“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Alianza Petrolera have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
“We pay for this every fortnight. The least we want is somebody who looks like he cares.” 6 of the 23 senior players walked off into it; the rest were not playing.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Alianza Petrolera have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Alianza Petrolera can pretend not to have heard.
The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at Alianza Petrolera is pretending he will be back in the shirt.
“I did not go to Santa Fe to sit and watch. I want to come back to Alianza Petrolera and fight for my place.” 5 appearances in 42 matches say the rest.
The terracesThe press cannot get enough of David Lemos
62Edition
The Alianza Petrolera Herald
4 Oct 2027
From our football correspondentCrisis
The terraces4 Oct 2027
The boos come down from three sides
“We pay for this every fortnight. The least we want is somebody who looks like he cares.” 7 of the 23 senior players walked off into it; the rest were not playing.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Duvan Lopez and Alianza Petrolera agree another 2 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
The board have answered with money instead of encouragement, which is the only answer a manager ever wants. Spending it well is now entirely his problem.
The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at Alianza Petrolera is pretending he will be back in the shirt.
A player who expected to start watched it instead. The manager will call it a decision for the team; Freddy Giraldo will call it something else in private.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Jose Murillo and Alianza Petrolera agree another 3 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
An error at the back is a moment; an error in goal is a goal. Manuel Zapata knows it, the crowd knew it instantly, and there was nobody behind him to make it anything else.
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 7 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
A 2-0 win over Deportivo Pereira, earned rather than given, and the sort of afternoon that sends everyone home talking about next week instead of this one.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Alianza Petrolera, and 4 appearances in 38 say he has earned the hearing.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Alianza Petrolera know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
“I have ambitions, and I would like the club to share them.” Nobody has asked to leave and nobody has been shown the door — but a player chooses that sentence carefully, and a boardroom hears it exactly as it was meant.
The board have answered with money instead of encouragement, which is the only answer a manager ever wants. Spending it well is now entirely his problem.
The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at Alianza Petrolera is pretending he will be back in the shirt.
A 2-0 win over Aguilas Doradas, earned rather than given, and the sort of afternoon that sends everyone home talking about next week instead of this one.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Alianza Petrolera have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
The name of Gabriel Mujica has come up in conversations Alianza Petrolera were not part of. Nothing formal, nothing signed — but nothing about it accidental either.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Alianza Petrolera, and 2 appearances in 34 say he has earned the hearing.
A player who expected to start watched it instead. The manager will call it a decision for the team; Leonardo Muriel will call it something else in private.
A 1-0 win over Independiente Medellin, earned rather than given, and the sort of afternoon that sends everyone home talking about next week instead of this one.
He found out with everybody else, an hour before kick-off, from a sheet of paper on a wall. Nobody at Alianza Petrolera pretended it was anything other than a decision about him.
Whether it was the goalkeeper or the ten in front of him is the argument that will fill every conversation in town this week. 5 saves does not settle it either way.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Alianza Petrolera, and both men came out saying it was fine.
A season-long audition: Aguilas Doradas still own him, but the shirt and the minutes are Alianza Petrolera's to give. A loan is a bet both clubs believe they are winning.
A new face in his position, and Jhon Velásquez suddenly has to win back what he thought he owned. Alianza Petrolera have promised nothing — clubs rarely do at this stage.
Market26 Jul 2027
The window shut and Alfredo Lopez is still in the building
Alianza Petrolera spent a month trying to move him and nobody rang back. He trains with a squad that has told him where he stands, and both sides start counting down to the next one.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Alianza Petrolera, and 2 appearances in 30 say he has earned the hearing.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Alianza Petrolera can pretend not to have heard.
The fee is $120.0K, the contract is signed, and the argument about whether he is worth it can begin. Union Magdalena drove a hard bargain; time will say who won it.
The captaincy has been taken off Brian Torres. Alianza Petrolera will call it a decision about the team; a dressing room reads it as a verdict on a man.
A defender's mistake gets tidied up by somebody else; a goalkeeper's ends up in the net. He knew before the ball crossed the line, and so did everybody in the ground.
