Comments on: Soccer in the Atacama Desert http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/10/23/soccer-in-the-atacama-desert/ Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:18:31 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Julio Gallardo http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/10/23/soccer-in-the-atacama-desert/comment-page-1/#comment-91223 Julio Gallardo Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:25:24 +0000 http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/10/23/soccer-in-the-atacama-desert/#comment-91223 Hello everyone. Here I find myself looking and reading about soccer in the USA, and how it had affected the immigration of professional soccer player to this country (for a college essay). Surprisingly, I found these pictures and they touch me. Because I am from Chile, from the city of Antofagasta that is to the coast of the Atacama Desert, and it is so rewarding to see such recondite and forgotten place reaching us as a reminder that simple things are still available to all of us. It is impressive to see that the spirit of the most popular sport in the world can reach these hidden places around the world, but it is so hard to understand that football is still having struggles to reach this country simply because racial issues or discrimination reasons. For example, Jack Kemp said, “I think it is important for all those young out there, who someday hope to play real football, where you throw it and kick it and run with it and put it in your hands, a distinction should be made that football is democratic, capitalism, whereas soccer is a European socialist [sport].” I hope this mentality changes soon for the sake of the sport in this country and the people who practice it. Keep up the good work. Hello everyone. Here I find myself looking and reading about soccer in the USA, and how it had affected the immigration of professional soccer player to this country (for a college essay). Surprisingly, I found these pictures and they touch me. Because I am from Chile, from the city of Antofagasta that is to the coast of the Atacama Desert, and it is so rewarding to see such recondite and forgotten place reaching us as a reminder that simple things are still available to all of us. It is impressive to see that the spirit of the most popular sport in the world can reach these hidden places around the world, but it is so hard to understand that football is still having struggles to reach this country simply because racial issues or discrimination reasons. For example, Jack Kemp said, “I think it is important for all those young out there, who someday hope to play real football, where you throw it and kick it and run with it and put it in your hands, a distinction should be made that football is democratic, capitalism, whereas soccer is a European socialist [sport].”
I hope this mentality changes soon for the sake of the sport in this country and the people who practice it. Keep up the good work.

]]> By: This Is American Soccer, US Soccer, MNT, WNT, and MLS » Blog Archive » tias en espanol http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/10/23/soccer-in-the-atacama-desert/comment-page-1/#comment-70717 This Is American Soccer, US Soccer, MNT, WNT, and MLS » Blog Archive » tias en espanol Tue, 27 Jan 2009 15:47:00 +0000 http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/10/23/soccer-in-the-atacama-desert/#comment-70717 [...] players like nowhere else in the world. I find myself driving and seeing beautiful fields that we don’t have in South America, and they’re empty and it’s sad. I think of all the times when I was little and thought, I wish [...] [...] players like nowhere else in the world. I find myself driving and seeing beautiful fields that we don’t have in South America, and they’re empty and it’s sad. I think of all the times when I was little and thought, I wish [...]

]]> By: David http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/10/23/soccer-in-the-atacama-desert/comment-page-1/#comment-4554 David Tue, 30 Oct 2007 01:40:29 +0000 http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/10/23/soccer-in-the-atacama-desert/#comment-4554 Lorik - I have heard of Hans van der Meer and have always wanted to get my hands on some of his books. Perhaps I will try to do so and see if I can arrange an interview with him. I love his photographs. Lorik – I have heard of Hans van der Meer and have always wanted to get my hands on some of his books. Perhaps I will try to do so and see if I can arrange an interview with him. I love his photographs.

]]> By: Lorik Cana http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/10/23/soccer-in-the-atacama-desert/comment-page-1/#comment-4539 Lorik Cana Mon, 29 Oct 2007 19:18:47 +0000 http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/10/23/soccer-in-the-atacama-desert/#comment-4539 By the way, the photographer I mentioned above also made a photobook about "The other final" http://www.theotherfinal.com. Both his photobook and the documentary are a real treat for people who like football in it's essence, stripped of the usual hysteria. By the way, the photographer I mentioned above also made a photobook about “The other final” http://www.theotherfinal.com. Both his photobook and the documentary are a real treat for people who like football in it’s essence, stripped of the usual hysteria.

