The brilliant performances of Freddy Rincón with the National Team, including the goal he scored against Germany on June 19, 1990 at the World Cup in Italy, made the midfielder enter the hearts of Colombians.
His gambeta and celebration against the world champions in the 1-1 draw, in one of the most important feats of Creole football, were marked in the memory of the fans and became a benchmark for the lanky midfielder.
The idol who brought so many joys, today generates sadness throughout the country, and abroad, because a car accident has him admitted to a clinic in Cali “in critical condition”, fighting for his life.
With prayers, his friends and followers hope that the “Colossus” of Buenaventura, as the former soccer player is known, can recover.
The midfielder who played three World Cups with the Tricolor and who played for clubs such as América, Real Madrid and Cornthians, among others, is hospitalized at the Imbanaco clinic in Cali, located five blocks from the accident site.
“Freddy Eusebio underwent surgery, a surgery that lasted two hours and 45 minutes, and was later transferred to the Intensive Care Unit. His condition, taking into account the very delicate findings made in the intervention, is very critical, his prognosis is reserved, for this reason we will continue to make all the necessary efforts to care for him, “said doctor Laureano Quintero, director of Imbanaco in his report of this Monday afternoon.
Similarly, people close to the former player have commented that Rincón is still intubated, in an induced coma until this Tuesday, when the doctors will try to wake him up to see his reaction.
The accident
The Cali Transit authorities announced that they are carrying out the investigation to establish the circumstances of the event that occurred in the early hours of Monday. It is not clear whether the former soccer player was at the wheel or co-driver.
“What we know is that at 4:30 in the morning, at the height of Calle Quinta with Carrera 34, there was a collision between a car and a bus (MIO feeder – mass transit of Cali-), which left five people injured, one of them Freddy Rincón and the bus driver who underwent a breathalyzer test and it came out negative,” said Edwin Candelo, Undersecretary of Mobility.
According to the newspaper El País, the other people involved in the accident are recovering in different health centers in Cali. It adds that the two women who were with Rincón, María Manuela Mejía, 20, and Diana Lorena Cortés, 43, were taken to the Colombia Clinic.
After learning of Rincón’s accident and diagnosis, the Federation and several colleagues of the former soccer player who now works as a commentator for the Win television channel, sent messages of solidarity, asking to pray for his recovery.
One of those who reacted was Jorge Hernán “Patrón” Bermúdez: “It is not the best of days, there is a lot of concern since I learned the information and with the passing of the hours, but we place Freddy’s health in God’s hands, who He has always been a strong man, with an impressive physique. I am sure that the Colombian people love him, he is someone unforgettable for everyone, and we want him to be with us for many years.”
Hamilton Richard, one of the first to arrive at the medical center, asked for prayers for Rincón’s recovery. “Freddy’s state of health is delicate, but we are united, praying and trusting the doctors so that God helps him and can make him get ahead.”
This Monday morning was Rincón’s second car accident, since in 2013 he was also serious after losing control of his vehicle on the Buga-Andalusia road.
The midfielder born in Buenaventura on August 14, 1966, debuted as a professional in 1986 with Santa Fe. He was part of the golden generation that qualified Colombia for three consecutive World Cups (Italy 1990, United States 1994 and France 1998), along with others historical figures such as Carlos “El Pibe” Valderrama, Leonel Álvarez, Andrés Escobar and Luis Fernando el “Chonto” Herrera, among others.
He is remembered for scoring the goal of the 1-1 draw against Germany in the 1990 World Cup. Similarly, he was the protagonist in the rout that Colombia gave Argentina, 5-0 in the 1994 United States World Cup Qualifiers, being the architect of two goals (the first and the third). He played 675 official matches (84 with the National Team) and scored 169 goals.
UP AND DOWN ABROAD
In August 1995 he was signed by Real Madrid, after achieving a brilliant season with Napoli and after arriving in Italy from Palmeiras in Brazil.
With the merengue team he played 21 games (14 of those appearances were in the League, one in the Copa del Rey, two in the Spanish Super Cup and four more in the Champions League). After that he returned to Brazil, he signed for Corinthians where he was an idol, he obtained among other titles the first FIFA Club World Cup as captain and key man of the São Paulo club.
After his retirement he dedicated himself to technical management and worked as an assistant, among others, to Jorge Luis Pinto at Millonarios and Vanderlei Luxemburg at Atlético Mineiro. In 2007 he was linked to a judicial process accused of figurehead and links to drug trafficking.
