The 2006 CategorÃÂa Primera B season, officially known as the 2006 Copa Premier for sponsorship reasons, was the 17th season of Colombia's second-tier football league CategorÃÂa Primera B since its founding. The competition began on 11 February and ended on 29 November 2006. La Equidad were the champions, winning both of the season's short tournaments to claim their first Primera B title as well as promotion to CategorÃÂa Primera A.
The season was divided into two tournaments: Torneo I and Torneo II. In both tournaments, the 18 participating teams were drawn into two groups of nine teams each, with teams playing all teams in their group as well as one team from the other group twice. In Torneo I, the groups were formed by geographical criteria, grouping nearby teams, while in the second tournament of the season, geographical rivals were assigned to different groups. The top two teams of each group advanced to a final group stage which was also played in a double round-robin fashion. The winners of both of the season's tournaments would face each other in the season's grand final, with the champion being promoted at the end of the season and the runner-up playing the promotion/relegation playoff, which was implemented starting from this season.
18 teams took part in the competition in this season. The 2005 Primera B champions Cúcuta Deportivo, who were promoted to CategorÃÂa Primera A, were replaced by Unión Magdalena, relegated from the top flight in the previous season. Prior to the start of the season, Florida Soccer was sold and moved to MonterÃÂa, becoming Córdoba F.C., Bello F.C. was renamed Atlético Bello, and Dépor F.C. relocated from Cartago, Valle del Cauca to JamundÃÂ, in the same department.
The final series was canceled after La Equidad won the season's two short tournaments, promoting directly to CategorÃÂa Primera A.
Given the cancellation of the final series, a playoff series between Valledupar and Cortuluá, runners-up of the Torneo I and Torneo II, respectively, was played to decide the team that would advance to the promotion/relegation playoff.
Valledupar won 3âÂÂ2 on aggregate and advanced to the promotion/relegation playoff.
As the second worst team in the 2006 CategorÃÂa Primera A season's relegation table, Atlético Huila had to play a two-legged tie against Valledupar, the runners-up playoff winner. Atlético Huila, who played the second leg at home as the Primera A team, won both matches of the series and ensured their continuity in Primera A for the 2007 season, while Valledupar remained in Primera B.
Atlético Huila won 3âÂÂ0 on aggregate and both teams remained in their respective leagues.
Source: Historia del Fútbol Profesional Colombiano 70 Años