The former national team player and Panamanian legend, Luis Ernesto "Cascarita" Tapia Pérez, passed away this afternoon at the age of 80 due to a heart attack, leaving deep sorrow in Panamanian football and sports. The news of his passing has been widely disseminated by national and international press, highlighting his legacy and charisma that made him a beloved figure in all spheres.
Born in the El Granillo neighborhood of Panama City on October 21, 1944, Luis Ernesto Tapia began his football career at the age of 17 in the Panamanian league with Politécnico F.C. He later joined Alianza in El Salvador in 1963, remaining with the team for seven years after impressing the club's management during a tour with the Panamanian national team in that same year.
Tapia, who also played with Úes in El Salvador, stood out in the 1970s as a high-level player, even facing figures like Pelé at the Estadio Revolución. In honor of his career, a field located next to the Rommel National Stadium bears his name as a recognition of his legacy in Panamanian football.
The legacy of "Cascarita" Tapia is framed in the golden age of national sports, highlighting the rise of the basketball national teams, world champions, and renowned riders. His passing occurs a day before an important match for the Panamanian national team against Costa Rica, where he scored the first Panamanian goal in a World Cup qualifying match, leaving an indelible mark in the history of football in his country.
Rest in peace, Luis Ernesto "Cascarita" Tapia Pérez, the first great reference of Panamanian football, whose legacy will endure in the memory of generations of fans and football players.
