In 1947, Eva Duarte de Perón left for Europe. At that time, she was already first lady and was traveling on behalf of her husband, Juan Domingo Perón. The European tour was characterized by being extensive and by the search to strengthen economic alliances with the old world. The trip destinations were four: Spain, France, Switzerland and the Vatican. Throughout her journey, her figure generated global impact and recognition. So much so that her face was printed on the cover of Time magazine.
At the end of his trip abroad and returning to Buenos Aires, he promoted a series of social development measures. More linked to the concept of Social Justice, a primary idea for Evita in his management of civil society. Among these measures, the Evita National Games appeared. Sports event created in mid-1948, which contained a dual purpose. On the one hand, of a health nature. That is to say: to participate in the event, it was mandatory to undergo medical check-ups, in order to create a medical history for the children. And, on the other hand, remove the child population from the social margins and, thus, develop social ties through sport. The sporting event started from those principles. Place children at the top of the priority pyramid. Or as the motto of the Games said: “The only privileged people are the children.”
However, in 1955, the civil-military coup of the Liberating Revolution arrived, and with it, the “de-Peronization” process. A program that had the intention of destroying the cultural advance that had been established during Peronism. In this way, the Evita National Games were cancelled. Until, in 1973, with the return of Perón to the presidency after his exile, these Games were reactivated. This reactivation not only revived the leitmotif of children as a priority, but also facilitated the conditions for the first murmurs of the myth to appear. To start talking about a 10-year-old boy, named Diego Armando Maradona, or “Pelusa”, as he was nicknamed, and who fascinated with his technical skill in Los Cebollitas.
This team was organized on the Argentinos Juniors property. The youth players who came to try out at the facility came from category 60. There, Francisco Cornejo was waiting for them, who under his technical direction arranged the supervision of the soccer players who ended up being selected and passing the test. However, in order to play officially in Argentinos Juniors, one requirement had to be met: being over 14 years old. Given this rule, Los Cebollitas, named after Cornejo, due to their age and short stature, participated in regional and national youth tournaments. Among them, the Evita Games of ’73 and ’74.
Those who experienced those times speak of a group of players who wore the pasture and the colorful game as their insignia. People crowded into the stadiums to enjoy their football. Within that team, there were two brothers who were on the roster. The Dalla Buona brothers. After the Los Cebollitas stage, each one took different lives. Osvaldo made his debut in the First Division with Argentinos Juniors against Platense and emigrated to Sabbadell in Spain. Rubén, with the aim of cooperating financially with his mother (his father died when he and his brother were very young), abandoned his studies and took up fishing to work in different jobs. As a young man he was a salesman in a fruit store and a potato deliveryman. When he grew up, he joined ANSES as an employer. A year ago he retired, but he continues to work as a taxi driver.
Rubén Dalla Buona is behind the wheel. He looks out the window of his taxi and continues passing by those places where he was happy: Urquiza, Belgrano and Paternal. During that journey, he heads towards 2100 Jonte Street. In conversation with Página / 12, he mentions that he frequently passes by that corner. Increasingly. There is the new statue and mural of Diego Maradona. In the heart of La Paternal.
–What memories do you have of Los Cebollitas? It is often said that it was a team that worshiped the pasture.
–It had that right dose between the team concept and genius. “El Diego” stood out as a footballer, but he was one of the team, which was also a machine. From the goalkeeper to the last player. Even the substitutes were a luxury to see. We played soccer and danced against our rivals. It was a dance our way of playing. I could describe it like this.
–Which Maradona did you know?
–We met Diego. Not to Maradona. To the introverted kid, who never spoke. But at the same time he was a phenomenon as a player. I remember that we played against River in the Evita Games of ’73, where Diego made a play similar to the one he made against the English in Mexico 86. And River’s coach stopped the game and said: “Up to here.” A way to express amazement at how good he was. And that is where they offered Don Diego (Maradona’s father) to transfer him to River. They offered him a house in Capital, a job. And he told them: “I will not sell my son’s happiness.”
–Who was the best Maradona sportingly speaking?
–The one from Argentinos Juniors. The best I saw. Neither in Boca, nor in Barcelona. “El Diego” could not become champion with Argentinos, because if you go back, he was expelled in a friendly match in Mendoza and given 5 dates of suspension for the championship. Now that is no longer done. But for you to take into account: Diego played 5 years in Bicho and was a scorer 5 consecutive years. I remember the impact he had in the stadiums. People from other teams went to see him.
–And when Los Cebollitas played, did they also generate high expectations?
–The stadiums were full. When we played with the ninth division of Argentinos, the lifers, the families, came. Word began to spread about the way Los Cebollitas played, so there were people from all over Buenos Aires who came to watch the games. Of all kinds of colors, clubs, etc.
–What experience did participating in the Evita Games of ’73 and ’74 give you?
-It was beautiful. In ’73 we did very well in the Buenos Aires Zone. We beat Santa Ana 5 to 4, who were the players who belonged to River’s youth teams. The teams that were in the Evita Games could not be registered with the name of their clubs. That is why Los Cebollitas represented Argentinos Juniors. Santa Ana to River. When we moved to the final stage, we went to Embalse. To Córdoba. To confront the other provinces. In the semifinals we played against Santiago del Estero and tied 2-2. We went to penalties and were eliminated. I remember that Diego missed his. But in ’74 we redeemed ourselves. There were not only players from the 60 category, but also from the 61. Because due to age, we needed to meet the children’s quota. We beat San Telmo in the final, 7 to 2. Marcelo Tinelli played right back on that team.
–And what was promoted since the Evita tournament?
Health first. Child care. We did medical check-ups where we had to have a form with our medical history to be able to play. But above all in those Games what was instilled was friendship. That sport was a moment of camaraderie. Now I remember that, in the Evita games of ’73, there is a photo where Diego approaches and hugs a boy who was crying (Alberto Pacheco) because he had lost against Entre Ríos. So they instilled in us that double idea: we are all athletes, we are all friends.
–Do you still remember what you experienced with Los Cebollitas?
-Always. We meet once a month. On every birthday. Since Diego left for Barcelona, Los Cebollitas were never able to meet him. So imagine the time. The last time we saw each other was on the Argentinos field in 2019. We had agreed that on October 30, 2020 we were going to celebrate Diego’s 60 years with the 60 category. Argentinos had lent us the sports field, they had asked us if we wanted have a game on the field. We told Diego that and he told us: “I am there, I want to be there.” Unfortunately we could not reach him any further and the following year he died.
–I remember the gestures of affection that were between you…
-Exactly. When she hugged Pelusa, with Rudy Escobar. Rudy lent her the jeans and the suit that she wore to go to Mirtha Legrand’s program. Also with Carlos Montaña de Fiorito. I was with them. Once a month we usually get together with the boys and we feel great pride in having represented the Argentinos family. We remember everything we achieved. It was the best stage of our lives. There is a lot of neighborhood in the story. And the neighborhood generates a sense of belonging. When we get together, there are friends who are bad and others who are good. But we help each other.
–How sad that that meeting of Diego’s 60 with the 60 category could not be done. It was a beautiful excuse.
-Yeah. Very sad. She was suspended. Diego died.
2023-09-29 15:50:47
#played #soccer #danced #rivals #Dialogue #Rubén #Dalla #Buona #Diego #Maradonas #partner #Los #Cebollitas
