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| Chicas with hope and tickets for Sunday |
By the time you read this it may already be over. This is a country that is high on emotion – look at an interview of Evita Peron and the people listening to her or watch Maradona in one of his TV shows. For sure you will see lots of tears. Its part of the culture they like to shed a few tears. To be fair the country has had a lot to cry about with over throws of governments by the military, hyperinflation and currency devaluations. You name it Argentina has suffered it at one time or another. But there is one thing that it has never suffered that is on the brink of becoming a reality on Sunday. It is an event that has already caused a riot and it dominates the news. It is on everyone’s lips and everyone knows about it. If it happens (and it is very likely to ) the rivers will over flow with tears for sure, there may be fighting the streets and even the La President will have something to say about it. What is this monumental event that is about to happen here in Buenos Aires. The clue is in
the word monumental.
The Monumental is where it may happen. The Monumental is the home ground of River Plate, a giant of a football team here in Argentina. Now before you switch of cos you don’t like football read a bit more especially if you are thinking of coming to Argentina. Now everyone here, no matter who they are be it Presidents, famous actors, doctors have one thing in common they all follow a football team here. Many of them have never even been to a match but that doesn’t matter they still have their team to follow. If you come here you will be asked who is your team – choose one - doesn’t matter if you don’t like football because you will immediately start to bond with Argentine culture. Talk about your chosen team and expect a long conversation to take place about them – bonding will start. Now if you had chosen River Plate like myself when I came here (the first day I arrived with my mate Brian in 2003 we went to a River Plate game and it was love at first game) Sunday will be a day you may never forget. You see River Plate founded by the Brits after over 100 hundred years in the premier division are on the brink of going down to the second division – it’s an event that even the Guardian newspaper in the UK talked about a few days ago. River are about to be demoted. It has never happened in their history and if you were here it would be hard to avoid the topic. They are in a two match playoff against a team called Belgrano from Cordoba (who are they!!!!) . Belgrano ( boo boo) won the first match in their attempt to be promoted and in doing put River on the brink of the abyss. What followed was a riot. That was last Sunday. Tomorrow 26th June at 3 o clock in the afternoon they play again - if River don’t win by at least two goals its over for them and down they go for the first time ever - yes the first time ever . That may not mean much to you if you have never been here Mel but here in Argentina its unthinkable and everyone, doesn’t matter who they are has an opinion. If the unthinkable happens the mighty River Plate will be overflow with tears and for a while the country will be in chaos, grown men and women will be reduced to physical wrecks make no mistake about it what I write is true - this is Argentina where nothing is more important than football - nothing. If you read this blog I am asking you to pray a little for River - just a minute will be enough - it all helps. As I said it is unthinkable that the team who have won more titles than any other here will be within 48 hours of me writing this blog will be in the 2nd division but but but but there is still 90 minutes left so there is still hope . Please please give your support - believe me it’s needed and if you don’t have a team now is the time to choose River Plate and we still have 90 minutes - its not over its not over its not over pleaaaaaaseeeee
This is David Cummings alias the English Gaucho trying to stay positive but with bitten down nails and a worried look
Hasta Pronto
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