It was a bittersweet moment as head coach Stefano Cugurra bid farewell to Bali United supporters on Saturday evening at Captain I Wayan Dipta Stadium in Gianyar, Bali. The special event, organized by the club’s management, took place after the week 33 match between Bali United and Madura United, which ended with a 2-0 victory for the visiting team. This match marked Teco’s, as Stefano is affectionately known, last time coaching the Serdadu Tridatu at home. The management granted Teco the opportunity to say his goodbyes, which he did with a heavy heart. “I’m sad to leave Bali United, a club that I truly love,” Teco expressed on the field to the players, officials, management, and spectators. Accompanied by his wife and two children, Teco reminisced about joining the coaching team in 2019. “I worked hard, everyone in the team worked hard, and I brought two Liga 1 trophies to Bali United,” he recalled.
CEO of Bali United, Yabes Tanuri, also graced the field with the two Liga 1 championship trophies from 2019 and the 2021/2022 season, which the Serdadu Tridatu secured under Teco’s guidance. The remaining supporters in the stadium also expressed their gratitude to Teco, with large monitors in the corner of the field displaying a thank you message in Balinese, “matur suksma Teco.” Testimonials from players and officials, including Elias Dolah, Kadek Arel, and team captain Ricky Fajrin, were showcased on the monitors. Kadek praised Teco as a strict figure who motivated the players to evaluate themselves and strive for improvement. He also commended Teco’s professionalism in training and implementing strategies in games. Ricky Fajrin likened Teco to a father figure, highlighting his dedication and motivation during matches. The players enjoyed a close relationship with Teco off the field, but once the game was on, he was all about intensity and pushing the team to excel.
Teco had announced his resignation as Bali United’s head coach after a defeat against Persib Bandung on Friday in Bandung, West Java. The loss to Maung Bandung marked the team’s seventh consecutive defeat in the 2024/2025 Indonesian Liga 1 season, from February 17 to April 18. Teco cited reaching his maximum contribution to the team as the reason for stepping down at the end of the 2024/2025 competition season. His final match coaching Bali United was an away game against Persebaya in Surabaya for week 34 of Liga 1 on Friday. While the Bali United management had little to say about Teco’s departure, CEO Yabes Tanuri praised Teco’s dedication through an official statement. “We, from the management, thank coach Teco for his six years of hard work with us. We will now begin the search for a new coach for the upcoming season.”
