playing at the same time.
I.TOCCALINO: I am studying and I plan to finish, so we'll see, if I ever get the chance, we'll see. I don't really know if I want to dedicate myself entirely to polo.

What are your prospects for the World Cup? Do you feel under pressure because you are the favorite team representing Argentina?
M.URANGA: I don't know whether we will be under as much pressure as could if we had been preselected.
I.TOCCALINO: I think so, if we don't get on well we will have to listen to people say that the classification tournament is no good, and so on...
A.N.ASTRADA: I don't think there will be any pressure because we won our place fairly.
URANGA: There is pressure due to self-pride, as far as I am concerned.
A.N.ASTRADA: I've been told that Australian horses run a lot but they don't curb easily.

Which of the teams do you think will be the toughest?
M.URANGA: I think it will be Brazil. They got on very well during the classification against Chile. They know how to play with or without their own horses. They are highly experienced players.

How does it feel to be the youngest team playing for the World Cup?
A.N.ASTRADA: I think we will be going out onto the field to play a game of polo and nothing else. We won't be thinking about age.

Which player with a high handicap do you admire?
A.N.ASTRADA: I admire Bautista Heguy (basically how he rides on horseback) as well as Marcos. I believe that my brothers play very well in each of their positions. They are young and they are only just getting organized.
T.MAIQUEZ: I really like the way Bautista and Marcos Heguy play. Adolfito Cambiaso isn't the kind of player I like but he is extremely good at it.
M.URANGA: I'd take a bit of each. Bautista and Marcos Heguy are the players I like the most. I like the way they play by heart, the open polo they play, and the way they ride on horseback. I like La Cañada team very much. I also like the way El Ruso Heguy manages to position himself on the field, how he passes the ball, and how he makes his team play. I also like Javier Tanoira and I think Pepe Heguy is the best number 1.("well, I have to mention all the family, don't I?)... I.TOCCALINO: I like La Cañada team in general.
T.MAIQUEZ: I believe, going back to Adolfito Cambiaso, that he has a lot of faith in himself, but doesn't have much faith in his fellow-players. If he played more as a team, the way he did during the finals at the Hurlingham Open he would do better, in fact, he would perform better.

Which players from abroad do you like the most?
T.MAIQUEZ: I really like Mike Azzaro.

Do you think you'll keep on playing with your present team for the World Cup or will you start off with some of the replacements?
A.N.ASTRADA: We've been told that we will stick to this team, at least during the first matches.

Where are you going on holidays?
T.MAIQUEZ: I'll be traveling to Brazil
M.URANGA: I'll be traveling to Cordoba at the beginning of January, and then I'll be going to La Pampa, Gral. Alvear.



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