The possible appointment of José María Bazán as the new assistant coach of the Colombia national team is generating debate. The Argentine, 54 years old, would be the chosen one by Néstor Lorenzo to occupy the place left by Amaranto Perea, who took over as coach of Independiente Medellín.
Since last Tuesday, Bazán's name has been related to the technical staff of the Tricolor. Although the Colombian Football Federation has not yet officially confirmed his arrival, everything points to him working closely with Lorenzo in this new stage of the national team.
The decision, however, has not gone unnoticed. One of the voices that referred to the matter was Carlos Pibe Valderrama, who in Win Sports made it clear that he would have liked an alternative different to accompany the Argentine coach.
For the historic ex-player of the national team, having a Colombian assistant who knows firsthand the processes and particularities of the national football would have been an advantage for the team.
“I would have liked Colombians in the technical staff of the national team, but we were cut off from water and light over there. We are all outside, I don't know why”, Valderrama said.
Despite his stance, the Pibe also acknowledged that the choice of a member of the technical staff responds, to a large extent, to the trust that exists between the coaches and their collaborators.
“Each coach has his friends, I've always been taught that way and that's how it is. He's doing that”, added the ex-footballer, referring to Lorenzo.
Bazán's arrival would take place at an important moment for the Colombia national team. After Perea's departure, Lorenzo needs to reorganize his working group while starting to prepare the next stage of the national team.
Colombia will meet again soon to face their friendly matches in September and October, matches that will serve to evaluate players and start to define new alternatives for the next challenges.
In this context, the new assistant will have little time to adapt to the group and start working alongside Lorenzo. While the Federation prepares the officialization of his arrival, the debate is already installed: was it better to bet again on a Colombian who knew the national football from the inside or to maintain confidence in the circle close to the coach?
The Pibe, for now, has a clear answer.
