Atlético Bucaramanga became champion of the Colombian League 2024-I and It made history by reaching its first star in 75 years of foundation. From the technical bench, the Leopardo team was led by the Venezuelan Rafel Dudamel, with extensive experience as a player in the FPC and who now as coach added his second title in our country.
Colombia has never stopped being Dudamel’s homeAs a player, he was a goalkeeper for several teams, among others Deportivo Cali, and knew how to shout champion under the sticks. They also reached the runners-up position in the CONMEBOL Libertadores. Years later he would return to Azucarero as coach to make them champion and give the Valle del Cauca team the tenth star.
It was just in a semester that Dudamel arrived in 2021 and won Cali champion from the technical direction, to be more precise, four months were enough for him to achieve that feat. He replaced Alfredo Arias in September and in December he made the Olympic turn, beating Tolima in the final.
Now he did it again, Rafael Dudamel arrived this semester to take over as coach of Atlético Bucaramanga, he signed in December of the previous year and began directing at the beginning of 2024, no one imagined the project that was beginning to take shape and that would culminate with the team’s first title in its entire history..
Dudamel’s debut as coach of Bucaramanga was not easy, it occurred on January 21, 2024 and it was with a defeat when they visited Junior de Barranquilla. The Sharks won with goals from Bacca and Chará.
The tough tests continued, they had to face Millonarios at home and barely tied without goals, however, that day was the starting point for the project that would be built, from that second day They managed to accumulate fourteen unbeaten games and at the end of the ‘All against all’, the team led by the Venezuelan finished as the best with 38 points, a goal difference of +14 and obtaining the so-called ‘invisible point’ that would later be essential to reach the final.
Dudamel, 51 years old, always with his strong character, vehement from the line, always speaking up front, demanding and on the field with his teams with practical football, solid in defense and efficient in attack.
This Bucaramanga champion with Dudamel will be remembered for its odd defensive line, which cost its rivals a lot of trouble to break it, three defined center backs and wingers with a lot of work in defense and good exit on the wing.
As an outstanding goalkeeper that he was, Dudamel knew how to trust Aldair Quintana with the bow and he knew how to respond. While the goalkeeper was on the field, he received only 12 goals in 23 games. The Leopards demonstrated their defensive solidity and took advantage of it to build the champion team from that strength, in the end the Santander team finished the semester with the least defeated hurdle, only 16 goals conceded.
Together with the board, Dudamel knew how to form a squad between experience and youthto the football qualities of men like Micolta or Córdoba, they knew how to add the wisdom of players with finals and titles like Aldair Gutiérrez, Fabry Castro, Fabián Sambueza, Fredy Hinestroza.
