Welcome to our exciting series Passion and Pride, where we dive into the heart of Paraguayan football, spotlighting the 12 teams of the Primera División. In each episode, we will introduce you to one club, uncovering their rich histories, fierce rivalries and special moments that have shaped Paraguay’s top league. In part three of Passion and Pride: Guaraní, club of warriors.
The Founding Of Club Guaraní
Club Guaraní, founded in 1903, is the second-oldest football club in Paraguay and is named after the Guaraní people, the indigenous inhabitants of the region that is now Paraguay. For fans and players alike, “El Aborigen” (The Indigenous), or “El Legendario”(The Legendary) embodies a sense of tradition, connecting the club to the warrior-like qualities historically associated with the Guaraní people.
The very meaning of “Guaraní” translates to “warrior” in the Tupi-Guaraní dialect. This nickname resonates deeply with the club’s supporters, known as “La Raza Aurinegra,” who see themselves as part of a legacy that predates and transcends modern football. “La Raza Aurinegra” means “The Gold and Black Breed,” tributing the background of the Guaraní supporter, being a mixture of Spanish and Aboriginal descent.
A Citywide Shortage
Based in the Pinozá neighbourhood of outer Asunción, Club Guaraní’s stadium, Estadio Rogelio Livieres, is the home for its fans who dress in the club colours black and yellow – inspired by the Uruguayan football club Peñarol. During the 2010 title celebration, one of the club’s eleven national championships, fans flooded Asunción with black-and-yellow flags, reportedly causing a citywide shortage of those colours in stores!
Storming Off
Club Guaraní, in 1906 the first ever football champion of Paraguay, boasts a historic rivalry with record champion Olimpia, called the “Clásico Añejo” (Oldest Derby). In its early days, a derby match against the rival ended in chaos when Olimpia’s Lucio ‘Cayo’ Sila Godoy, who reportedly owned the only ball used in the match, stormed off with it to stop a penalty kick. Leaving the game unresolved.
Club Guaraní Unfortunate Fire
In a 1920’s fire, Club Guaraní lost its founding documents, leaving its exact history a bit of a mystery that fans enjoy debating. Fires were not uncommon at that time in Asunción, a city with many wooden structures and limited firefighting infrastructure. Though it’s plausible that the fire was accidental, some fans speculate about more dramatic causes, like arson tied to rivalries or political tension, but there’s no concrete evidence to support these theories.
You can follow Club Guaraní on Instagram here.
Coming up In part four of Passion and Pride we spotlight Atlético Tembetary, nickamed “Los Rojiverdes”: The Red-Greens. This club has led a nomadic existence and bravely made it back to the Primera División after a 27-year absence!
To read the previous episode about Libertad, you can click here.
