The business and sporting world of Ñuble is in mourning following the death of the former president of Ñublense, Casiano Andrade Vera, a well-known forestry businessman from Quirihue who saved the Chillán team from bankruptcy by injecting his own resources into the club when it was regarding to “close down” in the 90s.
Her body was found in her home on Esmeralda Street, Quirihue, where the police and later the Investigative Police arrived. By order of the prosecutor on duty, her body was transferred to the SML in Chillán.
Casiano Andrade was the owner of the CAV company and the then Conífera and Casandra Radios, which he eventually sold.
As the manager of the Red Devils, he was known for contributing money from his own assets to pay salaries, help players and pay pensions when resources were scarce at the club.
He was an altruistic businessman who repeatedly helped low-income residents and supported various charitable causes.
The businessman’s death had a deep impact on the Rojo fans and players in the 90s.
“I have the best memories during and following his administration at Ñublense, recognizing that many times the resources were beyond his economic reach, but the most notable thing is the unconditional love for sport and our beloved Ñublense. On a personal level, it was he who decided to sign my first contract as a footballer in 1995, always hoping that I might develop in the best way possible in professional football. At the beginning of my career as a teacher, he saw in me the skills to be able to work at the Cav football school that was being held in Quirihue in 2005. Without a doubt, it will remain etched in the Ñublense sport and in me as a person,” said former full-back Jimmy Castro.
For the love of Ñuble
A philanthropist by nature – there is no activity in the dryland area of Ñuble that has not had his financial support – Casiano Andrade Vera was an active amateur footballer during his youth.
A member of several boards, such as the one in 1995 headed by Sergio Gómez, Andrade – like Iraira – had to step up on more than one occasion in the face of the complicated economic situation.
These were also times when the public limited companies called to put a stop to the impact of salaries and the crisis of the clubs were looming. In this scenario, the businessman – together with Reinerio Iraira and before him managers like Renato Solar, all with a strong ties to Ñuble – did not hesitate to put money out of their own pockets on countless occasions in the face of the fear that in the future the club would be taken over by foreign owners.
“We made an effort to get Ñublense out of Chillán and all the people went to the stadium because they considered the club as their own and that is why we made all the sacrifices and contributions at a certain time. We always did it thinking of the people of Chillán,” said the businessman in statements to LA DISCUSIÓN special on the occasion of the Centenary of the red team in 2016.
Alfredo Bravo, a goalkeeper from Chillán in those years, also recognised the importance of these patron leaders in keeping the club afloat.
“(In the 90s) there were several presidents, but those who contributed the most from their own pockets were Casiano Andrade and Reinerio Iraira, they paid us with their checks. For example, ten million pesos were missing and they put them in. During the years I was in Ñublense, those leaders took many millions out of their own pockets,” he added.
The funeral of the businessman from Quirihuana will be announced in due course.
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