“We always dreamed of having a stadium like this. We felt left behind and we didn’t imagine having it like other clubs, but the mayor made a commitment to us and he kept his promise. We are happy because this is a substantial improvement in terms of sport and for the whole environment,” said Carlos Cabrera, president of the Real Zaragoza Sports Club, with his eyes filled with tears, following the ribbon cutting that marked, this Saturday, the long-awaited official inauguration of the new Purén Municipal Stadium, with synthetic carpet, following 60 years of waiting.
“This is spectacular for the children and seniors who played on dirt and who were thrown from one side to the other because there was no synthetic field. It was a wonderful dream that we wanted to fulfill in an emblematic sector. We are grateful to the municipality because we have waited for it for many years,” confessed an emotional Jaime González, president of the club from the neighboring Población 20 de Agosto, Unión Católica, but which also plays at home in this emblematic venue.
Dream and commitment
The mayor of Chillán, Camilo Benavente, declared that “this new venue will give dignity to the neighbors, players and leaders of Real Zaragoza and Unión Católica, who play their home games in this sector, because for years they have longed for this project and we made a strong commitment to the leadership of Real Zaragoza and we fulfilled our promise so that the community, children, youth and adults here have a decent field to play soccer.”
Players from both teams applauded the new infrastructure that will dignify the practice of football in a historic neighborhood close to the center of Chillán.
“I think it’s great, because before we used to sweep each other on the pitch and we would all touch each other’s knees. Playing here and winning will be wonderful, a great project,” said a happy Facundo Aguilera, a Real Zaragoza youth player.
“I am happy because it was difficult to get a pass here before. Thank you very much for this beautiful pitch,” said his teammate, Bastián Pradenas.
“Before, when it rained, this pitch would be filled with water and mud and we would end up with the kickers buried. Now we have this stadium and we have to enjoy it and take care of it,” confessed Vicente Araos, a child player for Unión Católica.
The Purén Municipal Stadium was built on land owned by Serviu, with usufruct in favor of the local municipality that invested more than $600 million pesos, through a tender executed by three companies.
The works included synthetic grass, drinking water, drainage for rainwater, new perimeter fencing, arches, flags, benches for substitutes and maintenance of the premises.
The ceremony was attended by the new Presidential Delegate of Ñuble, Rodrigo García Hurtado, councilors Queene Aitken and Yanina Contreras and councilors Rodrigo Ramírez, Ricardo Valdebenito and Pedro Sánchez.
The opening party was crowned with a choripanada for more than 300 people where joy, excitement and fellowship reigned.
The first to use the synthetic carpet of the Municipal Purén Stadium were the children from the lower divisions of both teams. Later, there was a friendly between the adult and senior divisions of Real Zaragoza and Unión Católica. The day was sealed by the senior teams 60′ of Cóndor and Real Zaragoza, who compete in the Aprofuse League. The dream was now a reality.
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