Édgar Perea
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Édgar José Perea Arias (2 June 1934 – 11 April 2016) was a Colombian politician and football radio and television commentator.[1] In a country where soccer is the national pastime, Perea was considered one of Colombia's greatest sportscasters. He was known in Colombia for his thunderous voice and for the way he intoned the traditional Spanish-style "Goooooooool!" sound when a goal had been scored. Perea commentated on eight football World Cups, fifteen World Series for CBS Spanish Radio, seven Olympics, many boxing matches and thousands of soccer matches in Colombia and abroad. He became so successful as a sportscaster that he transcended himself into a national politician. Perea was Afro-Colombian and broke down many barriers that kept black Colombians from gaining admiration and respect in Colombian pop culture and in entering the ritzy social scenes of Colombian society. After gaining popularity for his picturesque way of narrating football matches, Perea joined the Colombian Liberal Party with the support of then presidential candidate Horacio Serpa and ran for the senate. In 2009 he was appointed Ambassador to Colombia in South Africa.
Édgar Perea | |
---|---|
Colombia Ambassador to South Africa | |
In office 26 February 2009 – 11 April 2016 | |
President | Álvaro Uribe Vélez |
Preceded by | Carlos Moreno de Caro |
Colombia Ambassador to Mozambique | |
In office 26 August 2009 – 11 April 2016 | |
President | Álvaro Uribe Vélez |
Preceded by | Carlos Moreno de Caro |
Colombia Ambassador to Botswana | |
In office 14 September 2010 – 11 April 2016 | |
President | Álvaro Uribe Vélez |
Preceded by | Carlos Moreno de Caro |
Senator of Colombia | |
In office 20 July 1998 – 18 July 2000 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Édgar José Perea Arias (1934-06-02)2 June 1934 Condoto, Chocó, Colombia |
Died | 11 April 2016(2016-04-11) (aged 81) Bogotá, Colombia |
Political party | Liberal |
Occupation | Sports commentator |