By Charles Austin Boll

Sardinal Defeats San Juan de Abangares 5-4 to Win the Campeonato de Fútbol San Luis

Every Sunday, this small town of 500 ticos will pause – for soccer. San Luis de Monteverde hosts club teams that travel from surrounding areas to participate in the Campeonato de Fútbol San Luis.

This weekend brought together an unusually large crowd to enjoy the final match and celebration that inherently follows. The motorcade into the valley begins in the morning and continues throughout the early afternoon. Motorbikes, trucks and vans full of teammates head downhill in synchronicity.

The season’s final match was a tearjerker with momentum switching hands and leaving passionate fans dwelling uncomfortably in a tied game. The chorus of vuvuzelas, drum lines and vocal fans had plenty of opportunities to chant with the magnitude of goals during this championship round.

The single-string border on the far side of the pitch was held up for a comically short time. When the ball hits the net, fans spring towards their family members on the pitch with ecstatic praises and blessings. This beloved pastime is a looking glass to understand the philosophy of rural Costa Rican culture. As strictly and linearly as the Germans or Americans may play soccer, the ticos allow extra breathing space for a spirited celebration after scoring. The lack of regard for boundaries can be seen both on our soccer pitches and roads. 

A sketch is on top of the refreshment bar to notify everyone that the ranch over the hill is closed. Businesses in San Luis break to facilitate the unification of community for a wholesome cause.

It is easy to find sweet donuts, chicken, and pork served at the games. The community of San Luis is known within the league to always supply delicious and affordable food. The profits made from selling food will benefit an organization within the community, helping to fund community schools, the Asociación de Desarrollo Integral, or a family in need.

Local tournaments are conducted differently in Costa Rica. Every piece of the puzzle is a well-planned contribution by community volunteers. There will be a meeting at the San Luis Community Center tomorrow to discuss the allegation of many responsibilities.

The lawn needs to be mowed and the organization of funds has to be handled. All of the chalk, nets, fencing, and seating has gone up as a result of community participation. San Luis looks forward to bringing lights onto the soccer pitch.

The league included eight teams this season: San Juan de Abangares, El Dos, Sardinal, Pozo Azul, Monteverde, Santa Elena, San Luis, and Amigos de San Luis. There are very few degrees of separation between these teams. Even though they originate from a diversity of ecosystems from Guanacaste all the way up-country to Monteverde, many of the opponents are familiar with each other.

Neighborhood matches are the most involved social gathering of the community. The procession of motorcycles that lined up this weekend showed how many people traveled to experience the finale of a lively season.

Locals introduce extended family members and are frequenting the booth of refreshments in the splintering heat of the dry season. The traditional dance and live band after the final shows the hospitality between generations. Visitors catch a historical look into the people of San Luis, some of which have embraced this tradition on weekends for the past 40 years.

The local soccer match is just the common denominator to a much larger happening. Soccer is taken extremely seriously here – with good reason. The Costa Rican national team has an inspirational history of success within Central America and within the CONCACAF confederation of FIFA. Some ticos see the head coach of the National Team as a position with more importance than the presidency. With soccer holding such a revered status, each community in Costa Rica adds their own spice to the culture that is collectively craved during weekdays.

Charles Austin Boll is a Photojournalism Intern of UGA Costa Rica.