For over 35 years, Hernán Arango, better known as Chapo has shaped the girls’ soccer program with patience, passion, and a strong dedication to his players’ growth both on and off the field.
Hernán Arango has dedicated his life to the sport he loves,soccer. He studied Physical Education at the Universidad de Antioquia with Urbano Mesa and joined the university’s soccer team. Since that point on, he has dedicated his life to instilling the values of unity, respect, and determination to all his students.
“Chapo como persona, es primero que todo, un ser humano espectacular, es muy cálido, muy servicial, muy amoroso, es muy leal,” Urbano Mesa, Physical Education teacher and Coach, said.
Not only is he an integral person, but according to many of his colleagues, students, and players, he acts as a father figure, always looking to protect and teach others how to be the better version of themselves.
“Él tiene un rol de maestro, entrenador y un papá. Para nadie es un secreto que Chapo, tanto para mí como entrenador, como para todas las niñas que han pasado desde sus inicios en el colegio, hace 35, 36 años, él ha sido un papá para ellas, tanto para nosotros. Eso lo hace único,” Kevin Lopez, Soccer Coach, said.
Mesa, who met Arango over 45 years ago at the Universidad de Antioquia, has spent countless years by his side, as both a friend and coworker, collecting unforgettable memories along the way. One of the many stories Mesa recalls with a laugh happened during a men’s soccer final at Club Campestre.
“Faltaban dos minutos para acabarse y el que entregaba la premiación, el organizador, se tenía que ir, entonces nos entregó a Chapo y a mí el trofeo y las medallas. Al minuto nos metieron el 2-1 y al otro minuto nos empataron, fuimos a penaltis y perdimos. En ese momento le tuvimos que entregar la premiación que ya nos habían entregado a nosotros al otro equipo.”
While coaches are often associated with harshness and intensity, Arango is remembered just as much for his patience, a trait that truly sets him apart.
“What makes him unique is the patience he has for teaching us. Other coaches would be yelling at us or kicking people off the team, but Chapo is really patient,” Candelaria Molano, 11th grader, said.
His approach to coaching creates an environment where players, even new ones that don’t know how to kick a ball, feel supported rather than judged, allowing them to grow very fast both technically and emotionally.
“Chapo’s coaching style has impacted my experience on the team because he makes it really fun and makes everyone feel comfortable in the training space,” Manuela Harry, 10th grader, said.
Furthermore, he knows how to communicate with his players, especially when they are making a mistake or need words of encouragement.
“Chapo is a coach that has a very good training style because he’s not mean, but he always tells you what you’re doing well and what you’re doing wrong, so you’re always able to know what to improve,” Manuela Villa, 12th grader, said.
Despite the fact that no one likes losing, Arango cares more about keeping the team a family. After every game, he reminds his team that a game doesn’t define them and if anything, the score is his fault since he’s the coach, not each other’s.
“In difference to the other coaches I’ve had, he doesn’t care about the result. Other coaches want to win, but Chapo doesn’t want to win, he wants the team to be united,” Villa said.
Two years ago, the girls’ soccer team played binationals in Pereira and ended in 5th place. Nonetheless, the bond between the team was strong, and that loss didn’t prevent them from having fun and creating memorable experiences.
“I think my favorite moment with Chapo was binationals in general. We had a lot of fun and we laughed a lot because we played a great tournament, but at the same time, we had a lot of memories as a team,” Molano said.
In addition, to show the importance of teamwork, he does an exercise with his team every year before binationals to prove that one player alone can’t win a game, everyone needs to sacrifice and play their part.
“First he put the two oldest teammates to try and lift a bench that was really heavy and it couldn’t be possible, but when we all did it together we could lift it and move it,” Molano said.
Beyond the field, Arango teaches lessons that extend into everyday life not only to his students and players but to everyone he interacts with.
“Todos los días que nos sentamos a hablar de fútbol, de Colombia, del colegio, del mundo, de Europa. Todos los días son lecciones nuevas. Y todos los días me queda más claro de que el fútbol se juega con mucho amor y con mucha pasión. Y eso me lo ha inculcado él demasiado,” Lopez, said.
Many of his players say that the biggest lesson they’ve learned from Arango and the sport is to give it their all.
“He never lets me give up, and he’s always there for me if I need something,” Harry, said.
In this note, he has a phrase that he constantly repeats which gave the girls’ team its name: FRITANGA.
“I learned that we have to always play with all of our strength. He has a phrase that is what Fritanga means: ‘jugar con el corazón y tripas,’ and that has always marked me,” Villa said.
Mesa emphasizes how Arango coaches athletes to be strong of mind and build resistance. He has seen how the girls’ soccer team fights until the end, often going to penalties.
“Cantidad de veces con su equipo femenino se fue a penaltis y, a pesar de que al principio perdía mucho, siguió trabajando y después salió exitoso en ese aspecto. Entonces la resiliencia es uno de los valores que nos deja como enseñanza Chapo en el colegio,” Mesa said.
Furthermore, another phrase that embodies his principles is to never leave a “sí hubiera.” This means leaving every game with no regrets.
“Every time that he’s talking to us before our game, he has a very, like, powerful phrase that he says, and I think that that phrase, like, helps me, motivates me, and makes me feel, like, strong,” Harry said.
Despite retiring soon, his influence at TCS and the legacy he is leaving behind in girls’ soccer is one that will last forever in the minds of everyone he has worked with, coached, and taught.
“Su influencia en el fútbol femenino, en el colegio, ese es el legado que perdurará por siempre. Tanto que todos los días le digo, Hernán, Chapo, Chapito, todavía no es hora, todavía no es hora. Disfrutemos más estas niñas, viéndolas crecer, viéndolas jugar, viéndolas regalarnos alegrías. Y apenas es que sonríe,” Lopez, said.