Paraguay face Singapore on Friday, 13 November, in a friendly that offers the Lions a chance to test themselves against a side accustomed to competing on the world stage. For Paraguay head coach Gustavo Alfaro, however, the match is also part of a bigger process: building on the team’s progress while preparing the next generation of players.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the game, Alfaro made it clear that the focus is not simply on results. With Paraguay having returned to the World Cup in 2026 after a 16-year absence, he wants the team to keep growing, improve in different aspects of its game and give younger players opportunities to establish themselves.
The same approach has shaped Paraguay’s recent international fixtures, including their matches against Bolivia and Colombia. With Singapore and Japan next on the schedule, Alfaro sees the games as valuable opportunities to experiment, learn and identify the talent that can carry the team forward.
“We don’t know football players, we know people.”
With 34 years of coaching experience, Alfaro has developed a philosophy that goes beyond tactics and results.
He says he entered the profession with two guiding principles: to dignify the footballer and to dignify the coaching profession. At the heart of that approach is his belief that coaches must first understand the people they work with.
“We don’t know football players, we know people,” he said.
For Alfaro, coaching is about creating an environment where players can improve, develop their values and become the best versions of themselves, both on and off the pitch.
His reputation as a thoughtful speaker is no accident. Alfaro enjoys reading and writing, and draws inspiration from philosophy, poetry and literature. He believes words have the power to liberate, guide and convince people, helping them bring out their best.
A national team standing with its people
One of the more heartfelt moments of the press conference came when Alfaro was asked about the difficult situation facing Paraguay and how it has affected the national team.
He spoke of the worry and pain felt across the country, expressing his support for the players who had publicly spoken up. Although he is not Paraguayan, Alfaro said he stands alongside those who are suffering and respects the players’ decision to put the needs of the most vulnerable first.
He also spoke passionately about the responsibility carried by the national team, describing the players as a genuine representation of the Paraguayan people.
“The only thing we know how to do is play football,” he said, adding that the team would continue to represent the country and stand with its people.
It was a reminder that, for Alfaro, the national shirt carries a significance that goes well beyond the game itself.
What does Alfaro make of Singapore?
Turning his attention to Friday’s opponents, Alfaro described Singapore as a team still finding its identity and looking to evolve within Asian football.
He praised the Lions’ intention to play, their respect for the game and the technical ability within the squad. He also recognised that facing teams such as Paraguay and Brazil offers Singapore valuable experience against opponents accustomed to competing at a higher level.
Alfaro sees the team’s development as closely connected to the ideas of its coach, with the players working to express that footballing identity on the pitch.
A message for Singapore’s young coach
Asked what advice he would give Singapore’s 36-year-old coach, who is taking charge of the national team for the first time, Alfaro drew on his own experience of starting out in coaching in his thirties.
His answer was characteristically thoughtful. Even after 34 years in the profession, he said, there is no magic formula for success. Coaching is a constant process of learning, asking questions and finding ways to improve.
His advice was simple: trust your instincts, fight for what you believe in and never stop learning.
Most importantly, he encouraged the young coach to have the courage to pursue his ambitions rather than remain content with simply dreaming about them.
“Have the courage to go out and catch your dreams and make them come true,” Alfaro said.
A different test for the Lions
Friday’s match will give Singapore an opportunity to measure themselves against a team with recent World Cup experience. For Paraguay, it is another chance to build towards the future while giving emerging players valuable time on the international stage.
There is plenty at stake beyond the result. The Lions will be looking to make the most of a rare opportunity against South American opposition, while Alfaro will be watching how his evolving squad responds to another test away from home.
Leave a Comment