]]> By: Lorik Cana http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/10/23/soccer-in-the-atacama-desert/comment-page-1/#comment-4537 Lorik Cana Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:57:15 +0000 http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/10/23/soccer-in-the-atacama-desert/#comment-4537 I don't know if you are familiar with this photographer, but check out his website: http://www.hansvandermeer.nl/ He has made photos of pitches in amateur leagues all over Europe, and they all have that grassroots atmosphere to them. I myself like that picture of Knippla, Sweden best. I don’t know if you are familiar with this photographer, but check out his website: http://www.hansvandermeer.nl/

He has made photos of pitches in amateur leagues all over Europe, and they all have that grassroots atmosphere to them. I myself like that picture of Knippla, Sweden best.

]]> By: Gus http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/10/23/soccer-in-the-atacama-desert/comment-page-1/#comment-4375 Gus Thu, 25 Oct 2007 19:20:49 +0000 http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/10/23/soccer-in-the-atacama-desert/#comment-4375 Have been lurking on your site for a bit - really enjoy your comments. So when I saw this article about my home country, I had to post. Truth be told, even in the southern parts of Chile where rain is not unheard of, a majority of the fields are patches of dirt mixed with stains of grass and rocks. But, no one cares. Just playing the game we all love is good enough - no matter where. Great pics. Keep up the good work. Have been lurking on your site for a bit – really enjoy your comments. So when I saw this article about my home country, I had to post. Truth be told, even in the southern parts of Chile where rain is not unheard of, a majority of the fields are patches of dirt mixed with stains of grass and rocks. But, no one cares. Just playing the game we all love is good enough – no matter where. Great pics. Keep up the good work.

]]> By: David http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/10/23/soccer-in-the-atacama-desert/comment-page-1/#comment-4359 David Thu, 25 Oct 2007 17:31:26 +0000 http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/10/23/soccer-in-the-atacama-desert/#comment-4359 Ignacio - My brother is the one who is in Chile so I don't know what the weather is like down there. Sorry! Ignacio – My brother is the one who is in Chile so I don’t know what the weather is like down there. Sorry!

]]> By: Ignacio http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/10/23/soccer-in-the-atacama-desert/comment-page-1/#comment-4340 Ignacio Wed, 24 Oct 2007 23:01:13 +0000 http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/10/23/soccer-in-the-atacama-desert/#comment-4340 There are some great teams from Northern Chile playing in Division 1 of the Chilean league. What is weather when you are playing soccer? Soccer is life; everything else is details There are some great teams from Northern Chile playing in Division 1 of the Chilean league. What is weather when you are playing soccer? Soccer is life; everything else is details

]]> By: lawrence cann http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/10/23/soccer-in-the-atacama-desert/comment-page-1/#comment-4312 lawrence cann Wed, 24 Oct 2007 00:29:34 +0000 http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/10/23/soccer-in-the-atacama-desert/#comment-4312 Wow, great to see pictures of the atacama. i have enjoyed your blog immensely in general, and am just commenting here because i played for a club and a university in chile. one thing about the grassless fields. there are ubiquitous in south america, africa too. our university team in vina del mar (actually universidad de la catalica de valparaiso) trained on a dirt pitch. the only problem was when the lights were cut out during the middle of our practices due to periodic black outs which were due to the drout. anyway, i love your blog, i have played my whole life, all over the world, and now i run a street soccer progam for the homeless and am responsible for organizing the us team to the homeless world cup. keep up the good work, lawrence Wow, great to see pictures of the atacama. i have enjoyed your blog immensely in general, and am just commenting here because i played for a club and a university in chile. one thing about the grassless fields. there are ubiquitous in south america, africa too. our university team in vina del mar (actually universidad de la catalica de valparaiso) trained on a dirt pitch. the only problem was when the lights were cut out during the middle of our practices due to periodic black outs which were due to the drout. anyway, i love your blog, i have played my whole life, all over the world, and now i run a street soccer progam for the homeless and am responsible for organizing the us team to the homeless world cup. keep up the good work, lawrence

]]> By: David http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/10/23/soccer-in-the-atacama-desert/comment-page-1/#comment-4264 David Tue, 23 Oct 2007 04:16:28 +0000 http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/10/23/soccer-in-the-atacama-desert/#comment-4264 I have to say that one thing that really struck me about these pictures is the fact that girls were playing. The stereotype is that women in Latin America don't play soccer and so seeing a girls' team in an incredibly rural and indigenous was a (pleasant) surprise to me. I have to say that one thing that really struck me about these pictures is the fact that girls were playing. The stereotype is that women in Latin America don’t play soccer and so seeing a girls’ team in an incredibly rural and indigenous was a (pleasant) surprise to me.

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