“The easiest signature of my career.” David Uribe and Alianza Petrolera agree another 3 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 8 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
The fee is $390.0K, the contract is signed, and the argument about whether he is worth it can begin. Cortulua drove a hard bargain; time will say who won it.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Alianza Petrolera, and 2 appearances in 26 say he has earned the hearing.
He wheeled away like a man who had been carrying it for months, because he had. Alianza Petrolera have their signing off the mark and one press-conference question retired.
He is 19, and nobody at Alianza Petrolera signed him for this season. Deals like this are judged in four years, by people who may not still be in the building.
“I want to win things, and I would like to do it here.” Nothing has been demanded and nothing has been threatened — but a boardroom at Alianza Petrolera hears a sentence like that exactly as it was built.
A defender's mistake gets tidied up by somebody else; a goalkeeper's ends up in the net. He knew before the ball crossed the line, and so did everybody in the ground.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Alianza Petrolera have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
A 1-0 win over Deportes Tolima, earned rather than given, and the sort of afternoon that sends everyone home talking about next week instead of this one.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Alianza Petrolera, and 2 appearances in 22 say he has earned the hearing.
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 10 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
A 3-1 win over Atletico Bucaramanga, earned rather than given, and the sort of afternoon that sends everyone home talking about next week instead of this one.
“I did not go to Santa Fe to sit and watch. I want to come back to Alianza Petrolera and fight for my place.” 1 appearances in 18 matches say the rest.
Aguilas Doradas will want this one forgotten quickly: 4-0, every duel lost, and a long ride home. Alianza Petrolera were ruthless in the way good sides are ruthless.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Alianza Petrolera, and 2 appearances in 10 say he has earned the hearing.
Shifted about, taken off before the hour, asked to do somebody else's running — David Lemos has had enough of being useful and would like to be picked. Alianza Petrolera know, and have known for weeks.
8 matches now without a victory, and the excuses have worn thinner than the patience. Somebody at Alianza Petrolera has to find a result from somewhere.
7 matches now without a victory, and the excuses have worn thinner than the patience. Somebody at Alianza Petrolera has to find a result from somewhere.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Edwin Arias and Alianza Petrolera agree another 4 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
1-4 to Independiente Medellin, and it was every bit as bad as the number suggests. There are defeats you argue about and defeats you apologise for; this was the second kind.
6 matches now without a victory, and the excuses have worn thinner than the patience. Somebody at Alianza Petrolera has to find a result from somewhere.
“I did not go to Santa Fe to sit and watch. I want to come back to Alianza Petrolera and fight for my place.” 0 appearances in 14 matches say the rest.
Beaten 4 times, with 3 saves for company. Goalkeepers carry these scorelines on their record whoever actually caused them, which is the quiet injustice of the job.
5 matches now without a victory, and the excuses have worn thinner than the patience. Somebody at Alianza Petrolera has to find a result from somewhere.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Alianza Petrolera, and 2 appearances in 6 say he has earned the hearing.
4 matches now without a victory, and the excuses have worn thinner than the patience. Somebody at Alianza Petrolera has to find a result from somewhere.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Alianza Petrolera, and both men came out saying it was fine.
He wheeled away like a man who had been carrying it for months, because he had. Alianza Petrolera have their signing off the mark and one press-conference question retired.
In brief
The terracesThe press cannot get enough of Andres Mina
A 1-0 win over America de Cali, earned rather than given, and the sort of afternoon that sends everyone home talking about next week instead of this one.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Andres Mina and Alianza Petrolera agree another 3 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
He wheeled away like a man who had been carrying it for months, because he had. Alianza Petrolera have their signing off the mark and one press-conference question retired.
“I have ambitions, and I would like the club to share them.” Nobody has asked to leave and nobody has been shown the door — but a player chooses that sentence carefully, and a boardroom hears it exactly as it was meant.
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 10 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Alianza Petrolera have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
The shirt still fits. Felipe Mejia is back at Alianza Petrolera, and half the ground remembers him in these colours already. Some signings need selling to the town; this one sold itself.
The shirt still fits. James Martinez is back at Alianza Petrolera, and half the ground remembers him in these colours already. Some signings need selling to the town; this one sold itself.
He left as a boy and has come back still knowing where the away end is. Most signings have to be explained to a town; this one needed a photograph and nothing else.
