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Deportivo Cali
Asociacion Deportivo Cali is one of the football (soccer) teams from Cali, Colombia.
Deportivo Cali was the first Colombian team to be in the Copa Libertadores de America final in 1978 finishing second against Boca Juniors from Argentina. Cali also finished second in 1999 against Palmeiras from Brazil.
The team has been champion of the national tournament eight times, winning in 1965, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1974, 1996, 1998, and 2005.
Deportivo Cali currently plays in the Pascual Guerrero Olympic Stadium, with a capacity of 58,000. The new venue of the club, Estadio Deportivo Cali is planned to be completed in the autumn of 2007. If realized, Deportivo Cali will become the first Colombian football club to have its own stadium.
History
In 1912, a group of young Calenos, returned to Cali after studying in Europe. After learning the regulations of football, they began to practice the sport in recognizable parks in the city. After seeing success in these practices, teams began to form and one was Cali F.C. Its uniform was composed with the colors red and green or red and white. In 1908 the team gained experience by Profesors from Spain and France. One of the young players to break the limits and spread the fever for football was Gustavo Lotero, otherwise known as La Plumita.
Birth of Deportivo Cali
The Cali F.C. played until the year 1927. In that same year Deportivo Cali was created to represent the capital of Valle del Cauca in th National Olympics and Olympic Games for 1928. The growth of football in the department, demanded the creation of many stadiums in the more popular cities of Valle del Cauca.
The Professional League
The Club Deportivo Cali debuted as a professional team in 1948 against Junior in the city of Barranquilla. It was a rough start, after losing 2 - 0 in their first match. But for their second match they were able to concede a tie 2 - 2 to then team Deportes Caldas, now Once Caldas. Their first victory came in their fourth match with a score of 4 - 1 against Atletico Municipal. As visitors, their first victory came by defeating Independiente Medellin with a score of 1 - 0. Deportivo Cali also got to experience their first Clasico facing America de Cali. They were able to concede a victory with a score of 4 - 3. But undoubtedly the biggest accomplishment for Deportivo Cali that year was defeating Independiente Santa Fe in Bogota. Independiente Santa Fe were that year's champions in the Colombian professional league.
Golden Years of Deportivo Cali
Between the time frame of 1965 - 1980 can be referred to as Deportivo Cali's golden age era. During this time, Deportivo Cali won 5 of their 8 Colombian championships in the Copa Mustang. Not only that, but Deportivo Cali achieved to get to 11 finals, including their 5 championship titles. During this time, Deportivo Cali, and America de Cali were the top two teams from both the city of Santiago de Cali, and the national league of Colombia. During the 1980's. Deportivo Cali began to fall behind, losing key players, and not finding replacements. The only time Cali would ever see such a successful era in the future, would be on the year 1998-1999 when Deportivo Cali won both, the Copa Mustang in 1998 to qualify for the next 1999 edition of the Copa Toyota Libertadores, which they got to the final of, but unfortunately they lost to Palmeiras of Brazil by penalties, 4-3, over a 2-2 aggregate score. It was during this time period that Cali had many of the best players to come across the Colombian soccer league. This team included: Jose Rosendo Toledo, "El Mono" Munoz, Miguel Escobar, Oscar Lopez, Mario Sanclemente, German "El Burrito" Gonzalez, Jose Yudica, Miguel Angel "El Mago" Loayza, Jairo "El Maestrico" Arboleda, Oscar Mario "Tranvia" Desiderio, Diego Edison Umana, Henry "La Mosca" Caicedo, Iroldo Rodriguez de Oliveira, Jorge Ramirez Gallego, Roberto Alvarez, Quarentinha, Bernardo "El Cunda" Valencia, and Ricardo Pegnoty. Unfortunately, most of these players didn't receive international fame, yet Jairo Arboleda could have been one of the best players Colombia has had in midfield along with Carlos Valderrama. Similar to Valderrama, Arboleda used a variety of skill and "magic" that left opponents lost and beaten, which gave rise to his nickname "El Maestrico". He is mostly recognized in Cali as one of Colombia's best players ever. This is true in most parts of Colombia except for Antioquia, where their pride dominates and mislead people to believe the best players come from Antioquia, especially Medellin. Jairo Arboleda was unfortunate to be called to the Colombian National team at a time when the team was not fully devveloped and organized, fading away his skill at an international level. However, the truth will always be known in Cali, and the Calenos feel like they don't need to let the whole world know about their players, even if they are the best.
