Pablo Sabbag from Barranquilla, the best Peruvian footballer

Immediate impact. That was what Barranquilla striker Pablo Sabbag had in Peruvian football. Not only was he crowned champion of the opening tournament with Alianza Lima, but he was also honored as the best player of the match thanks to his very good performances.

The 26-year-old Atlantico attacker scored eight goals in 12 games played. He played 759 minutes in the Championship and almost always stood out, either with goals or assists that helped his club win with authority this first tournament of the year on Peruvian soil.

The team from Lima celebrated their first place in this tournament by beating Deportivo Garcilaso 3-2 at home. The Colombian did not play due to injury, but later took to the field to celebrate with his teammates and receive their recognition.

Sabbag and Alianza Lima advanced to the end-of-year playoffs for the absolute title in this year’s Peruvian football. Four teams qualify for this stage. The champion of the opening (Alianza Lima), the winner of the closing and the top two elevenths of the overall table.

Those teams will meet in the semi-finals and then in the grand final. If those from Lima also win the closing ceremony, they automatically retain the title and qualify for the next edition of the Copa Libertadores.

After receiving this trophy as the best Peruvian footballer, the mayor of Barranquilla, Jaime Pumarejo, praised what the striker had done.

“Congratulations to Pablo Sabbag, who won the championship with Alianza Lima and was voted the best player in the Peruvian football league. How inspiring to see so many people from Barranquilla living their dreams through sport,” said the mayor on his Twitter account.

Besides Pablo Sabbag from Barranquilla, Andrés Andrade from Cali was also crowned champion with Alianza Lima, one of the most important players of the club in this first half of the year.

On the other hand, the Colombian Yorleys Mena, who played in Junior and now wears the colors of César Vallejo, was one of the two goalscorers in the championship with 12 goals. The other was Argentina’s Santiago Giordana, from Deportivo Garcilaso.