José Laguna

 

José Durand Laguna, known as 'El Negro', was a prolific forward for Huracán. 

He represented Argentina 4 times, scoring 3 goals.

His debut came in unusual circumstances. At the 1916 South American Championship of Nations Laguna went to watch the Argentina vs Brazil game at Gimnasia y Esgrima in Buenos Aires (10.07.16).

Alberto Ohaco was unable to play and Laguna was called from the stand to fill the vacancy. 

He gave Argentina the lead in the 10th minute. The game finished 1-1.

Laguna later moved to Paraguay where he played for Olimpia. He also managed the Paraguay national side at 2 South American Championships and the 1930 World Cup.

El Gran Capitán

When, in the early 1930s, Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro of Argentina offered the Paraguayan captain Aurelio González a lucrative deal he declined. Instead, he took a break from football in order to fight for his country in The Chaco War (against Bolivia). 
In the preceding years González had won 3 consecutive championships with Club Olimpia (1927, 1928 &1929). 
He led Paraguay in the 1929 South American Championship of Nations, where he was the tournament top scorer with 5 goals (2 vs Uruguay and 3 vs Peru).
González also played in both of Paraguay's matches at the 1930 World Cup.
In later life he coached Club Olimpia and the Paraguay national team. 

Paraguay

William Paats

English railway workers were reportedly playing football in Paraguay in the 1880s, but the responsibility for introducing organized football lies with the Dutchman William Paats. Paats moved to Asuncion when he was 18 years old. He became a games instructor at a local college and introduced football. In 1902 he was involved in founding the oldest (and most successful) club in Paraguay- Olimpia.

Olimpia 1902

Paats  was also influential in the foundation of Liga Paraguaya de Football Association and was its 3rd president (1909–1910).
The league began in 1906- competing for the newspaper sponsored Copa el Diario. The first ever league match in Paraguay was a 1-1 draw between Football Club Guarani and Olimpia. The return match was also a 1-1 draw- Guarani won all their other games and were champions. 

Final standings:

1.Guaraní
2.Olimpia
3.Libertad
4.General Díaz
5.Nacional
6.14 de Mayo

Football Club Guarani were dominant in the early years- they play in black and yellow as their founders included the bothers Federico and Salvador Melina who had played for CURCC.

 Federico Melina (Guarani)

Juan Deandreis (Guarani)

Olimpia didn't win the title until 1912.