Down Fall of Deportivo Cali
In recent years (2000-2007), the Colombian club of Deportivo Cali from the city of Santiago de Cali, has seen a major downfall in quality of players, quality of team and general managers, and overall result in both Copa Mustang, and Copa Toyota Libertadores. During this time frame, Cali won 2 more championships, but lost finals to the underdog teams such as Deportes Tolima, and Deportivo Pasto. Not only this, but during this time, Deportivo Cali, for the first time in Copa Mustang history, did not make it to what the DIMAYOR calls the "Cuadrangulares", or the "semi-finals" of the cup. In the recent 2007 Finalization season, Deportivo for the second time in club history, failed to make it to the cuadrangulares. Spectatures say that the down fall of the 2007 season way a result of the major injury of Sergio Herrera, and the departure of Martin Cardetti. During the time frame of 2006 - 2007, the club from Santiago de Cali have seen over 3 different coaches, and 2 different ones in the 2007 Finaliztion season alone. Some of the coaches which served Deportivo Cali during this time are: Omar Labruna, Nestor Otero, and Pedro Sarimento. Deportivo Cali fans and the Board of Directors of Club Associacion Deportivo Cali hope that the newly elected coach, Uruguayan Jose Daniel Carreno, will change the face of the club, and will re-enter them back to their glory days, and will once more become one of the powerhouses of Colombia.
Current squad
Reserve & Youth Squad
Honours
National honors
Futbol Profesional Colombiano
*Winners (8): 1965, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1974, 1996, 1998, 2005
International honors
Copa Libertadores
*Runners-up (2): 1978, 1999
Notable players
Colombia:
Sergio Angulo (El Checho)
Victor Bonilla
Henry "La Mosca" Caicedo
Miguel Calero
Oscar Eduardo Cordoba
Miquel Escobar
Carlos Enrique Estrada (La Gambeta)
Giovanny Hernandez (El Principe)
Carlos Mario Hoyos
Jairo Arboleda
Edison Mafla (El Guigo)
Willington Ortiz
Bernardo Redin (Cuntaquinte)
Hugo Rodallega
Angel Maria Torrez (El Nato)
Carlos Valderrama (El pibe)
Pedro Antonio Zape
Mario Yepes
Victor Hugo Aristizabal
Farid Camilo Mondragon
Alvaro Jose Dominguez (Caracho)
Martin Zapata
Diego Edison Umana
Argentina:
Federico Vairo
Alberto de Jesus Benitez
Nestor Scota (El Tola)
Carlos Amaro Nadal
Ricardo Villa
Jose Yudica (El Piojo)
Martin Cardetti
Oscar Mario Desiderio (Tranvia)
Chile
Jorge "El Mortero" Aravena
Panama:
Blas Perez
Paraguay:
Roberto Fernandez (El Gato)
Jorge Amado Nunes (El Cenizo)
Peru:
Zenen Mosquera
Valeriano Lopez
Miguel Angel Loayza (El Mago)
2007 Transfers
In:
Edgar Zapata from Veracruz
Oscar Cordoba from Antalyaspor
Out:
Jamison Olave to Real Salt Lake
Alvaro Dominguez to FC Sion
David Gonzalez to Caykur Rizespor
Martin Cardetti to Colon de Santa Fe
External links
Deporcali.com - Pagina Oficial del Deportivo Cali
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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Deportivo Cali
