Lehigh Preserve Institutional Repository Overcoming Escobar: Creating a Sustainable Future for Colombian Soccer Initiatives Dutt, Cassandra 2013 Find more at https://preserve.lib.lehigh.edu/ This document is brought to you for free and open access by Lehigh Preserve. It has been accepted for inclusion by an authorized administrator of Lehigh Preserve. For more information, please contact [email protected]. OVERCOMING ESCOBAR: CREATING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR COLOMBIAN SOCCER INITIATIVES Cassandra Dutt Introduction both teams were enormous. Colombian coach Francisco Maturana and his players began to When the World Cup began in June of receive death threats from their war-torn home. 1994, the Colombian national soccer team Forward Faustino Asprilla lamented, “This is seemed destined for international success. what was on our minds as we went on to the The team’s impressive World Cup campaign put pitch—that, if we didn’t win, there would be Colombia front and center on the world stage, trouble and we would be killed” (Ginn). Bur- gaining approval of international soccer crit- dened with fear, Colombia entered the match ics and even the coveted blessing of the sport’s against the United States lacking the confidence greatest legend, Pelé. Led by defenseman and that to date had helped them to rise to the top captain Andrés Escobar, the team was expected of the international pool. to rehabilitate the image of a country torn by Despite several promising attacks by the drug lords and rampant violence through their Colombian team at the beginning of the match, inspiring play and imminent success. Unfortu- the fate of the national team was changed for- nately, Colombia’s World Cup field of dreams ever when U.S. midfielder John Harkes sent a would prove more of a nightmare for the shot that ricocheted off of the foot of Andrés nation’s international image. Escobar and into the Colombian net. The U.S. The team was upset in its first match team went on to clinch a 2–1 victory, deeming against Romania 3–1, further adding pressure the game “the biggest win in the history of to the Colombian squad to defeat the United United States soccer,” thereby thrusting U.S. States and advance out of group play. Although soccer onto the world stage (Howard). This the United States had not won a World Cup stunning victory over the pretournament match since 1950, the pregame tensions for favorites sent Colombians into a violent frenzy 71 that would make a lasting impression on the Colombian Sports Structure sport. At 3:30 A.M. on July 2, as Andrés Escobar Colombian soccer can be viewed on three was leaving a nightclub on the outskirts of distinct levels: grassroots or local programs, the Medellín, he was verbally attacked about the professional league, and the national teams. own goal. After the verbal altercation, the Each level has characteristics unique to Colom- assailant then shot Escobar six times and imme- bia and the Latin American sports franchising diately fled from the scene. Although accounts system. Comprehension of the sport’s structure differ, many claim to have heard the attacker cry is crucial to understanding the development out, “GOAL!” with every shot, mimicking the of soccer over time as well as how the public vio- sports commentator from the U.S. match. Esco- lence and financial failures of major soccer pro- bar was taken to the hospital and pronounced grams have had a direct impact on Colombian dead on arrival (McCallum). culture and economics. Soccer is a powerful sport that has direct Grassroots and youth development pro- effects on culture, national identity, and eco- grams are growing increasingly popular in both nomics. It is a connecting point for people remote areas of Colombia and urban slums, across political, geographic, and socioeconomic where children have limited access to education boundaries and a uniting force for both national and opportunity. International aid agencies, gov- and global communities. An integral part of life ernment initiatives, and in-country organiza- in Colombia, soccer is tied to the country’s tions have sent coaches and community organ- rich history, social evolution, and political res- izers to areas of extreme poverty or duress to olution and has recently been utilized as a provide a creative outlet for struggling youth. tool for future development. Colombian soc- These programs are meant to promote sports- cer has never reached a sustainable level of manship, gender equality, heath, and education excellence, however, due to events like the mur- as well as provide athletic training, all at a low der of Andrés Escobar in 1994. cost. Youth development programs not only The path to becoming a successful soc- focus on children but also have concentra- cer nation requires planning, from grassroots tions in community development, involving initiatives and education to the compilation families and local leaders to