The recent news about the arrival of Alianza FC to Valledupar, and the uncertainties surrounding this process, highlight the need for a long-term approach to local football in our city.
Valledupar and its fans should not depend on transitory changes, occasional whims or decisions of businessmen and rulers in power. It is imperative to establish a strategic and sustainable plan that guarantees the stability and continued growth of our local football; You cannot be subject to the taste or management of a politician or an individual. That is to say, the project cannot depend on the support of a small group of people, who if at any time they step aside, or are no longer in the government, the future of the team will be in danger and the fans will be left seeing a spark. This needs a commitment of trust to not be disappointed.
It is essential that both municipal authorities and businessmen in the region recognize the importance of football for our community. This implies consistent investments in sports infrastructure, youth development programs, lower divisions in Cesar, La Guajira and the southern neighbors of Magdalena and Bolívar, and solid support for local teams.
Valledupar’s identity must be reflected in its teams, and the name change is an opportunity to further link the club with our culture and colors; It should reflect a desire to build a lasting legacy.
The thirst for success and passion for football are undeniable in Valledupar. Now is the time to turn that passion into a solid foundation for the future of local football.
Alianza FC must be a long-term city project in which everyone must contribute: public administration, private companies and the people of Caesarea (because this will be the professional team of the entire department, not just Valledupar). The public sector has already done its part by managing the change of headquarters of Alianza Petrolera to Valledupar; A change in attitude of the municipality’s administration is evident – which seems to be accompanied by the government in this case – from laziness to initiative and interest in getting it right; The experience of the Valledupar Fútbol Club makes the public sector and the political leadership see that they cannot turn a deaf ear to the request of the directors of a club, now professional.
Now, it is also up to the private sector to make this business viable through its contributions.
And there is the fans, the public, who according to Alianza directors would have failed in Barrancabermeja. It is good that many have followed other teams for years, such as Junior, Nacional, Millonarios, América, Unión Magdalena, with thousands of followers in the region. But now we will have equipment that, we hope, is our own and not upstart.
Without a doubt, having a professional team is a social contribution: it generates jobs, events, tourist attractions, investment, support for sports and the opportunity to see the best teams in Colombia, and possibly South America, in a stadium and a city that is they deserve it.