MAR DEL PLATA.- In the country that is the last world champion, the only one where the professional competition is held only with fans of the local team to avoid confrontations and attacks with their peers of other colors, there is a city where for almost three decades the extreme to dribble that hypothesis of violence is Prevent two classic rivals from crossing paths in a soccer match.
These two antagonistic passions, challenging from paravalanches and graffiti on walls, coexist on these beaches with just over 800,000 stable inhabitants where crossing paths with those who are most distant is an almost daily situation, even within the same neighborhood. But sometimes for sporting reasons, other times because of political and managerial hands, that handful of fans and sympathizers are not only prevented from since 1997 coincide in opposing stands within the same playing field. It has not even been possible to generate a friendly behind closed doors between both teams.
The end of this story prohibited match has a date: this Saturday, at the José María Minella stadium and from 3:35 p.m., with refereeing by Nazareno Arasa, professional footballers from Alvarado and Aldosiviwithin the framework of the interzonal crossing of the First National tournament.
The last time had been almost 27 years ago and with a crossing that partly explains everything that came after: barely 20 minutes of the first half were played because there were incidents between both fans. That afternoon there were barely 1,200 people on the field of the humble River club, near Juan B. Justo and Champagnat, better known as The meadow. They were 0 to 0. Then they would win the game to Alvarado. But the defeated, there is no doubt, was football.
The opportunity for a reunion with a ball in between was created from a change arranged by the Argentine Football Association in the organization of the Primera Nacional tournament, where last year both coincided after the relegation of the port institution, but where they did not They came to cross paths. Without a doubt, due to a strict – and exclusive – decision to keep them in different areas. And pray that the definition bodies did not have them face to face.
Now, with this twist that establishes inter-zonal confrontations that enables a round of classics like in the highest category, the two Mar del Plata teams with the largest number of followers in the city will meet not once but twice. The second will be on date 27 and the home status on that occasion will correspond to the blue and white team.
There is an anticipated certainty about the presence of the public in both matches: “It will only be played with local bias,” had anticipated the local delegate of the Agency for the Prevention of Violence in Sports (Aprevide), Mercedes Paganini. And so it will be. First it will be the turn of the people of Aldosivi. Alvarado’s men will have their place in the stands for the rematch.
The World Cup Stadium reaches this historic milestone after more than three years of partial disabling of its amenities. Specifically the covered stalls, which cannot be used due to the poor condition of the iron pipes that support the roof. Despite some projects, nothing has been done yet to improve the situation.
The reunion will be within the framework of a security operation with more than 350 police officers affected. There will be a central focus on the sporting scenario, but also planning for what will follow when the game ends. Alvarado has already summoned his fans to the sports facility in the South area, near Route 88, where he will have giant screens. Aldosivi’s followers, who will watch the match in the stadium, will then de-concentrate closely followed by patrollers and special units.
This is Aldosivi-Alvarado. Port in front of Matadero. La Pesada before La Brava. Shark against Torito. The walls in green and yellow compared to those painted in pure blue and white. The unforgettable 13-0 of 1994 at the San Martín Stadium versus the “abandoned” of the last game. There is a lot of chicanery and crossed threat in this history of rivalry, which in sports is less than a decade old, but which spread and affirmed enough to be the most notorious in the city.
The historical classic here until the mid-80s was between San Lorenzo and Kimberley, displaced by the sporting decline of both institutions and the weight that these other two gained through the force of people.
The tension, as reconstructed, was born and given by third parties. The story goes that, in 1988, Deportivo Norte leaders tempted strong Alvarado fans to give power to their tribune in a defining match with Aldosivi in a local tournament. Deportivo Norte advanced and for a place at the national level it faced Nueva Chicago, which had one of its barracks already based in the port. And he was the one who, based on the good relationship, dragged Aldosivi’s fans to the stands. Since then, that antagonism.
That match almost 27 years ago on River’s field marked the end of a decade of spicy crosses on the field and in the streets. Between fights, gas and rubber bullets it was the unfortunate closing of a history of 88 official matches between Alvarado and Aldosivi. Those from Puerto are ahead with 34 wins against their rival’s 31. There are almost two generations that were never able to see them face to face, on a court. On Saturday they will have the opportunity when that statistic, frozen in time since August 10, 1997, is reactivated.
