Supporting the Selecta

On Monday afternoon I was reading the paper when I came across an article that said the national soccer team, the "Selecta," would be playing a friendly match against Haiti here in El Salvador on Wednesday night. I knew I had to be in the capital all week for medical appointments and figured it would be fun to go see the team play one more time before heading home. We managed to get a group of friends together, picked up tickets and made it to the game.

From what I heard in the news, the soccer federation didn't expect the game to be well attended. As an incentive to get people to go to the game, tickets were 2 for 1. That means our $20 tickets turned into $10 tickets. Also, the sub-20 (younger guys) national team played the sub-20 Mexico team first. Tickets included admission to that game as well. The sub-20 team played a great game, which ended tied 1-1.

The national team game started almost on time. It was great seeing both teams take the field and have their national anthems played. After two years here, I almost have the whole national anthem down! While I do feel a little bad about cheering against Haiti, I loved cheering for my adopted country. El Salvador pulled off a 1-0 win in the game.

All told, it was a great night with good friends. I almost felt like a normal person again, sitting in a stadium watching a game. The fried plantain, peanut and panes vendors quickly broke that illusion. Sitting in the stadium, waiting for the game to start, I found myself lost in thought. I was thinking, that moment gave me a good sense of closure. I got to go to one last Selecta game, cheer on the country I love so much, celebrate with my Salvadorans, swear at the other team in Spanish, and feel such pride when we won. I can't wait to wear my blue and white and cheer on the Selecta next time they play a friendly match in the US!

(El Salvador [blue] sub-20 team vs. Mexico sub-20.)

(El Salvador and Haiti lined up for the national anthems. Look how much taller the Haitians [in red] are!)

(Sort of a group shot.)

(Lara, Emily, Hagan and Lauren. Two years into service and still cheering for the Selecta.)