We jumped last week at the chance to see the local professional futbal team play. Futbal is a religon right throughout Central and South America and here in Xela it is no different. The evening got off to a potentially bad start when I decided to wear my Wallabies scarf (it was chilly, people!). Resplendant in my green and gold neckery, we rocked up to the ground to discover that the away team wore colours of – you guessed it – green and gold. Preferring a cold neck to a noose around it, the Wallabies scarf was quickly and quietly tucked away for the remainder of the evening.
Once the game started, we discovered that there are some things about the world game that are truly universal: the pride, the passion, the illegal fireworks…
We also made the tactical blunder of sitting right next to the local fan club. As soon as the game started, the guy beside us whipped out the world’s biggest bass drum (where the hell was he hiding that thing – under his bloody jumper?) and began to beat it like his life depended on it.
30 minutes and 2 developing migranes later, we sought higher ground in the very back row of the stand. Again lady luck deserted us, as our chosen spot was next to a local fan with a penchant for flares. That or the world’s biggest cuban. Evacuate!
Thankfully, things on the field were progressing much more smoothly and eventually the home team triumphed 4-1. Still, even a home win can’t guarantee the safety of the officials, who were escorted off by police in full riot gear.
All in all it was a great night. Here’s a few clips I took at the ground that hopefully capture the general chaos. Ole!
Cool Runnings 