Soccer in Central America: An El Salvadoran Example
To understand the feelings soccer evokes for Latinos in the U.S., we must first understand its significance in much of the Americas. Roberto Velasquez, who emigrated from El Salvador to the U.S. in 1980, explained in a formal interview that soccer is the most popular sport, if not the most popular form of entertainment, in El Salvadoran culture. To further explain how soccer functions in daily life in his country of origin, Mr. Velasquez emphasized how the “style of life” in El Salvador differs from in the U.S. “In El Salvador, everybody knows their neighbors, and entire neighborhoods will often engage in large soccer games in the streets most nights lasting from 7 pm to 10 pm.” Here we can see how soccer and community merge in El Salvador. “ When asked whether soccer holds the same significance to Latinos in Somerville as to those still living in El Salvador, Mr. Velasquez responded that while his body is in Somerville, his mind is in El Salvador.” Mr. Velasquez “described that for newly arrived Latino immigrants, playing in Latino soccer leagues is a great source of joy as it provokes memories and feelings of life back in their native country.” These quotes from Cohen's interview report of Roberto Velasquez demonstrate how activities, like playing soccer, carry special significance for Latinos for whom playing soccer was tightly woven into community life back home. Not only is Mr. Velasquez's mind in El Salvador when he is playing, but he also has soccer team flags from his hometown proudly displayed in his living room and he stays in contact with the teams back home through online soccer updates.
Latino Soccer in the U.S.: Building and Strengthening Community in Somerville
Not only does playing soccer in Somerville emotionally link one to home in Central America, but soccer games provide opportunities for building friendships and strengthening community here in the States as well. Mr. Velasquez cites Latino soccer leagues in Somerville as great opportunities for new immigrants to “make friends and meet new people.” As an example, he offers how once after playing soccer in Roxbury, he went along with his teammates to an apartment in Jamaica Plain where they bonded, talking about sports, politics, and family-life, for hours.
In addition to building relationships among players, Latino soccer games provide a place and time for family gathering. Women come to games to support and watch their husbands, brothers, children and friends play. Mr. Velasquez described how “most of the women stand on the sideline and sew, as well as talk with friends” and cheer for their loved ones on the field.
Another narrator from El Salvador, Lucas A. Santos, who arrived in Somerville in 1995, described how at some games there have been as many as six to eight hundred people watching and cheering from the sidelines. In concluding his interview, Mr. Santos shared how he feels participation in soccer games is a “very special experience for Latinos in Somerville unlike any other.” He explained how everybody gathers at the field, chats and watches the games, eats traditional Latino food, and ends up spending the whole afternoon at the fields. From these two narrators it is clear that not only does soccer link Latinos to their senses of home and identity, but soccer games also function as a site where new relationships are built, families come together, and Latino communities are further built and strengthened.
Roberto Velasquez, (Interview Report), 10/08/03.
Lucas A. Santos, (Interview Report), 10/12/03. |
