You may not care much about football history, but to see an era of said history coming to an end sure is fascinating. How the Chilean team just sent home to Spain the former world champion… made me remember about Chileno, a friend from Santiago de Chile who used to play Capoeira with me while he lived in Berlin.
This was long ago, and I’m not sure whether he still practices Capoeira, neither do I know how much he cares about football. But right now, I’m sure you must be happy, Chileno. Last night was no easy victory, but it came relentlessly, as if it was bound to happen. When a chapter closes, another one starts. I’m happy when outsider chances are turned into realities – this is the kind of football I want to watch.
On a side note: “Chileno” got this name in our Capoeira group, back then. His civil name is Roberto, and as with many friends I’ve known through Capoeira, the nickname rings more lively and truthful to me. Not that it’s particularly artful to call a Chilean “Chileno”, but that’s just how naming inside Capoeira communities goes: the first association people have with you will stick to you, for better or worse.