Lolo Fernández: the time the Peruvian gunboat declared himself a “fan” of Cholo Sotil and recalled details of the title won in the 1939 Copa América

One day after the Lord of Miracles toured the streets of Lima for the last time this year, an unpublished interview became known in the country through the pages of El Comercio. On October 30, 1975, the dean newspaper published a conversation with Teodoro ‘Lolo’ Fernandez. At that time, the Peruvian gunboat was an official of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (now the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism).

In the conversation, the national scorer gave his first impressions about the title won by the Peruvian team in the America Cup and acknowledged his strong admiration for Hugo Sotil. He also recalled some details of the South American tournament won by the bicolor in Lima in 1939. That time, the red-and-white took the championship after beating Uruguay in the old National Stadium by 2 to 1.

HISTORICAL TITLE

On the night of October 28, 1975, our team won the America Cup after beating Colombia (1-0) at the stadium of the University City of Caracas, in Venezuela. The winning goal did Hugo Sotil 24 minutes into the first half. The bicolor raised this trophy again after 36 years. As soon as the meeting ended, the president Francisco Morales Bermudez sent a congratulatory cable to the entire team.

Moments later, thousands of people came out to celebrate the victory in hundreds of caravans through the streets of Lima and Callao. The joy was immense. Only the procession of Lord of Miracles it kept the main streets of the city from overflowing with people. Minutes later, some of the members of the Peruvian team that won that tournament in Lima in 1939 joined the celebrations.

However, the words of the scorer of the first South American tournament that conquered our country were missing, Lolo Fernandez. The Peruvian gunboat spoke with this newspaper the same day that Hugo Sotil Y Theophilus Cubillas they returned to their teams in Europe. The cholo’ returned to Barcelona from Spain and the ‘baby’ to Port of Portugal. Both regretted not being able to return to the country to enjoy the festivities.

ADMIRABLE GENERATION

On the morning of Wednesday, October 29, 1975, a chronicler from Trade came to the office Lolo Fernandez, located in the Customs Directorate of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (now the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism). The Peruvian striker was happy to see our reporter arrive and put aside his duties for a few minutes to give an unpublished interview.

In the conversation, the national striker gave his first impressions of this historic triumph: He also recalled the title obtained by the bicolor team in the South American championship played in Lima in 1939, when the stands of the old National Stadium were made of wood.

said the idol of University of Sports. A memory that filled her eyes with tears. Many of his co-workers hadn’t seen him play. Therefore, they looked at him with surprise as he spoke and cautiously asked about his career as a footballer.

ADMIRATION FOR SOTIL

Minutes later, Fernandez recognized that Hugo Sotilthen a Barcelona player in Spain, scored a great goal in the final against Colombia and revealed his admiration for the skillful striker:

In addition, he explained that the penalty ruled by cubes It was an error that “always” can happen in a game. He also joked that if he had kicked that foul “goalkeeper Zape would not have seen the ball.” He also described how football had evolved: “Well, I’m not going to say that the old one was better, because that would be clinging to something that isn’t true. Today they play a more technical soccer, with strength and with a lot of intelligence, especially Peruvian soccer has improved a lot and will continue to improve”said the gunboat.

This is how the interview with the Peruvian scorer ended. A conversation that took place a day after our team got the second America Cup of your story. A historic sporting event that has already passed more than 40 years.

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