create a more of a national squad that has the perfect mixture suitable environment for community growth of background, training, and talent. This arti- and advancement. cle explores whether Colombia has been invest- Colombia’s premier professional football ing in soccer in a way that is beneficial to the league is Categoría Primera A. This league advancement of national identity, cross-cultural includes 18 teams and is regulated by the foot- relations, and youth development. I first pro- ball governing body, División Mayer del Fút- vide a base understanding of the sport’s struc- bol Profesional Colombiano (DIMAYOR), and by ture and the bloody history haunting the Coldeportes,1 the judicial board for all Colom- Colombian soccer programs before exploring bian sports. Play culminates in a championship the efficiency of the grassroots initiatives and game, called Copa Colombia, at the end of the professional soccer leagues. Through an inves- season. Teams are distributed evenly through- tigation of the youth and professional pro- out the country, with larger cities hosting two grams, I evaluate the effectiveness of the cur- teams each. rent systems and how they might be improved Unlike American sports franchises, teams to ensure a sustainable future for the success are structured as clubs. Apart from holding sea- of Colombian soccer, both nationally and inter- son tickets, fans can purchase membership to nationally. It is important to understand that a club and have access to amenities, meeting successful sports programs are not simply eval- uated on a win-loss basis. Financial stability, 1 community-based outputs, regulation, and ath- Coldeportes is the Departamento Administrativo del Deporte la Recreación, la Actividad Física y el letic talent will also be appraised to develop a Aprovechamiento del Tiempo Libre (Administrative Depart- clear picture of the successes or failures of each ment of Sport, Recreation, Physical Activity and the Use program. of Free Time), initially created in 1968. 72 spaces, and social networks. Clubs have a pres- rently working toward rehabilitating the image ident and board of trustees who are responsi- of the program and hopes to qualify for the 2014 ble for managing finances, hiring coaches, tournament in Rio de Janeiro. It is the national and recruiting players. Leadership is crucial teams that receive the most international press because teams are not guaranteed a spot in and serve as the face for Colombian soccer on the Primera A league. Teams placing last in the world stage. the Primera A league can be interchanged with the champion of the Primera B league. This The Evolution of Colombian sports structure is common across Latin Amer- Narco-Soccer ica, although it promotes team association with an economic class, political party, or ethnic Soccer has been woven into the fabric of identity. This phenomenon tends to pit city, Colombian history, serving as the national ethnic, and class identities against each other pastime since 1903. British workers on the rail- and has been instrumental in the violent his- roads of Barranquilla first introduced the game, tory in the Colombian professional league. and the sport quickly spread with the first Violent tendencies continue onto the pitch, as organized football club founded, Barranquilla Colombian soccer stars, such as the retired Iván FBC, in 1909 (“Football”). It was not until Ramiro Córdoba, were infamous for collecting 1924 that the first Colombian Football Feder- up to 25 yellow cards, or personal fouls, per sea- ation, Liga de Fútbol, was formed and in 1936 son (Miguel et al.). The more successful Euro- that FIFA affiliation was first granted. A national pean clubs rarely draft Colombian professional soccer league would not emerge until 1948. players due to a lack of international visibility Between 1948 and 1954 the Colombian soccer and the tendency for violent play. It is possi- scene was promising, as Argentinean players ble, however, for players to advance by first mov- populated the new league due to player strikes ing to the more prominent Argentinean or in Argentina, which led to nicknaming the Brazilian teams to train with some of Latin era, El Dorado. Because of the successful early America’s most talented players, before moving years of football, Colombia became internation- on to a more competitive level of play. ally recognized for its playing style and young The Colombian men’s and women’s talent (Museo . .). In 1962, Colombia quali- national teams are managed and regulated by fied for its first FIFA World Cup but was elimi- the Federación Colombiana de Fútbol (FCF)2 nated in the first round of group play. Despite and Fédération Internationale de Football Asso- the 1962 World Cup defeat, Colombia’s Cate- ciation (FIFA).3 Similar to the United States, goría Primera A league began to flourish, dom- players are selected from national pools to com- inated by the Bogotá Millonarios team.