Bucaramanga (Colombia), June 16 (EFE).- Thousands of fans gave this Sunday in Bucaramanga, capital of the Colombian department of Santander, a tremendous welcome to the city’s soccer team that was crowned champion of the professional league in Bogotá on Saturday by first time in 75 years.
In an exciting second leg that went to penalties, Atlético Bucaramanga beat Santa Fe 6-5 in the shootout, after a 3-3 aggregate draw.
For the Leopard fans, dressed in green and yellow, the title is an epic feat and that is why they filled the road that leads from the airport to the city.
That is also why they elevate the members of the team to the category of heroes, especially the Venezuelan coach Rafael Dudamel and the goalkeeper Aldair Quintana, who last night saved the shot from Agustín Rodríguez and then the final one from Julián Millán, with which they gave free rein to the cry of champion.
From that moment on, the celebration of the people of Santander began, which continued long and continued today in the Américo Montanini stadium, formerly known as Alfonso López, which was filled to the brim with more than 25,000 souls who paid honor to their people.
On the plane that brought the champion team from Bogotá and was greeted with a water arch made by the Palonegro airport firefighters, there was a celebration to the rhythm of cumbias, while coach Dudamel raised the trophy that accredits them as champions.
Triumphant entry in a fire truck
Confidence in the team was evident when the mayor of Bucaramanga, Jaime Andrés Beltrán, gave the keys to the city to Dudamel before he qualified for the final.
“The star that was missing in the sky is already in Bucaramanga. Our champions have arrived! Let’s celebrate because we deserve it,” the president wrote today on his X account.
In addition to the title, Bucaramanga became the first Colombian team to qualify for the 2025 Copa Libertadores. The first time that the Leopardos were in that tournament was in 1998, for having finished runners-up in the 96/97 league and reached round of 16
As soon as the flight landed in Palonegro, the people cheered their players and a caravan of cars, motorcycles and bicycles began that ended on the outskirts of Américo Montanini, fortress of the Búcaros, all in the middle of a human river that at times did not allow advance to the fire truck that, escorted by the Police, was trying to make its way through the crowd carrying the team and its trophy.
Montanini, who was born in Argentina and later became a Colombian national, was a top scorer in the Colombian league in 1958, the year in which he scored 38 goals with Atlético Bucaramanga, making him the team’s idol. The striker died in Bucaramanga in November of last year.
Along the almost eight kilometer route between the airport and the stadium, people raised flags of the department of Santander and the team amid cheers and the sound of bugles.
From the fire truck, the players responded to their fans by raising their hands and the cup, that trophy that took 75 years to reach the team’s display case.
In the stadium
Late in the afternoon, the players arrived at the stadium where the fans, as they did throughout the championship, filled the stands singing songs of joy for having the champion team.
For some, Quintana was “the best”, Fredy Hinestroza was the best “warrior”, Daniel Mosquera was “unstoppable in attack” and Dudamel is the “best coach the team has ever had”.
They also did not forget Juan Camilo Mosquera, Jefferson Mena, Carlos Romaña, Carlos Henao, Santiago Jiménez, Fabry Castro, Jean Colorado and, of course, the Argentine Fabián Sambueza, who “exceeded his quality.”
There was no shortage of speeches, including that of Mayor Beltrán, who decreed that this Monday would be a civic day in the city so that its inhabitants could continue celebrating Atlético Bucaramanga’s first championship title.
For the fans, the team’s three relegations to Primera B were left behind, a division to which they never plan to return, and even less so after the title that ended up giving them the first star on their shield.
(c) EFE Agency
