Guadalajara's Chivas soccer team said in a Thursday statement that it would cancel long-standing sponsorships for top Mexican athletes, following the July 15 to 30 Central American and Caribbean Games in the Colombian city of Cartagena.

Chivas (Goats) has been sponsoring divers, swimmers and cyclists, but will start spending that money on its first division soccer team, Juan Carlos Frangie said in the statement.

Along with Mexico City's Aguilas de America (American Eagles), Chivas is Mexico's most popular soccer team. It owned by Mexican magnate Jorge Vergara, who says that he wants to win the Mexican league and the Libertadores Cup, the most prestigious in Latin America.

Chivas, which only plays Mexican footballers, is contributing the largest number of players to the nation's World Cup squad.

Vergara also owns Costa Rica's Saprissa soccer club, winner of the last championship there.

Source: Xinhua