Riding High

Cucuta Deportivo's coach Jorge Luis Pinto, center, was carried off the field by his players after winning the Colombian championship in Ibague, Colombia. Yesterday's draw against Tolima secured the club's first ever Primera A title, not bad for only having just won promotion from the second division in 2005.

This will surely have been bittersweet for Pinto as he now leaves club soccer behind to take over the Colombian national team at the beginning of the year. Let's hope some of this Cucuta magic rubs off onto Pinto's new team.

In other Colombian news, the president of Brazil's FA has responded to the news that they would be having some competition in their bid to host the 2014 World Cup. Ricardo Teixeira had this to say to Sao Paulo newspaper O Estado:

"Let them come in with a bid. They have every right to to join the discussion. We will take our next step in January when FIFA sends us a calendar with deadlines concerning the bid. As far as government assistance goes, I don't want it. We will do all of it through private financing, except of course any improvements needed to roads and infrastructure."

I have my doubts about that last line. If you've seen today's news, you'd have to say that Colombia's chances of hosting are closer to none than slim. All will be known next November when FIFA is slated to make it's final decision.

Cucuta make history by winning Colombia title [The Guardian]
Colombians bid for 2014 World Cup [CNN]
Brazil Backed To Stage 2014 World Cup [Sportinglife]

-ac