By Francisco Henao, Sports editor
Orsomarso is fashionable in Colombian soccer, and even in the small town in southern Italy that bears the same name, they know that.
The young team from Valle del Cauca reached the final of the promotion tournament for the first time, beating teams with a longer history and roster, such as Real Cartagena, Atlético Huila, Deportes Quindío and Unión Magdalena, to name just four.
Orsomarso’s story is as short as the chances he had of reaching a Primera B final; and although the budget was not to become a professional team, it took flight very quickly and today is about to obtain a ticket to fight, at the end of the year, for promotion to the highest category.
Just this Sunday the Valle del Cauca team will face its first final of a B tournament, hosting Llaneros in Palmira.
José Gabriel Sangiovanni was one of the founders of the Orsomarso sports club, and he told details of how this idea was conceived and is bearing fruit today.
When was Orsomarso born?
It was born on December 7, 2012, beginning operations in January 2013 as an amateur club. We spent three years in the El País Cup, we participated in amateur soccer, and we tried to support América because at that time it was in B and did not have minor divisions. The idea was for America to rely on Orsomarso and get players from there, but that did not prosper and that is why we decided to take another direction.
Who came together to bring Orsomarso to life?
That was my idea, and we talked about it as a family. I was in America supporting my brother Oreste, who at that time was a manager, and since America did not have minor divisions, we said that the ideal was for it to have a subsidiary club and take players from there at no cost.
Why the name Orsomarso?
It is a legacy, it is a tribute to my father (Pepino Sangiovanni) in life; It is the only team founded by Italians and children of Italians in Colombia. Orsomarso is a town in southern Italy, very close to the Tyrrhenian Sea; My father was born there, they wanted to pay tribute to him during his lifetime, he is close to turning 90 years old. And that is why the name Orsomarso was taken. My son David is now in charge, because I moved away a little since I continue with my project as a technician, and the president is Edward Lenis; They have known how to lead the team and today they are already fighting for a final.
What did your father say when you were told the initial idea?
He liked it a lot because my father is a soccer fan; For him he is proud of what is happening with the club, also because it is named after his hometown; My father is happy about everything that is happening, and he always pays attention to the team and the games.
In Orsomarso, Italy, do you know that there is a club with that name here?
Yes of course; In 2017 we played an exhibition game there. We won the Tournament of the Americas in Cali in the youth category, and we won the right to participate in the Gothia Cup, in Scotland, with a team that included José Enamorado, a Pahuenza boy and Einer Gómez who was the Colombian youth team. Before going to Sweden we went through the town so that the boys could get to know where the team’s name comes from. The boys felt very happy, they played, there was a great welcome from the mayor at the time, Antonio de Caprio; It was something quite special. The people of Orsomarso, in Italy, feel proud because a Colombian club bears their name. That day we went was very emotional, and they are strong for us from a distance.
Are you aware of the step the team has taken in the promotion tournament?
Yes, they are aware of what the team does; a first cousin of my father, Giuseppe Forastieri Sangiovanni, is an honorary member of the team’s Board of Directors. The idea is that many young people can be in Italian Serie B, in regional teams like Cosenza and Catanzaro, so that the big teams can see some talented Colombian players.
Has the evolution of the team been on par with what you had budgeted?
Of course; In 2016 we acquired the record of Uniautónoma, which was from Barranquilla and participated in the B or promotion tournament, and there we began our participation as a professional team until today. But I must admit that at the beginning our plans were not to become a professional team; We wanted to shake hands with America, which was in a difficult crisis, but the managers at that time said no. There we decided to take another direction until now that we are in a final.
He says that when the team was born, the idea was not for it to be professional. With this step to the final, did the process move forward?
Yes, but at the beginning the plans were different, mainly to help America; but, as I have said, they did not want to, so it was time to change the objectives and look more decisively at the future; Once we had experienced players like Iván Vélez, Pedro Tavina, Mauricio and Nóndier Romero, because we wanted to fight for promotion, but it wasn’t possible. How curious because now with some young guys, without much experience and little known, we are about to achieve a historic event in these eight years of Orsomarso’s life as a professional team.
How is the equipment supported?
We have always been supporting, but the issue is not easy; We have had to play with the youth team, with very young players, but of quality, because this football thing is with good players. The objective is to maintain it, go little by little, with safe steps and facing day by day.
When you were Orsomarso’s coach, the team did not advance; Now with a little-known and young coach he is in the final…
That’s football, I did well, badly and average; In 2017 we qualified for the quarterfinals, in the next tournament we had many problems, a year without winning because there were only draws and defeats. In 2019 we advanced in the Colombia Cup, but Alberto Gamero’s best Tolima eliminated us. Then the pandemic came and I left the team, other coaches arrived in the following years, and now there is Steven Sánchez who has known how to direct and take it to the final.
If the historic promotion occurs, are you prepared to face the A?
Yes, the topic has been talked about quite a bit because it is a possibility that we cannot rule out; There are many people who will support, including the family itself; If what we are looking for so much happens, the goal is to stay in the category. We have a capable man in the presidency like Edward Lenis. In case of promotion, you have to take precautions and make decisions for that challenge.
