The Godoy Cruz miracle: he was close to disappearing and today he is the phenomenon of the League Cup

The words of Arturo Vidal, the Chilean star who returned to Europe after a long European tour, were a great recognition. “We face the best team in Argentina“, said the Colo Colo midfielder after the first leg in Mendoza.

Jorge Almirón used the same tenor to describe the reality of Godoy Cruz a few hours before the rematch. He knows the rudiments because ten years ago he directed the Tombino group. It is not false modesty that surrounds Alejandro Chapini. “I think that’s too much praise.”, says the president of this institution which will turn 103 on June 1st. There is no room for exaggeration. Today, at the foot of the Cordillera and in the League Cup standings, the club born in the lounge of the “Victoria” bar in 1921 reigns.

Godoy Cruz Antonio Tomba Sports Club is the team that has scored the most points (19), scored 10 goals and has not scored in 7 games. The only goal that Franco Petroli, a 25-year-old goalkeeper who left River and with a great background in Estudiantes de Río Cuarto which earned him the purchase of 50% of his passes, regretted was against Colo Colo, in Copa Libertadores. . Together with Roberto Ramírez, who saved last weekend against Instituto, He has been unbeaten for 630 minutes.

How do you explain the Godoy Cruz phenomenon? There is a renal technician, Daniel Oldrá, who has a commitment that goes far beyond work. He Cat – a nickname he earned for the shape of his eyes – was one of Mud heroesthat historic team that achieved promotion to the old B Nacional in 1994.

“For years they have been telling us that we don’t wait for the technicians’ trials. However, we opted for coaches who succeed in important clubs today,” says Chapini in conversation with Clarion.

And he adds: “Oldrá was the architect of the promotion in 2008, when a Checho Batista was called to lead the national team. We quickly returned to the First. From then on, whenever we needed him, he was ready. On this occasion he managed to put together an important, monolithic technical body, with transcendent people for our institution.”

The 56-year-old strategist is accompanied by Marcelo Marucci, a friend and partner in that company thirty years ago; Nicolás Olmedo, Nelson Ibáñez and Guillermo Franco, who achieved promotion in 2008 and never dropped down a category again; and two internal physical trainers, Carlos Jofre and Matías Garro. The goalkeeping coach is José Luis Montero, who joined the team more than 10 years ago. “We arrive together and leave together,” Oldrá said. I have been in this process for eleven months.

“After having experienced a couple of very difficult years from a sporting point of view. We understood that we had to look for players who wanted to transcend. And some with experience who have been able to put together united human groups. In addition to the great work of the lower divisions,” says Chapini.

Hernán López Muñoz, nephew of Diego Maradona, is one of the great cards. Of the 47 players that make up the squad, 15 come from the youth team.

Godoy Cruz has transferred between 35 and 40 players to big clubs. From Leandro Caruso, who joined Udinese in 2009, to Tadeo Allende, whose player was recently purchased by Celta Vigo. Rodrigo Rey (now goalkeeper for Independiente), Juan Brunetta, Gonzalo Abrego, Ezequiel Bullaude (currently at Boca) and Martín Ojeda, among others, went straight to Europe and MLS.

In 2001, coinciding with the national crisis, Godoy Cruz was about to disappear. Chapini and José Mansur took command. There was a transition with a manager until the election took place. The two leaders alternated as president. Today they have a property of 22 hectares and 14 fields; a school with 500 students and a lot of money is investing in its stadium, the Feliciano Gambarte, with the idea of ​​playing at home again. They are already close to 15 thousand members.

“The secret of this team is that I have a team that gives life in every match. The human group is fundamental”, reflects Oldrá, who the Deliberative Council of Godoy Cruz (city of the same name) has honored with a green space that bears his name a few meters from the stadium. And there are already those who are thinking of a statue if he wins, obviously.