Delio "Maravilla" Gamboa

Football player infobox| playername= Delio "Maravilla" Gamboa
fullname = Delio Gamboa Rentería
nickname = "Maravilla"( Translate directly to english as "wonder"
dateofbirth = Birth date and age|1936|1|28
cityofbirth = Buenaventura
countryofbirth = Colombia
position = Striker

Delio "Maravilla" Gamboa Rentería, was a Colombian football player, born January 28, 1936 in Buenaventura (Valle del Cauca), Colombia. Gamboa's career ran from 1955 to 1974 in which time he played for Atletico Nacional Millonarios, Independiente Santa Fe, Once Caldas, and Deportes Tolima, "Maravilla" translates directly to "wonder".

In the beginning

Delio Gamboa signed with Atletico Nacional in 1958, after getting noticed playing in a "aficionado" national league. A year later, Gamboa was transferred to a football club named Oro based out of Mexico. He was considered to be their most important player for two straight seasons. He led Oro to be runners-up of the Mexican Domestic league in his first season with the club.

Time with Colombian National Team

Delio took part in the 1961 Colombian National Squad which qualified for the following years FIFA World Cup. At the 1962 FIFA World Cup an injury limited Gamboa to just one appearance at said World Cup.

"Maravilla"

Upon his arrival to Colombia to play in the 1961 qualifiers Delio joined with Millonarios. He went on to play for Millonarios from 1961-1965. He won the Colombian Domestic League(now the Copa Mustang) titles four straight seasons('61,'62, '63,and'64). At Millonarios Delio was given his nickname "Maravilla" for his stunning the spectators with his play which people that was nothing short of miracles and that Gamboa was "a wonder" in the flesh. He formed part Millonarios sides were dubbed "El Ballet Azul" translating to English as "The Blue Ballet" because people felt they played with "elegance" like a ballet.

Copa Libetadores with "Millos"

In the 1962 Edition "Maravilla" and "Los Embajadores" translating to "The Ambassadors" saw an early first round exit. In 1963 they were matched up with continental football giants of that era in Garrincha's Botafogo and Alianza de Lima from Peru. They faced no better fortunes as they again were eliminated. Despite being eliminated early "Maravilla" and "Millos" would come back and win the Domestic crown the following year. Though they had no title to show Millonarios led by Gamboa represented Colombia in the Copa Libertadores for four straight years and were thus nicknamed "Los Embajadores".

tint at Santa Fe

Although then came the injuries, at the end of the 1965 campaign "Maravilla" was sold to Independiente Santa Fe. Nonetheless "Maravilla" went on to win the Domestic title with Santa Fe in 1966.

Latter Years

After the titles, "wonderful play" and the rash of injuries he spent the 1968-1970 seasons at Once Caldas and then transferred to Deportes Tolima for the 1971 and 18972 campaigns."Maravilla"'s career finally came full circle when he returned to the club that quite possibly saw his best form, Millonarios, in 1973 and ended he professional playing career in 1974.He latter went on to be Head Coach for Deportes Tolima and then left to become the Director of Millonarios youth system.

Delio "Maravilla" Gamboa's innate skill led many to consider him the best Colombian footballer of the 1960s. He was also widely admired for overcoming the economic and social discrimination and barriers imposed at that time, as well as the discrimination and barriers he faced due to his skin's complexion, all of which were evident in Colombia in that era. Which may be just another reason why Delio Gamboa was considered a "Maravilla".

Sources

*http://www.colombiaaprende.edu.co/html/etnias/1604/article-83236.html (Spanish)
*http://www.losmillonarios.net/leyendas_delio.php (Spanish)
*http://www.lacoctelera.com/millonarios/post/2006/09/11/historia-del-club-deportivo-millonarios (Spanish)