LIMA, Peru,  Aug 12 (Reuters) - A Peruvian soccer player was
sentenced to seven years in prison on Thursday for helping
thieves steal money from first division club Cienciano two
years ago.

Cesar Ccahuantico, a 30-year-old who played in midfield for
Cienciano between 2001-08, helped thieves who stole $84,500 (S$114,725)
meant for players' wages, court sources in the Andean city of
Cusco said.

Four masked men stole the money from the club's premises in
March 2008 and police found later that one of them had called
Ccahuantico eight times on his mobile phone before and after
the robbery.

Ccahuantico helped Cienciano beat Argentina's River Plate
in the final of the Copa Sudamericana in 2003 to lift Peru's
first international trophy.

The club have fallen on hard times and are in debt to their
players, who raise money organising car raffles. They are 10th
in the championship standings on 32 points, 27 behind leaders
San Martin after 27 matches.