February 23, 2024 is a date that will enter the history books of Argentine football.
Because after the surprising announcement by the AFA last January, in which it announced the creation of a new category in our football,
the day finally arrived when the Promotional Amateur tournament had its formal start.
It was with the match between
SAT (Social Atlético de Televisión) and Everton de La Plata
, which had the honor of being the inaugural match of this new category.
Without a doubt, a special moment for the players and coaching staff of both clubs, who faced each other in a duel that is already historic.
But above all, the one who starred in a unique event was
Luca Gallo, the scorer of the first goal in the history of the competition
.
FIRST GOAL IN THE HISTORY OF THE PROMOTIONAL AMATEUR 2024 TOURNAMENT ⚽🏆
Luca Gallo scored a great header for Everton's 1-0 against SAT#PromocionalxTNTSports pic.twitter.com/KyaiBcWngo
— TNT Sports Argentina (@TNTSportsAR) February 23, 2024
The Everton de La Plata footballer opened the scoring for his team with a powerful header after a corner, thus allowing his team to open the scoring.
A shout that will be saved as the debut scorer not only for his club, but also for the Promotional Amateur
.
The team from La Plata would close a great night, as
they managed to win 2 to 1 as a visitor, thus becoming the first
(and so far, only)
winner in the category
.
This will be the case, at least, until the remaining 12 teams make their corresponding debut in the competition.
The history of the Amateur Promotional tournament
Last January,
the Argentine Football Association, before representatives of 14 invited institutions, brought out a new competition
(with its particularities), the brand new last metropolitan category, when everything suggested that, with the merger of the Primera C and Primera Starting in 2024, the Afista trend focused towards a cut between heaven (the Professional League) and earth.
There was everything in the man's vineyard, clubs with different origins.
Very varied, enough to attract attention from the start.
Who's playing?
Those who participate?
Some historical events from the old Saturday tournaments that time left behind and rescued;
others with union roots;
university students;
recognized institutions in sport but without official football tradition;
centenarians, brand new -unused-.
For every taste...
The draw for the Amateur Promotional tournament that will serve as First D in 2024. (AFA Press)
The 14 teams of the Amateur Promotional tournament
Atlético Pilar
Metallurgical Sports
Nautical Hacoaj
Sports Canning
Truckers by Esteban Echeverría
Barrancas Football Club
Belgrano de Zárate
Defenders of Glew
Berisso Star
Star of the South by Alejandro Korn
Everton de La Plata
Bernal Youth
Provincial of Lobos
Social Atlético Television (SAT)
The main characteristics of the Amateur Promotional tournament
The surprise in the third floor of the AFA came from the mouth of Dante Majori, president of the C, member of the Executive Committee and visible face of the new tournament.
What seemed to be a mere invitational tournament suddenly transformed into an event that
will award two promotions as a prize.
Yes, two promotions
.
The contest will have an Opening and a Closing.
Each one will give away a champion.
Then, at the end of the season
, a Champions Cup will be played between both winners
.
If the same team wins both titles, the second promotion will cross the respective runners-up.
On the other hand, - after immense speculation - 14 teams will participate
.
One from the Capital, two from the La Plata area, another from Empalme Lobos (105 kilometers from the Obelisco), another from Zárate (90 km), and the rest from the Buenos Aires suburbs -and a little further on the map as well-.
The competition will have some asterisks:
it will be a Sub 26 tournament and 1998 category players will be able to play throughout the year
.
The players, in turn, will be amateurs and
may never have signed a professional contract in their career
(unless that first contract was with the club they represent).
Bona fide rosters will have a maximum of 45 players.