This Thursday began the era of Rafael Dudamel as coach of Deportivo Cali. The Venezuelan coach was officially introduced as the DT of the green-and-whites.
The 47-year-old coach returns to the sugar institution where he was champion in the 1998 season and arrives with the aim of straightening the path to the Colombian League.
“Happiness invades me, excitement for a moment I had been waiting for a long time. When the president called me I was nervous because I felt I was very close to returning home. I followed the team’s walk. and this payroll has talent, youth, impetus and experience. I hope to complement these values, “Rafael commented at the presentation.
Dudamel, who replaces Uruguayan Alfredo Arias on the bench, signed a contract until June 2022.
“We are not here for money. We are here because we want to take a fantastic payroll to a higher level. And we are here because when the team of your loves calls you we cannot tell you no,” the Venezuelan coach added.
Dudamel has just led Atlético Mineiro in Brazil (2020) and the University of Chile (2021) because he did not fulfill good campaigns.
As a coach he began his career in 2010 leading Students of Merida in his country. Between 2013 and 2015 he coached Deportivo Lara and then joined the Venezuelan Football Federation where he was in charge of national coach of the Under-17, Under-20 and senior categories.
He is a reference for the Caleña fans for what was his campaign with the green-and-whites in the 1998 League winning the title and a year later reaching the final of the Copa Libertadores.
“The fans have corroborated my affection through all means. I hope we respect our house. It is a stadium of our own, which is not rented or borrowed,” Dudamel concluded.
His first engagement will be this Saturday in the classic against America, duel of day 9 of the national rent.
He llegado nuevamente a casa, aquí viví momentos inolvidables y hoy en esta nueva etapa he regresado para que vivamos juntos momentos de mucha alegria.
Nos esforzaremos al máximo para que de la mano de un grupo de jugadores maravillosos alcancemos los objetivos trazados🥇 pic.twitter.com/pgncxb6UgI— Rafael Dudamel (@rafaeldudamel) September 9, 2021