Members of Atlético Bucaramanga celebrate this Sunday with their fans after winning their first Colombian league championship during their arrival in Bucaramanga (Colombia). Atlético Bucaramanga arrived today in its city of origin to receive tribute from its fans and local authorities.
Photo: EFE – Carlos Franco
Dozens of Atlético Bucaramanga fans took to the main streets of the capital of Santander to welcome the leopard team in style, which managed to become champion of Colombian professional soccer for the first time in its 75-year history.
With flag in hand and to the rhythm of ‘La Cumbia de los Trapos’ by Yerba Brava, the people of Santander took part in an exciting caravan that left from the Palonegro airport, where hundreds of fans had been waiting since the morning for the team led by Venezuelan Rafael Dudamel.
The emotion was intense, and as the fire truck, with the players on board, moved towards the José Américo Montanini stadium, more and more people joined in the celebration of the ‘beautiful city’.
The children, grandparents and families joined in a celebratory hug in the face of a historic event, as the leopard team supported its good results in the round-robin phase, in which it finished first, and snatched the title from Santa Faith in the Campín of Bogotá. The cardinal team lost its third consecutive home league final.
At the Montanini stadium, the leopard fans paid tribute to the team and continued the celebration of the previous night, since the Mayor’s Office of Bucaramanga decreed this Monday as a civic day so that its inhabitants can celebrate this triumph in peace.
“Let’s celebrate because we deserve it, this is something historic and unprecedented. Please let’s take care of the city, let’s hug each other, cry and celebrate responsibly. May the party be unforgettable,” said Jaime Andrés Beltrán, mayor of Bucaramanga.
The championship was not only held in Bucaramanga, as a good part of Colombians were wholeheartedly with the Santander squad, a team built without big stars, but with work and discipline, it made Colombian soccer fans fall in love with it and managed to win the unprecedented title that Now it will appear on your t-shirt and in your showcase.
The reception of Atlético Bucaramanga in the capital of Santander was a true reflection of the passion and love that the city feels for its team. A historic celebration that will remain engraved in the memory of all those who were lucky enough to experience it.
“Drunk, I’m singing / With my friends, I’m celebrating one more triumph / Crazy, I am because of my rag. I follow you to the death, wherever you go, because we want to turn around / We want to turn around.”
How was the final between Atlético Bucaramanga and Santa Fe?
Despite falling in the second leg 3-2 (3-3 on aggregate), Atlético Bucaramanga won against Santa Fe 6-5 in a dramatic finish from the twelve steps in the south arch of the El Campín stadium in Bogotá.
In the penalty shootout, Daniel Mosquera, Carlos Henao, Joider Micolta, Jefferson Mena, Aldair Zárate and Fabry Castro scored for Bucaramanga and Venezuelan Leonardo Flores missed.
Francisco Chaverra, the Argentine Marcelo Ortiz, Elvis Perlaza, Hugo Rodallega and Juan Pablo Zuluaga scored for Santa Fe and the Uruguayan Agustín Rodríguez and Julián Millán failed, precisely those who scored in the last minutes to take the series to the definition from twelve steps.
After Millán’s victory, which gave Bucaramanga the title, a night of celebration began in which the streets of Santander were dyed yellow, with motorcyclist caravans, pyrotechnic shows and music until the early hours of this Sunday.
