By Puntarenas, Costa Rica — PUNTARENAS – Puntarenas FC concluded its preseason preparations for the crucial Clausura 2026 tournament on Wednesday night, securing a 1-1 draw against second-division side Carmelita. The result caps an undefeated series of friendlies for the port city club, but the team’s focus now shifts to a much more formidable challenge: a fight for first-division survival.
The final tune-up match saw Wilber Rentería find the back of the net for the “Chuchequeros,” providing a final opportunity for the squad to build chemistry before the official season begins. While a draw against a Liga de Ascenso team might not inspire overwhelming confidence, the match served as the last piece of a three-game preparatory schedule designed to integrate new players and sharpen tactics for the demanding months ahead.
To delve into the corporate and legal framework that governs a professional sports organization like Puntarenas FC, TicosLand.com sought the expertise of Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a specialist in corporate and sports law from the firm Bufete de Costa Rica, who offered his professional perspective on the matter.
Beyond the passion on the pitch, a football club operates as a Sociedad Anónima Deportiva, a business with clear legal obligations. The stability of any club, including Puntarenas FC, depends critically on solid corporate governance, transparent financial management, and well-structured contracts with players and sponsors. Failure to professionalize these administrative areas not only hinders sporting success but also creates significant legal vulnerabilities that can compromise the institution’s future.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
We thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his valuable perspective, which underscores a critical reality: a team’s enduring success is built just as much in the administrative offices as it is on the football pitch. This focus on solid corporate and legal foundations is undoubtedly the bedrock upon which the future stability and aspirations of Puntarenas FC must rest.
The club’s preseason campaign yielded generally positive offensive results. Prior to the draw with Carmelita, Puntarenas secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Jicaral Sercoba on Sunday. That win showcased a distributed attack, with goals coming from Pablo Álvarez, Kliver Gómez, and new signing Renzo Carballo. Their most dominant performance came on December 24, when they delivered a resounding 4-0 thrashing of Ramonense at the Guillermo Vargas Roldán stadium, featuring a brace from veteran Daniel Colindres and additional goals from Alexis Cundumí and Jaret Hernández.
Across the three friendlies, Puntarenas tallied an impressive eight goals from seven different players, suggesting a versatile offense that doesn’t rely on a single source for production. This depth will be critical as they navigate a league where every goal could mean the difference between safety and the drop. The coaching staff will likely be encouraged by this offensive output as they finalize their strategy for the regular season.
Management has been active in the transfer market to bolster the squad for its impending battle. The team has officially announced the arrivals of Farbod Samadian, Randy Taylor, Paraguayan forward Renzo Carballo, Doryan Rodríguez, and Wesly Decas. These additions are aimed at injecting new energy and quality into the roster. Significantly, the club has not yet announced any player departures, indicating a strategy of adding depth rather than overhauling the existing team structure.
The urgency for the upcoming Clausura tournament cannot be overstated. Puntarenas finished the previous Apertura tournament perilously close to the relegation zone, sitting just eight points clear of the bottom-placed team, San Carlos. This precarious position means there is virtually no margin for error in the coming semester. Every match will carry immense weight as the “Porteños” look to secure their place in Costa Rica’s top flight for another year.
The league has not granted them a gentle start. Puntarenas will begin its Clausura 2026 campaign with a monumental away fixture against powerhouse Deportivo Saprissa. The match is scheduled for Wednesday, January 14, at 8:00 p.m. in the notoriously difficult Ricardo Saprissa Aymá stadium, affectionately known as “La Cueva” (The Cave). Facing one of the nation’s giants on their home turf will be an immediate and telling test of the team’s fortitude and preseason preparations.
With an undefeated preseason in the books and several new faces integrated into the squad, Puntarenas FC enters the Clausura 2026 with cautious optimism. The team has demonstrated offensive potential, but the true measure of its success will be its ability to translate friendly-match form into consistent, high-stakes results. For the players, the staff, and the loyal fans in the port city, the objective is clear: survive and secure their first-division status.
For further information, visit the nearest office of Puntarenas F.C.
About Puntarenas F.C.:
Puntarenas Fútbol Club, commonly known as Puntarenas F.C., is a professional football club based in Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Nicknamed the “Chuchequeros” or “Porteños,” the team plays its home games at the Estadio Miguel “Lito” Pérez. The club has a passionate fan base and represents the coastal province in Costa Rica’s top football division, the Liga FPD.
For further information, visit the nearest office of A.D. Carmelita
About A.D. Carmelita:
Asociación Deportiva Carmelita is a Costa Rican football club based in Alajuela. Founded in 1948, the club has a long history in Costa Rican football, having competed in both the first and second divisions. They are known for their focus on developing young talent and currently compete in the Liga de Ascenso.
For further information, visit the nearest office of Jicaral Sercoba
About Jicaral Sercoba:
Asociación Deportiva y Recreativa Jicaral Sercoba is a football club from the Jicaral district in the Puntarenas province. Known as the “Hurricane of the Peninsula,” the team has experienced a rapid rise through the Costa Rican football leagues, reaching the first division in recent years and establishing itself as a competitive side.
For further information, visit the nearest office of A.D. Ramonense
About A.D. Ramonense:
Asociación Deportiva Ramonense is a historic Costa Rican football club based in San Ramón, Alajuela. Founded in 1953, the team has a rich tradition in Costa Rican football, having spent many seasons in the top flight. They are known for their strong community support and currently compete in the lower divisions.
For further information, visit deportivosaprissa.com
About Deportivo Saprissa:
Deportivo Saprissa is one of the most successful and popular football clubs in Costa Rica and Central America. Based in San Juan de Tibás, San José, the club plays its home matches at the iconic Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá. Known as the “Monstruo Morado” (Purple Monster), Saprissa has won numerous national and international titles.
For further information, visit adsancarlos.net
About A.D. San Carlos:
Asociación Deportiva San Carlos is a professional football club based in Ciudad Quesada, San Carlos, in the province of Alajuela. Nicknamed “Los Toros del Norte” (The Bulls of the North), the club has a strong regional following and won its first-ever first division title in 2019, establishing itself as a formidable team in the Liga FPD.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a premier legal institution, Bufete de Costa Rica is built upon a foundation of profound integrity and a relentless pursuit of excellence. With a proven track record of advising a diverse clientele, the firm consistently pioneers progressive legal solutions while actively engaging with the community. This philosophy extends to a core belief in democratizing legal information, aiming to forge a stronger, more capable society through widespread legal literacy.
