South American Football match - Colo Colo vs Palmeiras
1.5.09
'Ohhh...are you going to the football....Ohhhh.....be careful.....don't take that map out anywhere.'
So excited about two Australians attending 'the match', Humberto offered us his prized ColoColo t-shirt and set us of with train directions to the stadium.
The hype started on the train and you could feel the build up as we approached the stadium. Confetti paper was being tossed in the air everywhere as we disembarked the train and headed towards the 'Salida' (exit). The chants were coming out thick and fast and the crowds seemed to be in a hurry. (We realised later that the game was starting shortly – 9pm when we thought it started at 930pm).
We passed through the gates, the security pat down and made our way towards the noise. The security guard asked Stuart if he had any inciendiares – ie fireworks. Nope, so he let us in. Stuart and I were in the tamer 'family section' of the stadium and had a great view of the crowds. I guess it was fair to say that we were more interested in being amongst the crowds hype than the game itself.
There were riot police EVERYWHERE. The streets were lined with many horse-backed crowd control police and the stadium was not short of barb wired division fences, full armoured crowd control police and high security. The police buses were heavily armoured. All the windows were covered in metal mesh. The South Americans seem to be so passionate about their games that replays were not allowed and a public time/clock board was not visible.
It was interesting however as we sat near the Brazilian area. 99% of the stadium was full of ColoColo fans and the other 1% of Brazillians in their 2.5m protective cage, protected by armoured guards. They needed the protection we suspect. It was quite overwhelming to hear their chants and the 'raven-like whistle'....a screeching sound you'd expect to hear in the Blaire Witch Project. Interestingly the Chileans don't boo, but they whistle.
There was no alcohol sold on the premise but plenty of Coca Cola – all the soda was sold out of glass bottles – not fountain soda – and poured into paper cups for consumption. No pies but plenty of empanadas!
There were plenty of theatrics from the players – we're not sure which team were getting the most votes for the Oscars but certainly the Colo Colo fans voiced their derision when the Palmeiras team chipped their pinky finger nails or hurt a shin...
We left just before the finish to catch the train home. Curious also as the train station closes its gates at 11pm sharp and then you have about 30 or 40 minutes to get to your destination. The trains keep running but you can't get into a station after 11pm. It does seem strange that the trains finish so early when some of the restaurants don't even open until 9pm!!
Palmeiras won in the 93rd minute with one man down – after we left. Humborto advised on our return to Hotel Londres of the loss and that the top Colo Colo player being injured in the first 15 minutes of the game spelled 'the end' for Colo Colo. We suspect we were lucky to not be around the distressed Colo Colo fans after the game... ;*)
Anita and Stuart
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Posted byStuart Kane at 11:36 PM