Bolivian football needs deep reform, proposes former federation president

Walter Castedo, a former president of the Bolivian Football Federation and creator of the Copa Sudamericana, is advocating for a radical overhaul of Bolivian national football. He proposes a new competition format designed to prioritize geographical proximity, reduce club expenses, and enhance overall competitiveness, aiming to reverse decades of underperformance in international tournaments.

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The Bolivian football needs profound changes. While other federations in the region invest in infrastructure, strengthen their youth divisions, and shorten the historic competitive gap, in Bolivia progress remains slow.

Castedo argues that Bolivian football lags behind other regional federations that invest in infrastructure and youth development. He points to the national team's 32-year absence from the World Cup and the consistently modest campaigns of Bolivian clubs in the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana as evidence of this stagnation. A key issue identified is the current league format, which forces teams to travel extensively between the lowlands and high-altitude cities. This constant travel is cited as a major cause of player fatigue and a significant drain on club finances due to airfare and hotel costs.

The proposed restructuring involves dividing 36 professional clubs into three geographical and altitude-based zones: 12 teams above 4,000 meters, 12 in a mid-altitude range, and 12 in the lower regions. This zonal approach aims to reduce travel burdens and create more balanced competition. Castedo believes that without a more competitive domestic league, Bolivian teams cannot hope to achieve sustained success on the international stage, despite occasional inspiring victories like Bolívar's recent win against Grêmio in Brazil.

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The main problem of Bolivian football is not just the reality of some clubs, but the marked drop in the competitive level of the championship.

Castedo's initiative stems from a diagnosis that the Bolivian championship lacks equilibrium, leading to a marked decline in competitive level. While some teams dominate, others offer little resistance, a disparity that directly impacts international performance. His proposal, initially presented when he was a director at Destroyers, seeks to foster a more balanced environment where all clubs can compete under similar conditions, ultimately aiming to elevate the standard of Bolivian football and break the cycle of international disappointment.

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The proposal contemplates a restructuring of Bolivian professional football with 36 clubs, distributed in three geographical and altitude bands.