Until a few days ago Mayer Candelo left Deportivo Cali due to poor results and after a painful episode when he was attacked by fans during a match against Cortuluá, precipitating his departure from the Cali bench.
Maýer arrived in Cali in the middle of the year and was unable to lift the team in terms of results. He only won one game and left him in last place in the League standings.
Candelo broke the silence and in a talk with Jaime Dinas, in the Dinas Sports space of Univalle, he delivered some explosive statements about what his time at the Verdiblanca institution was like.
“Several days have passed since the release was given. We are calm with our heads held high because the only thing we wanted was to contribute, to do beautiful things in our institution and unfortunately it is not in a good moment,” Candelo commented.
When asked if it was time to assume the responsibility of being Cali’s coach, the young coach assured that “I want to thank Deportivo Cali, its leaders, its fans for that beautiful opportunity they gave me for being in the institution that I love. Unfortunately the results were not given, but it is not because of experience but because of the opportunity that life gives us and we felt that it was the moment because God put it on our path. Unfortunately one finds administrative, economic problems that are reflected in sports, something that one did not expect.
Máyer was clear in stating that he had no support in his management by some managers. “At no time did you expect that you would not have support to continue being the team’s coach. That there would not be that support after they gave you the position of coach, it was what I did not expect, that they would work below to hurt a institution and not Maýer, I’m still the same. Today because of egos and pride they are hurting the institution, the same ones that sent the fans to invade the field in Tuluá. The real fan loves and respects the institution. We want there to be union between the board of directors, those who are on the outside and who manage it from below to do harm, I ask you for that favor and that you can help to give ideas to move the institution forward. Maýer came out and the Negative results continue, the problem is not technical”.
Candelo delved into the subject of the forces that he considers are doing a lot of damage to Deportivo Cali.
“There are from everywhere. The so-called fans who are not and who lend themselves to do the things they did in Tuluá; of former directors who are no longer there; workers of the same club, I am not pointing to anyone, but it is the reality that He lives. I had a team that I did not put together, which was put together by the previous coach, with the previous president, we put the face on it and worked with what was there.”
In his statements, Máyer attacked a part of the sports press in the Valle del Cauca capital. “I also tell many journalists with great respect, not to harm their profession for a coin. Today Máyer Candelo is not here and they are no longer going to eat what they gave him for Mayer Candelo, they are going to run out of what they received because he is no longer Mayer”.
The ‘Azucarero’ cast is experiencing one of its worst sports crises in its history. With Máyer, idol of the club, it was thought that he could turn the situation around from bad to worse since the first semester, but it was not positive.
“I had not arrived at the club and was already resisted. From the first day it was resisted and I ended up being resisted. Many people did not want me to be the coach. What happened with the fans in Tuluá was manipulated and planned to damage the image of the institution. We want that so-called fan who lent himself to that, did not harm a person but the club, “Máyer said.
Candelo clarified how his relationship with Teófilo Gutiérrez was, a situation that was talked about a lot of friction and controversy.
“I have to attest that there were no differences with any player and less with him. I had to correct and demand, that’s another thing. Teo did things that were not appropriate, they told him, they corrected him, they showed him. He never had differences with me, I gave him the keys to the team, but his behavior on the field of play was not the best and he was left out for a long time due to expulsions. There were differences, but always with respect. Teo was always respectful”, he explained .
Finally, Máyer Candelo gave details of how he left the team. “President Mena called me to inform me that by decision of all the leaders it had been decided not to continue, something that I understood, but that filled me with sadness because it was a project that they did not support, a project that did not have good results. It was a project that I had not put together. I thanked Dr. Mena, others did not show their faces when he went to the headquarters to say goodbye and give thanks for everything. Some hid and acted as if they had not seen me, like Mr. (Eduardo ) Calderón, who was one of those who never agreed to my arrival and was always the one who insisted the most on getting me out. It’s sad because they never played football and they forget that he was one as a player. We wish God bless you and that they achieve the best for Deportivo Cali”.
