Why was a special enmity born between Ñublense and Cobreloa, which continues to this day?
It was the 2015 season, both teams were playing to remain in First A and they faced each other on the last date of the Official Tournament. On the eve of that crucial match, the Chillán team presented a formal complaint accusing the technical assistant of the Loínos, at that time Alejandro Hisis, of violating the ANFP regulations, by sitting on the bench of two clubs during the same tournament (Ñublense and Cobreloa). Hisis had been an assistant to Ivo Basay, who ushered in the arrival of Fernando Díaz, and in Cobreloa the controversial Marco Antonio “El Fantasma” Figueroa led the bank.
The Disciplinary Court ruled against Cobreloa 2-3, losing four points, which meant the relegation of the Calama team. The particularity of the rule is that it was to come into force the following year but in the same way it was inexplicably applied against the loínos.
Sebastián Vivaldi, leader of Cobreloa, declared at that time that Ezequiel Segall (president of the Disciplinary Court) interceded so that the Second Chamber voted against Cobreloa “because he was a close friend of the brothers Patrick (helmsman of Ñublense) and Álex (director of the ANFP) Kiblisky.
On the afternoon of May 3, Ñublense beat the Loínos 3-2, but both clubs were relegated, because in Rancagua, O’Higgins and Antofagasta tied at 1.
“Whatever happened with Cobreloa that year is the past, it is not appropriate to refer to what already happened so long ago. That’s aside. Cobreloa only suffered a football slump against Audax Italiano, but now it will be a different team. He will be focused and with two returning players like Rodolfo González and Cristian Insaurralde, who we know can change the team, it will be a difficult game,” said Mario Salas, coach of Ñublense.
“We have some casualties, but we must be strong against a great rival like Ñublense,” concluded Emiliano Astorga, Loíno coach.
