BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, NEW YORK---Former St. Francis College men’s soccer defender Javier Gonzalez (Caracas, Venezuela) has signed a professional contract with Deportivo Petare of the Primera Division Venezolana (Venezuelan First Division). Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
“Javier truly deserves this opportunity to play for one of the most prestigious soccer organizations of Venezuelan soccer history,” offered St. Francis head coach Tom Giovatto. “He is a gentleman, a scholar and a leader on and off the field. He gives 100% to the game of soccer (futbol).”
Gonzalez was a constant staple of the Terriers defense the past four years. Gonzalez helped transformed the Terriers into contenders for a Northeast Conference championship with his ability to stop opposing offense’s momentum when deep in the Terrier zone. This past season, the native of Caracas, Venezuela was selected to participate on behalf of his country as they took on Mexico and Costa Rica in International Friendly competition in late June of this year.
Gonzalez was named to the NSCAA/Adidas All-North Atlantic Region Second Team while being selected to the Northeast Conference All-Second team squad this past season.
Gonzalez’s first game for his new team is slated for August 8th as Deportivo Petare Los Azules square off against Deportivo Anzoategui.
About Deportivo Petare
· Founded August 18th, 1948 by 9 Italian immigrants: Carlo Pescifeltri, Lorenzo Tommasi, Bruno Bianchi, Giordano Valentini, Samuel Rovatti, Angelo Bragaglia, Giovanni de Stefano, Giuseppe Pane and Alfredo Sacchi.
· In 1958, Mino D'Ambrosio and his brother Pompeo D’Ambrosio took over Deportivo Petare
· For the next twenty years the team was the most successful in Venezuela.
o Won the Venezuelan First Division tournament four times (1961, 1963, 1966 and 1972)
o Won the Copa Venezuela three times (1961,1962 and 1970)
o Runner up in the first division in 1965, 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971 and in the Copa Venezuela in 1976.
o Participated in the Copa Libertadores six times (1964, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1971 and 1972).
· In the 1971 Copa Libertadores, Deportivo Petare was even able to defeat Fluminense (Champion of Brazil) in the Stadium Maracana in Rio de Janeiro.
· Deportivo Italchacao
o In August 1998, Deportivo Petare and Deportivo Chacao F.C., merged and changed the name to “Deportivo Italchacao Fútbol Club, S.A.”, in order to preserve the colors, the logos and the history of more than 50 years of Deportivo Petare.
· For the 2006/2007 season the team returned to its original name: Deportivo Italia. In 2008, with manager Eduardo Saragó, Deportivo Petare won Torneo Apertura, beating with Aragua FC (0-2) on November 30, and for this, qualified for Copa Libertadores.
· Deportivo Italia
o In 2010, the club was renamed to Deportivo Petare.