George Capwell, the American Founder of Emelec
The United States has a long and sordid history of interventions in Latin America. The “banana republics” of that region have often had policies imposed on them by the American government or business. But in Ecuador, one American brought something to the locals that they all welcomed. His name was George Capwell and he founded Emelec, one of the most popular soccer teams in Ecuador.
George “El Gringo” Capwell
George Capwell was an unlikely founder of an Ecuadorian soccer team. The New York native went to the South American country in 1926 to head an electric company in the port city of Guayaquil. Though he had little knowledge of or interest in soccer, he was an avid fan of popular American sports of the time: baseball and boxing. Soon after arriving in Ecuador, Capwell had the idea to start a sports club at the company he headed, Empresa Electrica de Ecuador. Working with other managers, Capwell started Emelec (taking the first syllable from each word of the company’s name). The sports played at the club initially reflected the founder’s interests, with baseball (Capwell himself was the catcher) and boxing (potential members had to fight, and survive against, an experienced club boxer in order to gain membership) the big two.
A 1929 newspaper announcement of Emelec’s founding
The American company head may have been happy with Emelec putting out baseball teams and boxers, but the locals showed little interest in those games. In a piece of managerial genius, Capwell formed a soccer team within Emelec to satisfy his workers’ demands.
An early Emelec team
The new team began play in 1929. It won its first title, a local league made up of business-backed teams in Guayaquil, in 1933. Emelec’s popularity rose quickly and they soon developed a fierce rivalry with fellow Guayaquil team Barcelona (founded by a Spaniard and named after the famous team in his home country). Emelec would go on to have much success, including 10 Ecuadorian league titles. Yet in becoming an Ecuadorian institution, the club never lost touch with its American roots. In 1945, the team named their stadium after their founder. The Estadio George Capwell has been around since then, and got a face-lift a few years ago. The fans who pack the Capwell Stadium are known as some of the most intense in Ecuador.
Were he alive to see it, this might all come as a surprise to George Capwell himself. Capwell probably never thought that Emelec’s soccer team (which was, at its root, simply a way for Capwell to please his local workers) would grow to what it has become. For an American with a known dislike for soccer to have founded one of the country’s most popular teams is more than a little ironic.Capwell’s work in Ecuador stands as a nice contrast to his country’s generally more negative dealings in the region. Treating countries in Latin America like banana republic has, not surprisingly, brought contempt dislike upon the United States. The American government might have done well to follow the lead of George Capwell. Soccer, it turns out, is an excellent way to win hearts and minds.
Thanks to Emilio Rigazio of the Emelec fan club La Boca del Pozo for his help on this post.
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June 9th, 2007 11:32
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