Colombian football cries the game of Éder Smic Valencia at age 16

The young Guachené striker prepared to join the New York Red Bulls of the MLS.

News Colombia.

Colombian football dawned after the death of Éder Smic Valencia, a 16 -year -old striker considered one of the great promises of national football. The incident occurred on the afternoon of Sunday, September 7 on the road that connects to Puerto Tejada with Guachené, in the department of Cauca.

According to preliminary reports, a tank truck lost control in the middle of the road and hit several vehicles that traveled through the sector. One of them was the gray car in which Valencia moved, who died at the scene of the accident due to the magnitude of the crash. The traffic authorities went to the area to attend the emergency, while the relief agencies confirmed that there were several injuries and material damage.

The news caused a deep dismay, not only in Guachené, its homeland, but also in the national sports community. Valencia had formed in the German Popayán Academy (AAFP), an institution that confirmed its death through a statement in which it expressed its sadness and solidarity with the player’s family. “We will honor his memory and everything he represented for our institution,” the Academy said in its social networks.

The loss is even more painful at the moment the young footballer was going through. With an international projection in full ascent, Valencia was about to specify its signing with the New York Red Bulls de la Major League Soccer (MLS). The trip to the United States was scheduled for this week, where a future loaded with opportunities was waiting for him.

Of 1.88 meters of height and natural left-handed, Valencia had recently been summoned to a microcycle with the U-16 Colombia National Team, a high-American South American preparatory of 2026. His talent was consolidated in youth tournaments such as the Bulls Cup Sub-16, where he showed his scoring capacity and ability, which caught the attention of international casseroles.

The reactions did not wait. Clubs, coaches, colleagues and fans expressed their pain in social networks, remembering Éder not only for their talent on the court, but also for their discipline and simplicity outside it. In Guachené, a community that has seen several renowned players are born, his death has been felt as an irreparable loss.