If you travel around the city of Lima or even around the little towns in other places like Cusco and Puno, I can assure you that you will see thousands of little kids, teenagers and even grownups playing soccer or also called “pichangas”. So logically if Peru has a population of more that 30 million people, we must have one of the best soccer teams in South America. We haven't gone to a world cup since before I was born, 1982 to be exact. Every 4 years we fill up with faith and passion but we end up being disappointed. People in Peru are so used to losing that if you go around Lima asking if they think Peru will win the next game, they would laugh and answer with confidence that it is impossible and that Peru sucks in soccer .
But is it that the FPF (Federación Peruana de Fútbol) is wrong and corrupt?, Is it the mindset that parents and adults have? Or both?
The former president of FPF Manuel Burga was just sent to jail and he is just being extradited to U.S very soon. Burga was the president of Peruvian soccer association for 15 years. 15 years that were thrown to the trash. No sign of improvements. But not only the Peruvian soccer team but also the league, where important teams like: Universitario de Deportes and Alianza lima play. Right now this two teams owe more than 200 million dollars to the FPF and nobody knows why. Pretty strange, don't you think?
But clearly we are blaming everything to the FPF and not really thinking correctly, neither are we able to tackle the problem from its roots. In Argentina every kid is placed in a soccer team and the parents want their kids to be soccer players as the first choice of profession. Then, after some years they notice if their kid it talented and passionate enough to keep going. In Peru the method is all turned around; Parents don't let their kids train soccer because they don't want them to get distracted from studies. Parents have the mentality that it is impossible to became a successful soccer player. So the safest way is the best way.
I am tired of seeing my country lose. I am tired of seeing lots of talent thrown away. I believe that the new president of the Peruvian Soccer Federation will not only give chances to youth that right now don't have any, but empower them and their families to believe in their talent. I aspire a future that instead of shouting at the television, like right now, I would be shouting goals with joy. I believe that this Tuesday we can beat Uruguay and get closer to Russia 2018.
But is it that the FPF (Federación Peruana de Fútbol) is wrong and corrupt?, Is it the mindset that parents and adults have? Or both?
The former president of FPF Manuel Burga was just sent to jail and he is just being extradited to U.S very soon. Burga was the president of Peruvian soccer association for 15 years. 15 years that were thrown to the trash. No sign of improvements. But not only the Peruvian soccer team but also the league, where important teams like: Universitario de Deportes and Alianza lima play. Right now this two teams owe more than 200 million dollars to the FPF and nobody knows why. Pretty strange, don't you think?
But clearly we are blaming everything to the FPF and not really thinking correctly, neither are we able to tackle the problem from its roots. In Argentina every kid is placed in a soccer team and the parents want their kids to be soccer players as the first choice of profession. Then, after some years they notice if their kid it talented and passionate enough to keep going. In Peru the method is all turned around; Parents don't let their kids train soccer because they don't want them to get distracted from studies. Parents have the mentality that it is impossible to became a successful soccer player. So the safest way is the best way.
I am tired of seeing my country lose. I am tired of seeing lots of talent thrown away. I believe that the new president of the Peruvian Soccer Federation will not only give chances to youth that right now don't have any, but empower them and their families to believe in their talent. I aspire a future that instead of shouting at the television, like right now, I would be shouting goals with joy. I believe that this Tuesday we can beat Uruguay and get closer to Russia 2018.