100 goals or bust

By: Edgardo | April 2nd, 2008

When Chivas face Atlante this weekend, all eyes will be on one man every time he gets the ball in and around the box, or during every cross that goes into the box. Usually , a defender wouldn’t worry too much about a player who stands 1.69 contesting him for a header, much less beating him to it.

But this isn’t no ordinary midget, it’s Omar Bravo Tordecillas. A former amateur boxer from Los Mochis, Sinaloa, and he’s a man on a mission. Not only is the coming game against Atlante a chance for redemption from last year’s losses, but it’s also Omarcito’s shot at history (last week was as well, but that’s besides the point.)

omar bravo celebrating

Why history , you ask? Well, he’s at 99 goals scored for Chivas in Mexican competition (liga and liguilla.) 100 goals is not a small feat, but it’s not as much , as say, Carlos Hermosillo’s 296 goals, but 100 goals with a Chivas jersey is a big deal because only one other person has done it - his “teammate” Chava Reyes. Reyes Scored 122 goals for Chivas in Mexican competitions, and was also the last Chiva before Bravo to lead the league in scoring. Overall though, including Interliga, Concacaf Champions Cup, and Copa Libertadores , Omar is at 117.

It’s been quite a ride for Omarcito. He debuted on February 17, 2001, when the team was still anemic from the disaster Salvador Martinez Garza was making of the team. Omar got off to a slow start - his free three torneos cortos he was mostly a substitute. His fourth torneo though(Apertura 2002), he was starting alongside Emilio Mora, as they made a decent tandem. 8 goals in his first 55 games - a pretty slow start.

For the Clausura 2003, with new owner Jorge Vergara, and under “the best coach in the world” Eduardo de la Torre, Omar and Chivas really took off, as he scored 12 goals and Chivas made it to the quarter-finals. Since then, he’s scored 92 goals in 195 games, played in a C.C.C final, made it to Consecutive Libertadores semi-finals, played in a World Cup, been the leading goal scorer and won a championship with Chivas.

All that’s left in 100 goals and Europe.