Palmeiras and Independiente Petrolero face off in a duel of women presidents

When the ball landed on top scorer Martín Prost’s feet, Jenny Montaño rose to her feet. It was “now or never”, she recalls. In the 52nd minute of the second half, it was the last move of the match against Guabirá, away from home, at the Gilberto Parada stadium.

The 2-2 draw did not serve him in the last round of the Bolivian Championship. Independiente Petrolero needed one more goal to be champion of the country’s elite for the first time in its history.

Shirt 9’s kick was weak, towards the goalkeeper. Jenny even withered before seeing midfielder Juan Godoy complete the move with his knee. The visiting fans exploded. The 38-year-old businesswoman and politician was among them. It was an unforgettable moment, she says.

“It was indescribable. Nobody thought we could be champions. It’s not normal for a team that came out of the second division to fight for the title like that. It was the moment to show what we could conquer as a football club and as managers”, said the president, who took over the command of the association in December 2019.

This Tuesday (12), Independiente Petrolero will play an unprecedented game as a visitor in the Copa Libertadores. Face Palmeiras, at 9:30 pm, at Allianz Parque, broadcast by SBT and ESPN. The team had never played in the continental competition.

It will be the first time in the history of the tournament, in its group stage, that two teams chaired by women face each other. Alviverde’s representative is businesswoman Leila Pereira.

“It’s been an incredible experience, but it’s nothing new. I’ve held other positions before. It’s difficult because there are always financial issues. But I’m passionate about this club. It works because we work with organization. We do the most with the least”, explains Jenny. , who does not give much importance to being a woman in football. She believes this will be increasingly common.

Before being elected, she had already been the treasurer and general secretary of Independiente. Graduated in biochemistry, she owns a pharmacy and is a partner in a catering company. She was elected political adviser, a legislative post, from Sucre (500 km from La Paz) by the Comunidad Ciudadana, a left-wing party front.

The connection with Independiente Petrolero predates the positions as director. Her father, Abelardo, took her by the hand to watch the team’s matches when she was a child. Jenny is married to Manuel Grass, brother of Juan Carlos Grass, who played for the club in the 1990s.

When she assumed the presidency, Independiente were in the second division and had not reached the elite for 17 years. He got access in 2020 and in his first season in the country’s major league was champion with dramatic touches.

The title was so unexpected that it even caught the FBF (Bolivian Football Federation) in short pants. There was no top hat from the entity to deliver the trophy and medals to the winner. The responsibility was left to Rubén Soares, FBF driver, and Doriam Montero, match inspector.

“The classification for Libertadores gives us greater economic tranquility than in previous years. We cannot fight with other clubs in terms of salaries, but we are managing to balance the club”, analyzes the president.

There was a concern not to hire expensive athletes before the start of the international competition. The main reinforcement was the Argentine (and ex-Palmeiras) Cristaldo, author of the goal in the 1-1 draw with Emelec in the debut.

For participation in the group stage, Conmebol will pay US$ 3 million (R$ 14 million). Independiente’s payroll is US$ 85,000 per month (R$ 399,000). According to Jenny, teams like The Strongest and Always Ready spend that with just one player. Palmeiras’ budget is around R$30 million.

“Everything is a process to get as far as this club can. We are not in a hurry. We need to increase the collection because what we receive from sponsorship of television rights is not enough”, says the top hat.

Not that she always has much patience. Bolivian football leaders have already realized how explosive Jenny Montaño can be. After a disallowed goal by Independiente against Always Ready in the first round of the Apertura tournament this year, she attacked referee Ivo Méndez and the entire structure of the local league.

“We will ask him not to referee our matches anymore. We know he is an Always Ready fan. We will refuse all Bolivian referees because they are being manipulated. If we have to pay a lot of money to bring referees from abroad, let’s do it”, he enraged.

The following day, Independiente’s social media accounts published a retraction of Jenny Montaño.