Benjamín Mayorga Explained

Benjamín Mayorga
Fullname:Benjamín Joel Mayorga Mora
Birth Date:1966 10, df=yes
Birth Place:Talamanca, Costa Rica
Position:Midfielder
Youthyears1:1980–1984
Youthclubs1:Saprissa
Years1:1984–1997
Clubs1:Saprissa
Caps1:343
Goals1:11
Years2:1997-1998
Clubs2:Herediano
Caps2:44
Goals2:1
Years3:1998–1999
Caps3:25
Goals3:0
Years4:1999–2001
Clubs4:Carmelita
Caps4:47
Goals4:1
Nationalyears1:1991–1997
Nationalteam1:Costa Rica
Nationalcaps1:21
Nationalgoals1:1
Manageryears1:2004–2006
Manageryears2:2006–2008
Managerclubs2:Turrialba

Benjamín Mayorga Mora (born 15 October 1966), otherwise known as El Indio (The Indian) or simply as Mincho, is a retired Costa Rican soccer player from the 1980s and 1990s.

He played most of his career at Deportivo Saprissa. "Mincho" became the most recognizable representative for the Native American race in Costa Rica, due to his Bribri origin.

Club career

Born in an Indian reservation in Talamanca, Mayorga came to San José with his sister to study in 1980 and soon joined the Saprissa youth team set-up.[1] He made his senior league debut for Saprissa on 14 October 1984 against Ramonense, scored his first goal on 21 September 1986 against Sagrada Familia[2] and won five national championships, as well as two CONCACAF Champions Cup titles with Saprissa. He was sent-off 12 times during his time with Saprissa.[3]

In January 1997 he joined Herediano[4] and in 1998 he moved abroad to play for Guatemalan side USAC alongside compatriots Try Bennett and Luis Marín[5]

International career

Mayorga made his debut for Costa Rica in a June 1991 friendly match against Colombia and earned a total of 21 caps, scoring 1 goal. He represented his country in 8 FIFA World Cup qualification matches and played at the 1997 UNCAF Nations Cup,[6] becoming the only 100% pure Indian-blooded international player in the world during that period of time.

His final international was a FIFA World Cup qualification match against Jamaica on 11 May 1997,[7] retiring from international football because of injury problems.[8]

International goals

Scores and results list Costa Rica's goal tally first.

Managerial career

After his retirement in 1999,[1] Mincho has pursued a coaching career with several teams in Costa Rica, and has continued to carry with much pride his Indian representation in Costa Rica's society, even in the political arena.

He was in charge of Belén[9] and Municipal Turrialba.[10]

Personal life

Mayorga is married and has three children. He lives between Coronado and an operations center in Chiroles de Talamanca.[1]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.nacion.com/deportes/Figuras-ayer-Benjamin-Mayorga_0_585341482.html Figuras del ayer: Benjamín Mayorga
  2. http://wvw.nacion.com/ln_ee/1997/abril/09/indio.html Sangre bravía Benjamín el Indio Mayorga, arquitecto en la mediacancha rojiamarilla
  3. http://wvw.nacion.com/ln_ee/2002/octubre/06/deportes11.html Buzón de Rodrigo
  4. http://wvw.nacion.com/ln_ee/1997/enero/14/indio.html El Indio vuelve a casa
  5. http://wvw.nacion.com/ln_ee/1998/octubre/23/deportes4.html Sorpresa a la tica • Luis Marín, Try Bennett y Mincho Mayorga convierten a la Universidad de San Carlos en la revelación del torneo chapín
  6. https://www.rsssf.org/tablesg/gold-cam97.html UNCAF Tournament 1997
  7. Web site: Courtney, Barrie. International Matches 1997 - North and Central America and Caribbean. 2 February 2005. RSSSF. 22 July 2009.
  8. http://wvw.nacion.com/ln_ee/1997/julio/18/deportes5.html El Indio se retira• Benjamín Mayorga dice haber perdido la motivación por el futbol
  9. http://wvw.nacion.com/ln_ee/2005/abril/22/deportes1.html Mayorga quiere seguir dirigiendo en Primera
  10. Web site: Al Dia. Carballo V., Francisco. Hombres de colmillo. 2 August 2007. 22 July 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20111003173414/http://www.aldia.cr/ad_ee/2007/agosto/02/ovacion1188718.html. 3 October 2011. dead.