Freddy Ternero

met Juan Carlos Oblitas at Universitario de Deportes, when the latter came to the cream team from Belgium to retire from football as a player. Later, 'Blind' took him as his assistant coach to the national team. Today, Oblitas remembers Freddy, who died this afternoon at the age of 53 from cancer.

"It is a great shame because he left us in four months. Before the Copa America, they detected cancer and now he is gone. I spoke to him before the Cup, they were going to operate on him," said Oblitas to Deporte Total.

"I met Freddy Ternero when I returned from Belgium, when I finished playing for 'U'. We were teammates. He was a center-back, sometimes a midfielder. Later, when I arrived at the national team, I took him because I realized that he saw football well," said 'Blind'.

"He was a serious, correct, loyal guy. With a lot of knowledge. Then we were together until I left the team. He lived the best moments of his life in Cienciano, without a doubt. He was the only Peruvian coach who won international titles with clubs," he said.

Oblitas left a final message in tribute to his friend. "We have lost an extraordinary person. It is a huge shame that he left us so young, with so much to give. It is difficult to imagine how the family will be. My condolences," he said.

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Last minute Freddy Ternero died today at the age of 53 from cancer ⏩ http://t.co/7H5VL6MYeS pic.twitter.com/9Puz3ZI4Sq

— DT El Comercio (@DTElComercio) September 18, 2015