The shirt still fits. Oscar Palacios is back at Alianza Petrolera, and half the ground remembers him in these colours already. Some signings need selling to the town; this one sold itself.
The name of Julian Sinisterra has come up in conversations Alianza Petrolera were not part of. Nothing formal, nothing signed — but nothing about it accidental either.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Alianza Petrolera have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Alianza Petrolera can pretend not to have heard.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Alianza Petrolera, and both men came out saying it was fine.
A new face in his position, and Victor Martinez suddenly has to win back what he thought he owned. Alianza Petrolera have promised nothing — clubs rarely do at this stage.
In brief
MarketThe window shut and Jefferson Gomez is still in the building
$190.0K is a serious amount of money and it does not play centre-forward. Everybody in the dressing room knows who used to be looked at when it went wrong.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Hugo Medina and Alianza Petrolera agree another 4 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
John Tarazona is 19, and Alianza Petrolera have signed him for the player he will be rather than the one he is. The first team can wait; the point of a deal like this is the years it buys.
A new face in his position, and Victor Martinez suddenly has to win back what he thought he owned. Alianza Petrolera have promised nothing — clubs rarely do at this stage.
He found out with everybody else, an hour before kick-off, from a sheet of paper on a wall. Nobody at Alianza Petrolera pretended it was anything other than a decision about him.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Alianza Petrolera, and both men came out saying it was fine.
“I was told straight, and I would rather have it straight.” The manager at Alianza Petrolera has been clear about where Caio Moreira stands, which is more than many ever get.
He wheeled away like a man who had been carrying it for months, because he had. Alianza Petrolera have their signing off the mark and one press-conference question retired.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Alianza Petrolera have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
“I was told straight, and I would rather have it straight.” The manager at Alianza Petrolera has been clear about where Alfredo Lopez stands, which is more than many ever get.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Alianza Petrolera, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Public backing, and the sort that costs a manager something if it turns out to be wrong. Victor Martinez has been told in front of everybody that the shirt is his.
“I want to win things, and I would like to do it here.” Nothing has been demanded and nothing has been threatened — but a boardroom at Alianza Petrolera hears a sentence like that exactly as it was built.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Alianza Petrolera, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Public backing, and the sort that costs a manager something if it turns out to be wrong. Brian Torres has been told in front of everybody that the shirt is his.
Public backing, and the sort that costs a manager something if it turns out to be wrong. Julian Sinisterra has been told in front of everybody that the shirt is his.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Julian Sinisterra and Alianza Petrolera agree another 4 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
A defender's mistake gets tidied up by somebody else; a goalkeeper's ends up in the net. He knew before the ball crossed the line, and so did everybody in the ground.
A defender's mistake gets tidied up by somebody else; a goalkeeper's ends up in the net. He knew before the ball crossed the line, and so did everybody in the ground.
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 10 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Alianza Petrolera, and both men came out saying it was fine.
The competition arrived without a word said to him about it. Leonardo Muriel keeps the shirt for now, at Alianza Petrolera's convenience rather than his own.
In brief
The terracesThe press have found their man in Victor Martinez
A 2-1 win over Deportivo Pereira, earned rather than given, and the sort of afternoon that sends everyone home talking about next week instead of this one.
The crowd waited for a goal that never came. Patriotas defended in numbers and left with what they came for, and the two sides could be playing still without troubling a scorer.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Alianza Petrolera, and both men came out saying it was fine.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Alianza Petrolera can pretend not to have heard.
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 6 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
An error at the back is a moment; an error in goal is a goal. Manuel Zapata knows it, the crowd knew it instantly, and there was nobody behind him to make it anything else.
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 7 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.
The terraces3 Aug 2026
The boos come down from three sides
“We pay for this every fortnight. The least we want is somebody who looks like he cares.” 6 of the 25 senior players walked off into it; the rest were not playing.
The name of Leonardo Muriel has come up in conversations Alianza Petrolera were not part of. Nothing formal, nothing signed — but nothing about it accidental either.
“I want to win things, and I would like to do it here.” Nothing has been demanded and nothing has been threatened — but a boardroom at Alianza Petrolera hears a sentence like that exactly as it was built.