Football (soccer) here in Chile

Sometime in the past few weeks of my time here I went to see the local football club Everton of Vina del Mar play a game.  The stadium is small for the fact that it is in the top league of its country (more notable teams would be Colo-Colo, U Catolica, and U de Chile).  

Ladies and children got in free to the game and there was only one full section (AKA the end where the tickets are 6 dollars)

The game ended in a high-scoring 3-3 draw but the real entertainment was the fans themselves.  Apparently Chileans are not trusted with alcohol at any event so it was dry but I found out why in no time.

Fans came marching in with drums to play while they all sang songs.  There were also massive banners hung all over the place.  Honestly this place had more decoration than any college dorm room on the planet.
 As for the fans appreciation of the game itself is another matter entirely.  Mostly young people sang songs to the drums and smoke weed the entire time without any care about the game itself.  The home team scores - keep singing the same song... the away team scores - keep singing the same song.

I have noticed this trend before and it is not something I understand.  I enjoy the game and find it easier to get into when the crowd also understand it and follow along.  That being said, once I moved over away from the main cheering group I enjoyed the game a bit more.

VIDEO - Gameday in Morgantown

GO TO THE BLOG TO SEE THIS

Aston Villa v Tottenham

Yesterday I went to see the local football club Aston Villa play here in Aston. The game got going at 4 so a group met up before the game to get in a few pints.

It seemed like a short time later we were sitting in Row H and watching the match.


The seats were very close to the pitch... Granted upon adding it up with some renovations the stadium will eventually hold 51,000 fans in comparison to West Virginia University's Milan Puskar Stadium that currently holds 60,000.


In the end the home club came up short despite some late heroics from Mr. Carew.

Argentina 2 - Uruguay 1

While here in BA the girls and I went to see the Argentina v Uruguay in the Eliminatorios. That is the World Cup qulifying round here. The fans were passionate and fully prepared to cheer on their fellow Argentinians. It was a very addictive atmosphere. On top of all that I got to see Messi and Tevez play live in their own country.


They know how to celebrate as well.

Arequipa

I fled Cusco last night to keep myself from staying for months. I bought a last second bus ticket to Arequipa Peru en route to Santiago Chile. I had the pleasure of saving 3 dollars American and got to ride in the economy section of the bus. There might as well have been live chickens running around on the overnight 10 hour bus.

Now me and some friends from Essex England, but claiming to be from London are watching three consecutive football matches.

We checked into the hostel at 7 this morning and haven't left the tv room.


Jamie and James


The DVD wall that might be the plan.


We have also hatched a plan to catch another bus tonight. This would mean that my stay in Arequipa, the second largest city in Peru, lasted about 12 hours. Wish me luck.