#PlayMardelSilver
This week, in the context of a cloud of morbidity that hovers over this intersection, leaders of both clubs gave clear signs of maturity. Emiliano Montes, president of Alvarado, and Hernán Tillous, manager of Aldosivi, accompanied their respective coaches, Mauricio Gigante and Andrés Ylliana, in a joint press conference and under a slogan that surpasses the classification of classic: #JuegaMardelPlata. At the end of the presentation, both institutions issued a joint statement: “We have the obligation to act responsibly and live an unforgettable day,” they agreed.
Although in recent times they have been in different categories, and even Aldosivi has had an important period in the first division in recent years, the truth is that the leadership of both clubs and the Mar del Plata Football League always warned that this match was not viable, although be friendly, due to the volume and rivalry of their fans.
Depending on the match, they usually bring between 8,000 and 12,000 people, enough to fill a header and part of the open seats of the World Cup. A postcard that has a colorful preview with caravans, flags and flares. Exceptionally, there are riots, such as the one carried out at the beginning of last month by an Aldosivi fan who fired a gun around the stadium. He was detained.
1993: a violent precedent
The Municipal Security Secretariat participates in this operation and had direct contact with leaders of both parties, summoned to clarify issues and conditions. “They are clear that any problem puts at risk whether or not what was expected for so long will continue,” he assured THE NATION the head of the area, Rodrigo Goncalvez. Everyone’s hope is that the classic is played and, regardless of the result, is lived in peace. Especially in the hours and days that follow, when fans once again cross paths in the streets. On both sides they are clear that what turns out this Saturday will be determining whether the next crossing will be here or, in the worst case scenario, they will have to look for a new destination.
The graffiti reveals that, although Aldosivi is geographically identified with the port, and Alvarado has a strong presence in the center and southwest of the city, there are neighborhoods where barely a street separates them. A wall has graffiti of one and opposite of another. How will they get through the day after?
Despite these cases of closeness, the history shows a greater number of incidents due to internal differences between fans than between both parties. Alvarado had an episode some time ago with shots being fired inside his corporate headquarters as part of those internal adjustments. A topic that seems settled. Aldosivi, on the other hand, has several lines. It is worth remembering that episode in which a small group set squad players’ cars on fire due to a bad sporting streak.
“I think we are prepared to live a party, that we are going to enjoy it, we are convinced that we are leaders, fans who are committed to a very special match,” said Montes and recalled that this match has been talked about with his Aldosivi peers since The fixture was drawn. “We need this to go well so that this is not only a celebration of sport but of the city,” Tillous insisted and spoke of joint actions.
The surprise at the press conference was that the teams will have two sets of t-shirts for the match with the patch alluding to this historic match. Each of them will keep one as a souvenir. The others will be donated to be auctioned to benefit the Maternal and Child Hospital Foundation.
From a sporting perspective, there is a lot of restraint among coaches. Aldosivi is sixth in Zone B, with 12 points. Yllana, who knows city classics from her time at Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata, lowered the tension at this intersection. “It is an important match and with two teams that meet at a good time,” he assured.
Alvarado is seventh in Zone B, with 11 points. Giganti highlighted the performance and valued the meaning and opportunity of this Saturday for the players: “It is a very important game for us and the result could set a trend,” he risked.
Aldosivi has the Moscuzza family in his leadership. José, a fishing businessman, is president, but operationally the one who pulls the strings is his son, his namesake. In Alvarado the board of directors is chaired by Montes, but the figure that hovers above is that of the union leader and former national deputy Facundo Moyano, who was born and raised right in front of the clubhouse. “We have to convey the message that this is done in peace because of what it means to find each other after 27 years,” she warned.
The expectation is so great that the Mar del Plata Soccer League decided to suspend the date of the local tournament that was to be played this weekend so that the focus of all the effort and attention is on Aldosivi and Alvarado. The match will be broadcast nationwide on the TyC Sports cable signal.