Associação Atlética Ponte Preta

Associação Atlética Ponte Preta (Portuguese pronunciation: [ɐsosjɐˈsɐ̃w ɐˈtlɛtʃikɐ ˈpõtʃi ˈpɾetɐ]), commonly referred to as simply Ponte Preta, is a Brazilian association football club in Campinas, São Paulo. They currently play in the Série B, the second tier of Brazilian football, as well as in the Campeonato Paulista Série A2, the second tier of the São Paulo state football league, which became champions in 2023.

Ponte Preta
Associação Atlética Ponte Preta logo
Full nameAssociação Atlética Ponte Preta
Nickname(s)Ponte
Macaca (Female Monkey)
Alvinegra de Campinas (Campinas' White & Black)
A Veterana (The Veteran)
FoundedAugust 11, 1900; 123 years ago (1900-08-11)
GroundMoisés Lucarelli
Capacity19,722
PresidentMarco Antonio Eberlin
Head coachJoão Brigatti
LeagueCampeonato Brasileiro Série B
Campeonato Paulista
2022
2023
Série B, 12th of 20
Paulista Série A2, 1st of 16 (champions)
WebsiteClub website
Estádio Moisés Lucarelli

Ponte Preta is also known as Macaca. Ponte Preta's biggest rival is from the same city, Guarani, against whom matches are known as derby campineiro (dérbi campineiro in Portuguese). They are known as "pontepretanos". Ponte Preta is the second oldest football team established in Brazil still in activity, founded on August 11, 1900, the oldest being Sport Club Rio Grande, of Rio Grande do Sul.

History edit

Ponte Preta was founded on August 11, 1900, by Colégio Culto à Ciência students Miguel do Carmo (nicknamed "Migué"), Luiz Garibaldi Burghi, (nicknamed "Gigette") and Antonio de Oliveira (nicknamed "Tonico Campeão"), nearby a black painted wood railroad bridge, so the name Ponte Preta (which means "black bridge", in English). Ponte Preta's first president was Pedro Vieira da Silva.

The team's history is directly intertwined with the railroad business that was flourishing in its city of Campinas. Most of the people involved with the foundation of the team were residents of the working-class neighbourhood by the railroad. One of the team's first nicknames was the "Train of August 11th". Ponte's stadium, the Estádio Moisés Lucarelli, is located right by the railroad in a way where it is possible to see it when inside the stadium, and according to the fans, when the train passes by during a game, it is a sign of good luck to come for the team.

Ponte Preta is recognized, by FIFA, as one of the first teams in the Americas to accept black players, since its foundation in 1900. The club claims to be the first football team ever to have a black player in their roster, that player being the before mentioned Miguel do Carmo, who was part of their first squad.[1] It is also the first countryside team to play a national competition, in 1970.

Pelé's last match in Brazil was against Ponte Preta. On September 2, 1974, at Vila Belmiro stadium, Santos defeated Ponte Preta 2–0.

Ponte Preta lost the Campeonato Paulista final to Corinthians in 1977 in a controversial game that ended in a 2–1 final score.[citation needed] Rui Rey, an important piece of the Ponte Preta team, was shown a red card early in the game. Ponte Preta were considered the favorites for the championship that year.

On November 27, 2013, at the Romildo Ferreira stadium, Ponte Preta reached the 2013 Sudamericana final by defeating São Paulo (4–2 on aggregate) in the semi-finals. It was a historical time for the club, which was playing its first international cup. The final was against Lanús, a Traditional Argentine team, with Ponte Preta finishing as runner-up.

Honours edit

Continental edit

National edit

State edit

Youth team edit

Achievements time line edit

  • 1912: Champions – Liga Campineira de Futebol
  • 1928: ChampionsCampeonato Paulista da Divisão Principal – 2º quadro (L.A.F.)
  • 1929: Champions – Campeonato Paulista da Divisão Principal – 2º quadro (L.A.F.)
  • 1951: Champions – State Amateur Championship (45 games unbeaten)
  • 1969: Champions – Campeonato Paulista – Divisão de Accesso
  • 1970: Runner-up Campeonato Paulista
  • 1977: Runner-up Campeonato Paulista
  • 1979: Runner-up Campeonato Paulista
  • 1981: Champions – Campeonato Paulista Championship First Stage
  • 1981: Runner-up – Campeonato Paulista
  • 1981: Third placed – Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
  • 1981: ChampionsCopa São Paulo de Juniores
  • 1982: Champions – Copa São Paulo de Juniores
  • 1991: Champions – Campeonato Paulista de Aspirantes

Stadium edit

Ponte Preta's stadium is Estádio Moisés Lucarelli, also known as "Majestoso", or "Estádio Majestoso" (Portuguese for Majestic Stadium), built in 1948, by its own fan's material and work.

