## Club Sport Emelec Celebrates 95th Anniversary
Club Sport Emelec Celebrates its 95th Anniversary This Sunday
The renowned Club Sport Emelec will celebrate its 95th anniversary this Sunday. Founded on April 28, 1929, by American George Capwell, the club has become a cornerstone of Ecuadorian sports.
Emelec boasts a diverse range of sports, including football, weightlifting, swimming, baseball, basketball, bodybuilding, boxing, taekwondo, judo, cycling, table tennis, volleyball, softball, bowling, electronic sports, and women’s football.
Initially conceived as a platform to promote baseball in Guayaquil, football quickly emerged as the club’s primary focus. Throughout its illustrious history, Emelec has won numerous championships, including two unofficial titles, two Guayaquil Amateur Championships, and five Guayaquil Championships.
Since the inception of the national soccer championship in 1957, Emelec has competed in the Serie A of Ecuador. They became the inaugural champions in 1957 and have gone on to win the title fourteen times. Their dominance is reflected in their thirty podium finishes out of a possible fifty-two championships.
Emelec made history as the first Ecuadorian soccer team to participate in the international “Copa de Campeones” in 1948. Their best performance in the Copa Libertadores came in 1995 when they reached the semifinals. They were also runners-up in the defunct Copa Merconorte in 2001.
Home to the Emelec Sport Club football team, the George Capwell Stadium has been their sanctuary since 1945. The stadium has undergone several expansions and currently holds a capacity of forty thousand spectators. Known for its blue and lead colors, Emelec earned the nickname “electrical” due to its origins from a former electricity company.
Emelec’s fierce rivalry with Guayaquil’s Barcelona team gives rise to the highly anticipated “Clásico del Astillero,” considered the most important match in Ecuadorian football. The next clash is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at the Capwell stadium.