Bob not surprised by Kaviedes’ World Cup form (From This Is Local London)

Bob not surprised by Kaviedes’ World Cup form

10:37am Wednesday 21st June 2006

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He may not have made much of an impression at Selhurst Park but Ivan Kaviedes is playing a pivotal role in one of the surprise packages of the World Cup.

The Ecuadorian frontman spent an unsuccessful six months at Selhurst Park during the club's Premiership campaign two years ago after joining the Eagles from Barcelona de Guayaquil.

He only made one league start during his stint at the club, but impressed many while on the Eagles' books.

Bob Dowie, who was instrumental in bringing the striker to Selhurst Park, said Kaviedes was a special player but he joined the club at the wrong time.

"We knew what he could do, it was just the wrong year for him here," said Dowie. "We were fighting relegation and did not have room for a shiny number 10."

Iain Dowie described Kaviedes as having a "God-like status" in his homeland, which is where he returned on the final day of the transfer window in January 2005 after Palace decided he would not get much first team action during the remainder of the campaign.

But Kaviedes has not wasted any time in showing Eagles fans what he is really capable of during this summer's World Cup finals in Germany.

The 28-year-old has started all of Ecuador's group games, scoring one goal in his side's 3-0 demolition of Costa Rica, which included his Spider-Man mask celebration in tribute to former teammate Otilino Tenorio who died in a car crash last year.

Bob Dowie is not surprised Kaviedes has made such an impact.

He added: "You knew what he was capable of just by watching him on the training ground.

"He was a nice lad and a good pro, we knew what he could do."

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