Thousands of fans from Bajo Piura, accompanied Atlético Grau in their home games, which were held at Bernal Municipal Stadium, due to the deficiencies of the city's stadium that have been overcome so far; other fans traveled together with the team when they played away. Their campaign so far has been impeccable with few setbacks.
Atlético Grau becomes the hope of Peruvian north coast soccer
Precisely in this opportunity, there must be no setbacks and the team's concentration must predispose them for the matches with the greatest motivation: To bring professional soccer back to Piura, which was lost in 1975, and for those who have seen them play both in good and bad times know that this team has mystique, conviction, and above all, players with technique, speed, and good soccer.
After the relegation of Juan Aurich from Chiclayo and Alianza Atlético from Sullana, the northern coast would be without a representative in 2018. It is the opportunity for Atlético Grau from Piura to exert its best efforts, its greatest inspiration, and above all, its conviction to believe that it is possible to return to professional elite. It has forwards who are disruptive and a defense that does not disappoint either.
The final phase of the Copa Perú championship will begin, with Estudiantil CNI, formed based on CNI, who also competed in the professional division and was relegated. This is their baptism of fire in this search for good results to come close to the championship and as a result, the second promotion spot. Sport Boys occupied one of them and the Copa Perú champion will be the next.
The competition will also confront them with Escuela Municipal Deportivo Binacional Fútbol Club from Arequipa, a team that ranked fourth in the 2016 tournament, and with Asociación Deportiva José Carlos Mariátegui La Chira from San Hilarión-Picota in the department of San Martín.
The first two matches will be held at the Villa El Salvador Stadium, while the last match will be played at the National Stadium. That is, amateur teams will have many motivations to advance with great confidence in their quest to achieve the Copa Perú title and, therefore, their promotion, only one, to professional soccer.
Although all teams have possibilities, there is a slight superiority that could favor the Piura team. In a time of great enthusiasm as a result of Peru qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, there is also the same motivation for the people from Piura. Let's remember that this team was relegated in 1975 and they have been striving to return for 41 years.
In the best opportunity this team had to return to the professional division, the coach was José Ramírez Cubas. Unfortunately, a generalized indiscipline of the players, believing that they had already won everything, distracted them and they were eliminated in their own stadium by the team from Arequipa. It is hoped that this time the story will be different and they will understand that qualifications on the field are the only thing that matters.
It is announced that a large group of people from Piura will go to the Villa El Salvador Stadium to cheer on their beloved team. The chant of "Let's go Grau!" will not stop from the beginning of the match, and it is likely that the cry of "Yes, we can!" that encouraged Peruvian fans will be repeated for the Piura team.
Piura, Arequipa, San Martín, and Iquitos are fighting to go professional; we will see if Piura can bring that achievement for the benefit of the thousands of fans who support Grau year after year.
