50 years ago, Barcelona SC publicly received Emelec’s ‘fervent encouragement’ before its debut in the 1972 Copa Libertadores

50 years ago Barcelona Sporting Club was getting ready to debut, on February 27, 1972, in the Copa Libertadores. The night duel was played at the Modelo stadium against América de Quito, for Group 2 of the competition; the key was completed by the Bolivian clubs Oriente Petrolero and Chaco Petrolero.

The expectation was enormous in Guayaquil and in the rest of Ecuador because in 1971 the canaries qualified for the semifinal stage of the continental tournament, which had a more demanding quality filter than the current one: only the first of each group passed the round, they only competed the champions and runners-up of each Conmebol member country, the phase prior to the final was played divided into two keys of three squads each, and the leader of both entered the final.

Directed by the Brazilian Otto Viera, Barcelona, ​​national monarch in 1970 and 1971, had, in addition to the support of its massive fans, special support before its cupbearer debut in 1972: that of its brother from the Shipyard, Club Sport Emelec.

“The brothers are united because that is the first law. Have a true union at any time, because if they fight among themselves, the outsiders will devour them”, José Hernández, an Argentine, wrote in 1872 in his book Martin Fierromemorable epic poem. That advice was followed before by Barcelona and Emelec, neighborhood brothers.

‘fervent breath’ blue

On February 27, 1972, the electrical leadership published an announcement in Diario EL UNIVERSO on the day that the Canaries were going to face America in the capital, the then seasoned and complicated onion team. The millionaires expressed this to the Canarians: “Club Sport Emelec, as Barcelona Sporting Club begins today a new participation in the Copa Libertadores de América, expresses its fervent encouragement and makes the best wishes for it to achieve the most brilliant success as a representative of football. Ecuadorian”.

That night in 1972, with goals from Washington Chanfle Muñoz and the Peruvian Pedro Parakeet León, the good wishes of the Emelec board of directors came true: Barcelona beat América 2-1 and began to walk a path that took them to the semifinals again.

The sportsmanship and chivalry of the blue leadership of half a century ago was beyond doubt because he sent that public message to the adversary that in 1971 ruined his dream of being a semifinalist in the Libertadores. In an extra match to define the winner of the group, Barcelona thrashed Emelec 3-0 at the Modelo stadium.

Canarian congratulations to electricians

Almost a decade later, the bullfighters returned the courtesy. On January 9, 1980, Barcelona congratulated the electric team for winning, that day in Manta, the national title of the 1979 season. The letter from the yellow team, signed by its president José Tamariz Crespo, and by Alberto Pincay Paz, as secretary, He said that they could not “evade the joy felt by the people of Guayaquil” for the emelecist achievement.

Addressed to Ricardo Estrada, head of the millionaires, the letter said: “Dear Sir: We are pleased to inform you that the board of directors of Barcelona SC, in a session held on January 9, 1980, agreed to congratulate the club on its presidency, to its managers and supporters, for winning the national football title in 1979. Barcelona SC, despite maintaining a gentlemanly, sporting and ancient rivalry with Emelec, as an entity that brings together the largest fans in the country, cannot escape to the joy felt by the people of Guayaquil. Receive with this opportunity the testimony of our high consideration”. (D)