There’s the side to the Jets very own Venezuealan supremo that everyone knows.
Mazy runs, silky touches, intelligent passing, accurate finishing.
They’re all part of the reason that Ronny Vargas has managed to win trophies in three different countries, played 23 times for his country, and earn the number 10 jersey in Newcastle.
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And then there’s the side that people might not be so aware of.
After spending six years playing in Belgium and almost ten throughout Europe, Vargas had made Western Europe home prior to moving Down Under.
So much so, that in his second year in Belgium he picked up a trusty mate who was with him every step of the way, up until now.
“Bolfo is a Western Highland Terrier, [and] in June he’ll be eight years old,” Vargas said.
“I’ve had him since my second year in Belgium… He was the only one who came to me in the shop, that’s why I decided to take him.
“I went there for an hour, he was the only one who came to my feet every time, I moved to another place and he came to my feet, so I said, ‘Okay, let’s take him.’
“He went with me everywhere around Europe… [even] in Turkey, it was a little bit difficult to, for their religion or the way how they are, was a little bit weird for us to get him there.”
While he and wife, Justine are in Australia, Bolfo has remained in Belgium with Ronny’s in-laws.
It’s a separation which has been hard on both man and man’s best friend, with daily phone calls and chats a necessity for the pair to stay in touch.
Such has been the effect of the distance on Ronny, that the decision was made to stitch Bolfo’s name into his football boots for the Hyundai A-League 2018/19 season.
“Bolfo is in Belgium, with my wife’s parents, and they always send us photos and videos, we talk to him almost everyday by FaceTime,” Ronny said.
“He recognises us, he can hear my voice and come to the camera and he tries to look behind the phone.
“For these boots I chose Bolfo’s name because they’re all white, like him, and that’s why I decided to put his name on. Especially now that we see him a lot less.”
With almost half the season gone, Ronny has featured in every match bar one – our most recent outing against Victory, due to suspension.
It’s more gametime already than he saw last season after that horrendous ankle break, and he’s been good so far.
Joint top-goalscorer at this point in the season and among the league leaders in chances created, Vargas is happy to be back out on the park and making things happen for the Jets.
“It’s good for my feet, it’s something positive, something good, unfortunately, we haven’t had the results that we’ve wanted or deserved in some games but we need to keep looking forward, to be in the playoffs, then try to win,” Vargas said.
“It’s a good feeling to play football, it’s a good feeling to be in a game every time.
“It’s an extra feeling to score, or assist, it’s something that you can’t compare with anything else.“
Main and final image credit Max Mason-Hubers, Newcastle Herald.
