Football Trophy Guarantor

COKORDA YUDISTIRA

Alessandro Stefano "Teco" Cugurra Rodrigues

Stefano “Teco” Cugurra. 47, is the new face of Indonesia’s football domination. Teco guarantees trophies for the clubs he manages. Three League 1 titles in three consecutive seasons for two different teams is proof of the “lucky hands” of the tactician born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Bali United won its second successive title in the 2021-2022 BRI League 1. This affirmed the new era in Indonesia’s football history that Stefano “Teco” Cugurra had carved out. Under him, the “Tridatu Warriors” (Bali United’s nickname) became the first team to win the league title in successive seasons since the Indonesia League started with its inaugural 1994-1995 season. He also led the Tridatu Warriors to record the highest League 1 points since 2017. Teco, too, presented Bali with its first championship title in 2019.

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Just a year earlier in 2018, Teco had been the one to end Persija Jakarta’s 17-year wait to reclaim its League 1 crown. That same year, Teco founded the Kemayoran Tigers as one of the dominant football teams in Indonesia as well as Southeast Asia. Before grabbing the League 1 trophy, Persija won the President’s Cup 2018 and the Piala Boost Sports Super Fix 2018 preseason tournament in Malaysia. Also participating in the preseason tournament were Malaysia’s Kelantan FA and Thailand’s Ratchaburi Mitr Phol.

Persija also became the highest-ranking Indonesian team in the 2018 AFC Cup. Also that year, Teco led Persija to the semifinals of the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Championship before they were eliminated by Home United, the Singaporean team that eventually won the 2018 AFF Championship.

He won two Division One champion titles in 2003 and 2006 as well as the Indonesian League 2004 title for the football-supporting public of Surabaya, East Java.

As the assistant coach of Persebaya Surabaya from 2003 to 2007, Teco helped the “Green Crocodiles” become achievers. He won two Division One champion titles in 2003 and 2006 as well as the Indonesian League 2004 title for the football-supporting public of Surabaya, East Java.

“In total, I have secured eight cups for three Indonesian clubs. All the champion titles have their own significance, so I feel very happy with the achievements,” Teco told a virtual interview with Kompas on Tuesday (5/4/2022).

Conquering Asia

Teco is not yet satisfied with leading Bali United to become the reigning Indonesian champion of two successive seasons. The man who started his career as the coach of Kuala Muda Naza, a Malaysian club, has a strong ambition to assist Bali in conquering Asia.

During his first stint managing Bali at the 2020 AFC Cup, the Tridatu Warriors were only able to play three matches before the tournament was canceled because of Covid-19. Over the three games it played, Bali ranked fourth with an overall score of 3 points.

KOMPAS/COKORDA YUDISTIRA

Alessandro Stefano Cugurra "Teco" Rodrigues

“I have a goal to bring Bali’s achievements to fruition at this year’s AFC Cup. The achievement of leading Persija to the [AFF Championship] semifinals is my motivation,” said coach Teco, who has worked with three leagues in Southeast Asia, namely Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.

Bali is entering its third season representing Indonesia in the AFC Cup, the second-tier Asian competition. On its debut in 2018, Bali ranked the lowest among Group C teams for gaining just 5 points over six matches. The Tridatu Warriors lost to Yangon United (Myanmar), Global Cebu (Philippines) and Thanh Hoa (Vietnam).

Bali has a big opportunity to improve its results in the 2022 AFC Cup. The Tridatu Warriors are hosting the matches of Group G, which comprises Kaya Iloilo (Philippines), Kedah Darul Aman (Malaysia) and Visakha (Cambodia).

The ASEAN matches of AFC Cup 2022 will be held from 24 to 30 June, so Bali still has around 2.5 months to prepare.

His high ambitions for Bali in Asia reaffirms Teco’s commitment to the club based at Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium, Gianyar. He is committed to honoring his contract with Bali United, which expires at the end of 2022.

“When the Indonesian competitions were halted [in 2020], several [overseas] teams contacted me. However, I remain committed to Bali. We even implemented a training program in February 2021, when the [League 1] competitions were still unclear,” said Teco, who will mark his 48th birthday on 25 July 2022.

Brazilian connection

Teco first came to Indonesia after accepting an offer from Jacksen F. Tiago, the Persebaya coach, to be the team’s physical trainer in 2003. Besides providing physical training, Teco accompanied Jacksen as his assistant coach until 2005.

He kept his role and worked together with another tactician from Brazil, Gildo Rodrigues, his father, who arrived at the end of 2006.

When Jacksen left Persebaya for Persita Tangerang, Teco remained with the team of the “City of Heroes”. He kept his role and worked together with another tactician from Brazil, Gildo Rodrigues, his father, who arrived at the end of 2006.

The son-father collaboration lasted just three months because Persebaya terminated its cooperation with Gildo at the end of the preseason tournament of the 2007 East Java Governor’s Cup.

Teco said his father was the one who had ignited his passion for football. Gildo is a football coach who has wide experience all over the world.

He trained the Ghana national team in 1977 and then managed Al-Samiya club of the Kuwaiti League, leading the club to win the Kuwaiti League trophy in 1981. Gildo has also trained a number of other teams in the Middle East and China. Persebaya was the last club Gildo worked with before he passed away on 17 Aug. 2009.

“I used to follow my dad wherever he trained. He inspired me to keep growing, from a player to physical trainer to head coach,” Teco said.

DOKUMENTASI BALI UNITED

Alessandro Stefano Cugurra "Teco" Rodrigues

Although he is known as a successful coach in Indonesia, Teco stressed that this accomplishment did not come automatically. He credited all parties with helping him realize the many achievements of the clubs he has worked with, including the players, staff and the management.

“Winning or losing in football is only natural. The most important thing is the spirit to keep striving and working hard. The coach, officials and the team should always maintain this. It’s the key to where I am at this point today,” he added.

Congratulations again, Bli Teco!

Alessandro Stefano

Born:Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 25 July 1974

Current club: Bali United

Achievements:

- Persija Jakarta, 2018 League 1 champions

- Bali United, 2019 and 2021-2022 League 1 champions

(This article was translated by Aris Prawira)