The province of Puntarenas on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast has a rich history in national football. And at the center of that history is the Puntarenas F.C, a team with a star that has illuminated Costa Rican football and given pride to the region’s people.
The Puntarenas F.C has a brief but impressive record, with its first season in the first division in 2004, ending in the 10th position in the general table. However, in the 2005-2006 season, they achieved their first national sub-championship and later won the UNCAF championship by beating Olimpia from Honduras.
After that success, they participated in the CONCACAF tournament and faced the MLS champion of the United States, the Houston Dynamo team. In the first meeting, the Costa Rican team won 1-0, but in the return game, the Dynamo turned the score 2-0, knocking Puntarenas out of the tournament.
The year 2009 started tragically for the team when their president, Adrián Castro, died unexpectedly. The interim president, Víctor Herrera, took over, but it wasn’t until Alejandra Ordoñez assumed the presidency that the team’s fortunes improved.
Under Ordoñez, Puntarenas F.C experienced a highly satisfying 2009 winter season. The team inaugurated the best lighting in Central America at their home stadium, the Miguel “Lito” Pérez Stadium in Puntarenas, in the first leg of the 2009 Winter Championship quarterfinals. They won that game 2-1 against Club Sport Cartaginés, and although the second leg was tied at the last minute, they advanced to the semifinals against Club Sport Herediano.
In the semifinal, the team overcame a score of 0-1 in the first leg and won the second leg 3-1, allowing them an important advantage in the series. In the final, they faced Bruges, but despite being much superior in both games, the team couldn’t score at home and ended up losing in the penalty shootout, earning their second sub-championship.
The legacy of Puntarenas F.C goes beyond the pitch, as the team has been a source of pride and inspiration for the people of the province. Even after a short history, the team has made a name for itself and won the hearts of many football fans in Costa Rica.
As the new season begins, Puntarenas F.C’s supporters are filled with optimism and hope for another successful run. The team has a renewed payroll and is fully committed to the institution, determined to give back the identity, joy, and football that has characterized them. And as the famous phrase of their beloved president, Adrián Castro, resonates more than ever in their hearts, they know that everything will be fine.
