Full of pride and hope, Saprissa left Costa Rica today en route to the World Club Championship in Japan, their first match will be against Sydney FC of Australia on December 12th.  The players and coaches expressed confidence in themselves and that they have every chance to win the title. The coach, Hernan Medford (37), said "everything is ready.  We need the support of every fan, especially the Saprissa fans, and we are going to go all out."

The title will be contested for by 6 teams, one from each area that FIFA divides the world into: Saprissa (CONCACAF - North America, Central America and the Caribbean), Liverpool of England (Europe),  Al Ittihad of Saudia Arabia (Asia), Sydney FC (Oceanía), Sao Paulo of Brazil (Suramérica) y Al-Ahly of Egypt (Africa).

The fans accompanied the team to the airport in a caravan and sang "Sale Campeon" (We Will Be Champs) as the team went from the bus to the terminal. This is the first edition of the cup, Saprissa will stop first in Korea, where they will play 2 friendly matches. 

On Wednesday, La Liga (The Alajuela team) wrapped up the UNCAF (Central American) Championship with a win in the penalty tiebreaker over Olimpia of Honduras.  Alajuela had won the match in Honduras 1-0, and the Hondurans returned the favor here.  But Alajuela won the crown in a dramatic penalty shoot out. 

Much the same script was written in the consolation match between Saprissa and Perez Zeledon.  Saprissa won at home 2-0, then gave up a 2-0 defeat to the Warriors of the South, then won in the penalty tiebreaker.  Saprissa won the right to go on to the CONCACAF tourney as the 3 rd place team in this matchup, while the lions (Olimpia and Alajuela) had already qualified by the virtue of getting to the championship match.