So last night I embarked on a journey that would change the rest of my time in Honduras - I went to the final national football (soccer) championship game. It was amazing! I'm sure that those of you who have gone to events such as those know the type of feeling that exists in the stadium for these types of events. Now, Honduras almost had a war with El Salvador in 1969 over its love of soccer - these people literally - live and breathe football. (Which is sad in many ways - but so like other sports in North America.) Let's see if I can find a comparison - what hockey is to Canada, football is to 
Honduras. What American football is to the USA - football is to Honduras.
Honduras. What American football is to the USA - football is to Honduras. Now I don't really understand how the whole thing works here - but there are two final games and the score is cumulative. (I think it might have something to do with the advantage of playing on home turf - and judging by the intensity of the crowd I can see why that would be important.) So at the end of both games, whichever team has the most amount of points, that team is the winner. Last night's game was the 2nd of the 2 games and the score was tied 1-1. So it was intense.
I confess that I had not picked a team - but I was warned in advance about how passionate (or violent) things can become if you are in the wrong section (aka cheering for the other team while sitting with their enemies - logic rule number one at any sports game I suppose). I picked picked Olympia (team from Tegus0 because most of the stadium leaned that way and I watched the teams warm up and concluded that Olympia seemed to have it together better than the other team.
The play was really enjoyable it was fast - and the players are talented, skilled, and very fit. To be fair - upper level soccer players can be quite the drama queens - and there may have been one point in the game where I just yelled out "If you want to be on the stage, get off the field" said in perfect english to a surrounding crowd of Spanish speakers. (though I'm pretty sure the guy beside me understood.) The ref was a little bit free-wheeling on handing out the yellow cards - but he did a good job. The real kicker came when the score was 0-0 and a Marathon player tripped a Olympia player in the box on a breakaway! This was the play that changed the game. Fairly a corner kick was given - and Olympia scored - making it a 1-0 game. And that's how it ended. We snuck out early - because of worry of the riotious fans and drunks afterward and arrived home safe and sound. I'm definately going to more soccer matches!
For more pics and perhaps some slight commentary:
Meanwhile: I certain good friend of mine had her graduation...
CONGRATULATIONS to Ms. Laura Stewart. B.A.
3 comments:
Woohooo!!
and, go laura!!
There may have been a few comments about the dramatics on the field...I definitely appreciated them!
Very cool! Sounds like a lot of fun…a good part of the 'local atmosphere' to participate in : )
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