Independiente de La Chorrera

CAI, as the club is often called, was founded in 1982 to occupy young players who wished to play football. Under the leadership of Antonio Aguilar and Visitación Muñoz, the club began to participate in the local leagues of La Chorrera District, particularly those in the Martin Sánchez sector. A regular power at the local level, CAI moved up to the Colon league.

A major era of transition began in 1994, when club president Jaime Lay resigned. Aguila and Muñoz organized a new group of directors (Carlos Alberto Campos Muñoz, Luis Montezuma, Pedro Carrión, Jaime Dávila and Caesar Rogelio Lasso Madrid) and reorganized the club's administration. Carlos A. Campos Muñoz was chosen president, Antonio Aguilar as vice-president, Caesar R. Lasso Madrid as secretary, Visitación Muñoz as treasurer, Luis Montezuma as finance director, and Pedro Carrión and Jaime Dávila as spokespeople.

That same year, CAI won the La Chorrera District title with a 2–1 victory over Lidia Aurora F.C. and was promoted to the district championship. This moved CAI up into the second flight for the first time. However, they were not ready for this level, and were almost immediately relegated.

New beginning

Following the disappointment of the 1995 season, the new administration completely restructured the club. There was significant staff and player turnover, a new manager (Rene Salazar) and a renewed emphasis on the youth program. The directors set an ambitious timeline for the club—two years to reach the district tournament, three years to reach Primera A (now Liga Nacional de Ascenso) and six years to attain promotion to ANAPROF, the nation's top flight (now Liga Panameña de Fútbol).

Salazar's club quickly found success. They won their district championship in 1998, and then won the western championship of the Panamá Province. It didn't take long for René Salazar, the objective would be achieved. In 1997 CAI achieved to arrive to the series semifinal, however they lost against Santos Jorge 2–1.

Promotion

In 1998, CAI participated in the league of the Colon community, who worked as the local district tournament of the moment, but due to bad handlings and the negative arm of the policy, the tournament was a failure. With other club's president (Juventus F.C., San Jose F.C., San Germen F.C., San Francisco F.C. and Mitra F.C.), Carlos A. Campos Muñoz led together a movement to create a league for the Balboa community and motivated the community of Virgin of Guadalupe to create another league for that community, totalizing three leagues of the district of La Chorrera, which is today the local district tournament.

In the new league of the Balboa community, directed by Virgilio Landecho, CAI was crowned champion after beating Juventus F.C.

In 1999, the team participated in the tournament that gives promotion to the West of the Panamá Province, even when the intentions of the leadership of La Chorrera local district tournament to disband the club in retaliation to have led the movement to found the two leagues Balboa community and Virgin of Guadalupe community; but this was legally constituted and affiliated with the Panamanian Football Federation (Federación Panameña de Fútbol) and recognized by the National Institute of Sports (INDE, now PANDEPORTES), therefore La Chorrera local district tournament leaders could do nothing. Later, when the leadership of the Provincial League of Panama West recognized CAI's rights, the team was able to participate in this tournament, obtaining a successful campaign that is attributed to the administrative organization, to the skillful technical manual of Rene Salazar, the collaboration of friends and close friends to the club and the discipline and interest of the players. CAI managed to win the provincial final match, and having among its squad the top scorer of the tournament, Rubens Axel Almansa H. with 21 goals in the whole campaign.

In September 1999, CAI gained the right to represent Panama West in the national championship denominated Copa Rommel Fernández, of whom the provincial champions and runners-up participate. In this championship the team was placed in group four, next to the Tecnica and Deportes F.C. of Colón, Olimpic F.C. of Panamá and Punta Alegre F.C. of Darién. CAI classified second place behind Olimpic F.C. of Panama, in the regular round. During the second round the team reached the semifinals, beating Inter 3–2, Guabito F.C. 3–1, Río Abajo F.C. 2–0, San Isidro 2-0 and Niupy F.C. 5–1.

In the semifinal CAI beat Olimpic FC 2-0 and in the final they defeated Zona Libre F.C. 3–1. The favorites got to take the trophy home, with goals from José Luis Garcés (2) and a goal from Rubens Almanza. CAI were crowned champions of the Copa Rommel Fernández and gained promotion to Primera A.

The Panamanian Football Federation awarded the right of affiliation by a value of $3,000, $1,500 is of inscription and gives the club a check of $500,000 to resolve part of the expenses of CAIs first goal, to be in Primera A.

Primera A

The year 2000 was CAI's first participation in this championship, the team finished occupying the seventh place and staying in this division. Between 2000 and 2001 the team was able to fortify itself, working with responsible young players to face the challenges that would be imposed in the 2002–03 season. With the determination to manage this accomplishment and to reach the planned goals, the project begins with a year of anticipation with the newly assigned manager, Daniel "Ñelo" Montilla Ruiz, leading the team. Daniel Montilla, together with the rest of his technical body planned the recruitment of new players, obtaining a selective group and beginning to prepare them both physically and tactically, managing to have them ready for the beginning of the 2002–03 Apertura.

In 2002–2003 after passing a series of situations of instability with the championship system and the number of clubs that would participate in it, it was agreed to, on the part of the administration of ANAPROF that the championship would be of two seasons (Apertura and Clausura) and the number of clubs would be 15, divided into two groups; A and B.

Group A would include the participants of the east zone (Panamá and Colón): Club Deportivo Pan de Azúcar, Asociación Deportiva Orión, Club Deportivo Italia, Club Deportivo Español, Río Abajo, Chepo and Colón River. CAI would be placed in group B which would include the west zone (La Chorrera and the rest of the provinces of the interior): Club Atlético Guadalupe, Chame F.C., Coclesana F.C., Chitré F.C., Niupi F.C., Chiriquí F.C. and Bocas del Toro F.C.