Football fever hits again

We are about to be hit by another bout of football fever.

In just 10 days the Copa America kicks off- the South American Cup. And it is being held here in Argentina, even with 4 games here in Cordoba.

We didn't manage to get tickets to the Argentine games, but we are able to go and see the Brazilians play, first against Paraguay and then against Ecuador. It should be good fun!

On the theme of football, tonight there is a big game in town. One of the local Cordoba teams- Belgrano, plays against one of the famous Buenos Aires teams, River Plate. Belgrano is trying to go up into the Premier Division and River Plate, surprisingly, is trying to avoid going down. Its a big thing for Cordoba, because there hasn't been a Cordoba team in the Premier league for ages. A game to bring out the best of the inter-provincial rivalries.

I was reminded on the weekend just how important football is here. It was free time at the young adults camp and do you think we might just kick the ball around in a fun game? Oh no, we started one game when the numbers were even, but then had to stop and completely reorganise because 3 or 4 more guys arrived wanting to play. This was serious stuff. In the end we ended up with 3 teams and we played 10 minute games, with the loser being replaced by the other team. They even handed out some prizes that night- which Lachie was happy with as he scored a Coke for being on the winning team. A reminder though not to take free time on camps lightly...

Having said that about football, perhaps it is just Argentines and sport generally. The young people wouldn't start playing a game of volleyball until we had 6 a side- 5 a side just isn't the same!

Serious about their sport

I have blogged before about how the Argentines take their sport very seriously (and their medical examinations). Lachlan went off to basketball today with the team, but when I arrived to watch he wasn't playing. His coach explained that the referee wouldn't allow him to play because his 'Medical Certificate' hadn´t come through yet. Lachlan had the medical examination last week, but the doctor wouln't sign the certificate because his feet are flat and she says he needs some plastic inner soles to place in his shoes. So we have to head off for an appointment this week for that, then when he has them we go back to the doctor, and then she hopefully signs the report and he can go back to playing.

All for a 12 year old playing not so serious basketball. It makes you wonder...

PS. Lachlan did end up playing, but in the grade below (younger kids) and only because the referee had gone by this time!

serious sport

Argentines take their sport very seriously- even more seriously than Australians!

All of our 4 kids are playing sport at the local club- the girls play Volleyball and the boys Basketball. (Jacob is playing even though he can´t get the ball even close to the hoop at the moment). They train for an hour/hour and a half 3 times a week. That's right -three times a week. Just as well for us it 100m from home otherwise we could never do it. On Fridays they are all down there together- I spent a really nice couple of hours reading on the grass while they were all involved.

And the seriousness is also seen in that they have proper coaches. Argentina is big on professionalism in every area. If you don't have the title or the piece of paper then you won't be able to do it. So our kids coaches aren't just Mums or Dads giving a bit of time. They are all qualified sports coaches (or training to be). But fortunately that doesn't mean the costs are too prohibitive.