*On Thursday, August 29, 2024, the world of sports journalism woke up to the news of the passing of Oscar Luis Cárdenas (63), better known as El Chango, who served throughout his career as a sports commentator in the city of Cali.
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Throughout his career, Oscar Luis Cárdenas stood out as one of the most influential sports commentators in the region. With a career spanning several decades, El Chango became an emblematic figure in sports journalism, known for his ability to connect with the audience through his style.
Cárdenas excelled in his career as one of the main commentators in the city of Cali for Antena 2 and RCN Radio, providing his perspective and analysis on the most important matches and competitions, thereby covering several Colombian football tournaments and various internationally relevant sporting events.
Tributes and messages of condolence have begun to flood in from all over, with colleagues and fans remembering his legacy and impact on sports coverage. His ability to convey the excitement of the game and his dedication to journalism highlighted his career.
For many, the reason behind his nickname is a mystery, but the journalist himself revealed the origin of his characteristic nickname: “We came across an edition of the magazine El Gráfico and in it, there was a tribute to Juan Carlos ‘El Chango’ Cárdenas, a player from Racing, who scored the goal in the final of the Intercontinental Cup of clubs in 1967, winning that title and the Copa Libertadores. Because of the coincidence of our last names, Aristizábal started to refer to the Colombian ‘Chango Cárdenas’ and that’s how I’ve been known for years,” he stated at the time.
Oscar Luis Cárdenas will be remembered for his dedication to sports journalism and his role in the development of sports event coverage in Cali.
(Source: Antena 2)