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 six of Passion and Pride: Cerro Porteño. Where “Doña” Susana” is recognised as the first woman to found a professional football club in Paraguay!
Founding of Cerro Porteño
Cerro Porteño has won 34 Primera División titles, making it Paraguay’s second-most successful club. Cerro was founded in 1912 in the Obrero neighbourhood of Asunción. The club’s establishment is credited to Susana Núñez, who played a pivotal role alongside a group of young people, including her four sons – Nicanor, Antonio, Pastor and Abelardo.
Núñez, often affectionately called Doña Susana, hosted the founding meeting at her home. She is often described as the Madrina (Godmother) of the group and is recognised as the first woman to found a professional football club in Paraguay!
Political Tension
The club’s red and blue kit sparked a legend that Doña Susana chose the colours after seeing them in a laundry basket. Though it is more likely that Cerro adopted these colours from Paraguay’s Liberal and Colorado parties, symbolising unity during a time of political tension in the country. Later, white was incorporated into the shorts to include all the colours of the Paraguayan flag.
Club del Pueblo
Cerro Porteño is nicknamed “The People’s Club” due to its deep connection with working-class and rural communities, creating one of the largest fan bases in the country. Unlike many other clubs established in the early 1900s, Cerro was not tied to elite or middle-class groups. The club became a symbol of the common people, particularly labourers, farmers, and market workers.
The nickname El Ciclón de Barrio Obrero (The Cyclone of Barrio Obrero) also became popular in the club’s early years, owing to Cerro’s remarkable ability to turn matches around, often coming from behind.
Olimpia vs Cerro Porteño: El Superclásico
Cerro’s stadium Estadio General Pablo Rojas, also known as La Nueva Olla (The New Pot) due to its shape, is still located in Asunción’s Obrero neighbourhood. With a seating capacity of 45,000, it is the largest stadium in Paraguay. Cerro Porteño shares a fierce rivalry with Paraguay’s record champions, Olimpia. In El Superclásico, one of South America’s most intense derbies, Asunción divides into red-and-blue and black-and-white camps. Since the first edition in July 1913, this intense match has been played more than 350 times.
Coming Up… In part seven of Passion and Pride, we spotlight Sportivo Trinidense, the football club that has a rock star as its president.
To read the previous episode about Club Sportivo 2 de Mayo, you can click here.
