Although he always wanted to become a professional soccer player, El Chanfle has settled for being the props boy and water boy for Mexican soccer's Club América, whose coach they both have trouble getting along with because of the Chanfle's heightened sense of honesty and cleanliness on the court, something the rigid coach does not share. When he is asked to cheat during a game he refuses and is fired from his job, but his friend, the team doctor will try to get him back. At the same time, his wife Tere announces to be pregnant, and trying to sell a gun in order to make money for their future, unintentionally scares a old man, Chato, with it, who now seeks revenge.
Acting
Bolaños weaponizes his everyman fragility — no mask, no catchphrase, just desperation.
Production
Genuine Club América access makes the sports sequences feel documentary-real.
Writing
Balances pregnant-wife panic with soccer-field ethics without collapsing into pure farce.
Director
Enrique Segoviano
Roberto Gómez Bolaños
El Chanfle
Florinda Meza García
Tere
Ramón Valdés
Reyes
Carlos Villagrán
Valentino
Edgar Vivar
Dr. Nájera
Rubén Aguirre
Sr. Matute
María Antonieta de las Nieves
Matutes secretary
Angelines Fernández
Paco's wife (Supermarket Clerk)
Raúl 'Chato' Padilla
Paco
Horacio Gómez Bolaños
Policeman (at Paco's house)
María Montaño
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was Chespirito's first theatrical starring role after dominating Mexican television for nearly a decade.
Shot during Club América's actual 1978-79 season, making it a time capsule of Liga MX's golden era aesthetics.
MX