Its maximum capacity is of 19,722 people, nowadays. The biggest public in it was in a State's Championship in 1970, against Santos, with an official public of 33,000, but it is said that there were about 40,000 people, as the gates were broken down.

Its nickname is "Majestoso", meaning the "Majestic One" because it was the third largest stadium in Brazil at the time of its inauguration (only smaller than Pacaembu, in São Paulo and São Januário, in Rio de Janeiro).

In Majestoso's entrance hall there is a bust of the stadium's founder, Moisés Lucarelli (after whom the venue is named) facing the outside. In 2000, after a long series of defeats some superstitious fans argued that the founder ought to see the team playing and the bust was rotated 180 degrees. As the team's performance did not improve noticeably, the statue was put back in its original position.[citation needed]

Supporters edit

Ponte Preta supporters are known as "pontepretanos". A club from Maceió, Alagoas, adopted a similar name and colors as the Campinas club. There is a Norwegian futsal club named after Ponte Preta.[2]

Rivalry edit

Associação Atlética Ponte Preta's biggest rival is from the same city: Guarani. The games between Ponte Preta and Guarani, known as derby (dérbi in Portuguese), are usually preceded by a week of tension, provocations and also fights in the city of Campinas.

It is a centenary rivalry (the first being held on March 24, 1912), the greatest in Brazil's countryside and one of the most intense in the whole country.

Symbols edit

The club's mascot is a female monkey (Macaca) wearing Ponte Preta's home kit. It was initially intended as a derogatory term, reflecting the racism against the club (one of the first Brazilian teams to accept blacks, having been even refused participation in championships due to this) and its fans. This co-option of a derogatory term as team mascot was copied by Palmeiras fans, who adopted the pig as their mascot instead of taking offense from it, and other teams.

Ultras edit

Placar magazine's Silver Ball Prize winners while playing on Ponte Preta edit

Basketball edit

Ponte Preta had one of the most powerful teams in the history of Brazilian female Basketball during the early 1990s, winning the World Club Championship twice.[3]

Current squad edit

As of 19 October 2023

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   BRA Pedro Rocha
2 DF   BRA Maílton (on loan from Metalist Kharkiv)
3 DF   BRA Edson
4 DF   BRA Mateus Silva
5 MF   BRA Léo Naldi
6 DF   BRA Felipinho
8 MF   BRA Felipe Amaral
9 FW   BRA Eliel
10 MF   BRA Élvis
11 FW   BRA Pablo Dyego
12 GK   BRA Caíque França
13 DF   BRA Thiago Oliveira
14 MF   BRA Luiz Felipe (on loan from Tapajós)
15 DF   BRA Artur
16 DF   BRA Jean Carlos
19 FW   BRA Jeh
22 DF   BRA Júnior Tavares
23 DF   BRA Weverton (on loan from Red Bull Bragantino)
27 DF   BRA Fábio Sanches
No. Pos. Nation Player
30 GK   BRA Luan
32 MF   BRA Wesley Fraga
40 MF   BRA Ramon Carvalho (on loan from Atlético Goianiense)
77 FW   BRA Igor Torres (on loan from Fortaleza)
DF   BRA Castro
DF   BRA Thomás (on loan from Audax Rio)
MF   BRA Henrique Caivano
MF   BRA Lucas Nathan
MF   BRA Samuel (on loan from XV de Piracicaba)
MF   BRA Souza (on loan from Náutico)
MF   BRA Yuri
FW   BRA Paulo Baya (on loan from Primavera)
FW   BRA Everton
FW   BRA Matheus Galdino
FW   BRA Léo Reis
FW   BRA Tales
FW   BRA Gabriel Venâncio
FW   COL Paul Villero

Head coaches edit

See also edit

References edit

Websites edit

  1. ^ "Folha de S.Paulo – Clube quer que Fifa reconheça "democracia" – 12/12/2010". www1.folha.uol.com.br. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  2. ^ "Ponte Preta Norway". Indoor Football. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Ponte Preta Official Website Archived December 21, 2009, at the Wayback Machine

Books edit

  1. O Início de uma Paixão: a fundação e os primeiros anos da Associação Atlética Ponte Preta, José Moraes dos Santos Neto, Editora Komedi, 2000
  2. História da Associação Atlética Ponte Preta, em sete volumes: 1900–2000, Sérgio Rossi, R. Vieira Gráfica, 2001

External links edit