2024-11-24 17:38:00
Brother, how could we not be here? If for years we suffer like everyone else, we swallow poison every weekend and we continue there, holding on to something that never comes because we have to go on because sometimes Racinglohacegrandesugenteyvosnoexistis.
If everything is enjoyment now, and everything was new to me when I was almost forty, how could we not do that? The 1,300-kilometre journey was punctuated by honking horns, flags at gas stations, shouts of encouragement and knowing glances. First Route 14, then Route 119, 12, 11, and finally here, In Asunciónwhere you see more T-shirts from the Academy than from Olympia or Cerro Porteño.
——Teacher, where will the car race? – asked me a skinny guy hitchhiking near the police post on the highway in the province of Entre Rios.
——In Paraguay. Are there many fans passing by?
Dictators don’t like this
The practice of professional and critical journalism is a fundamental pillar of democracy. That’s why it bothers those who think they have the truth.
——These things have not stopped happening for several days.
We were flanked by soybean fields, rows of eucalyptus trees forming an artificial forest, grain silos, the odd dairy cow, palm trees and the Paraná River always nearby. This national landscape, far removed from the everyday spectacle of football, is now the scene of a historic and unforgettable caravan, a pilgrimage of love: a pilgrimage for racing fans. We are lovers of these colors.
We are three generations of racing fans, living in different eras.
We set off at 5:30 on Thursday and slept in Corrientes that night. We left Corrientes at 5:30 on Friday and arrived in Asuncion at noon.
There were four of us in this car. My old Horacio, my son Benjamin, myself and Nico, a traveling companion whom we didn’t know until 6 o’clock on Thursday morning. We had mutual friends with Nico and he had a ticket to the final and he didn’t have the means to travel and we had a place. Racing closes the distance, racing unites.
We are three generations of racing fans, living in different eras. My old man, I saw Chango Cardenas’ goal from the stands at Montevideo’s Estadio Centenario. My generation went through 35 years without a title. My son was born and grew up in this age of friendliness, a time of travel and celebration and drinking.
We are here for Racing, but also because we have a responsibility to ourselves as fans, as a popular sport that we play: this adventure means traveling to other countries to watch Racing compete in an international final after 32 years.
We are here for the racing, but also because I like to think that this adventure will be a future, an indelible memory, my old man, my anecdotes, but most importantly my son’s anecdotes. A trip that, when I grow up, maybe neither me nor my old man will be there. I particularly like this: May racing create a situation and a feeling in your childhood and mark a happy milestone in your life.
1732472677
#generations #kilometers #inexplicable #passion
**How did the atmosphere and journey to Asunción reflect the passion and unity among Racing Club fans?**
**Interview with Football Fan Manuel Ortiz on Racing Club’s Historic Journey to Asunción**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us, Manuel! You just made a remarkable journey from Argentina to Asunción for the big Racing Club event. Can you tell us what compelled you and your fellow fans to make this trip?
**Manuel Ortiz:** Thank you for having me! Honestly, how could we not come? We’ve endured so much over the years, feeling the highs and lows of being Racing fans. It’s like swallowing poison every weekend, but we hold on. This event feels like a long-awaited reward for our loyalty and passion—something that makes all the suffering worthwhile.
**Interviewer:** That’s a powerful sentiment. You mentioned the atmosphere during your journey. What was it like traveling 1,300 kilometers to Asunción?
**Manuel Ortiz:** The journey was incredible! It was filled with excitement—honking horns, waving flags at gas stations, and shouts of encouragement from fellow fans. From Route 14 to Route 119, we were all united in our shared joy and anticipation. When we arrived in Asunción, I was amazed to see more Racing shirts than those of the local teams, Olympia and Cerro Porteño. It really highlights our strong presence and spirit.
**Interviewer:** Many fans you encountered seemed eager to join the festivities. Did you meet anyone unusual along the way?
**Manuel Ortiz:** Yes, indeed! I met a skinny guy hitchhiking who asked me if the car race was in Paraguay. It’s clear that the excitement has reached even those who might not follow football closely. It’s become a collective event, and you can feel the energy in the air—people are buzzing about it everywhere!
**Interviewer:** You’ve described this journey as a “historic and unforgettable caravan.” Can you elaborate on why this event is so significant for Racing fans?
**Manuel Ortiz:** Absolutely! This is more than just a game; it’s about unity and community among fans who have supported Racing through thick and thin. The landscape we passed—so many soybean fields and palm trees—felt like a pilgrimage, a testament to our undying commitment to the team. This event gives us hope and reminds us that our dedication never goes unnoticed.
**Interviewer:** It sounds like a once-in-a-lifetime experience for you and your fellow fans. What do you hope will come from this gathering?
**Manuel Ortiz:** I hope this event brings us victory, of course, but more importantly, I hope it strengthens our bonds as fans. We’ve suffered together, and now we get to celebrate together. It’s a powerful reminder that our shared love for Racing goes beyond wins and losses—it’s about coming together as one.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Manuel, for sharing your experience and insights. Enjoy the event!
**Manuel Ortiz:** Thank you! We’re ready to support Racing all the way!
