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The final enthralling piece on the birth, growth and anecdotes of Rugby and life in Bolivia.
COULORFUL ANECDOTES ON TOUR Clubs from Santa Cruz had made several trips full of colourful anecdotes. "We've tried to make a trip once a year", accounts Guillermo from Jenecherú. "The first one was to Salta's Zenta RC. We were 25 in a little 20-seat bus, but it was beautiful and proud profit for us. The year after, we travelled to Tucumán, because we wanted to introduce the Bolivian guys about our grassroots. We all attended to a match between the provincial side and Heartland XV, a kiwi team. They were fascinated of watching a Haka from meters away. There was the baptism, Fernet as our drink, laughs, tears, everything sum up to be a great tour. For me, it was wonderful sharing a pitch with all my friends, the older and the newer ones". Martín goes insight these trips as well: "In the Bolivia-Argentina border, one of our players tells me he had forgotten his ID to continue travelling to Argentina, then I asked him another piece of documentation and mixed it up with the rest. Once we reach the Gerdarmerie Officer he advises me 'One of the boys cannot cross'. A pain to know that the boy had already spoke to the officer about the situation and we could do nothing about him. Therefore I offered him money to come back to Santa Cruz. Surprised I found myself when half a day after we arrived to Tucumán the same boy was at the hotel's entrance 'Neither crazy nor sick I was going to lose this trip'. "In Salta, once we finished Zenta's match, we had a barbeque's and head to a bar. Carlos Uequin, my roommate, said he was going to the hotel for a couple of minutes but never came back. Then, we decided to attend a Folk Festival. We were back by 9 am and we found Carlos in the lobby, looking for us to go touring Salta's night. Another one was coming back, in Araguay, Gerdarmerie stopped our bus and informed us we were all arrested. After explaining we were a touring rugby team, they asked us to talk with the base chief. In the end, he let us continue. Everything came up due to a family travelling in a car that saw us baptising the newcomers and made a formal complaint". Pablo adds as well stories from Santa Cruz's tours. "Our first trip was to Corumbá to back their courtesy of coming for the 1st Copa Bolivia. It's a border-city where the boys played their first ever muddy pitch rugby match. They had to have the ball as close to the pack as possible and let it in play only when timely. Both teams after the match finished teaching to each other ways of playing. We also went to Tartagal, as far as our pockets let us travel, arriving just in time, with no rest and a couple of injured guys. We learned, as managers, what not to do. Much fun we had to see all newcomers half bald walking at night in the streets, and the expectations to check who was next in queue". The third trip saw them inroad to Campo Grande, in Brazil. "We went by plane and it was a big effort: raffles, fund raisers. We played two full matches the same day, dividing experience and youth. The funniest came in the tercer tiempo. Players from both teams, speaking different languages and trying to understand themselves in portuñol (a mix between Portuguese and Spanish) to talk about the match". Last but not least, "we head to San Salvador de Jujuy, with two divisions: U18s staying at their host houses, to generate respect and friendship with the locals. We realised we were closer to the competition in the north of Argentina, but to compensate our shortcomings, we supplied our self-esteem. The referee noticed the young ones inexperience and explained every single action, he was very didactic. Our boys are able to play first and second phase rugby, lacking of continuity. After the match between the adults, those same young ones flirted with girls from Jujuy, and started to receive back massages to relax their body". Martín closes: "As far as I'm concerned, when Jenecherú travelled to play Beach Rugby in Arica, Chile, one of the guys had to stay one more day than expected because he lost his ID. In the Police Station, Chileans' policemen told him about his irresponsibility and that he had to stay for a while before leaving the country. The funniest of them all happened when Carlos Uequín told Jose Graña he wished to found a pet for the baptism's haircutting and Graña took him to a pet shop".
THE NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK: UDABOL Y UPB Up to this point, Universitario had only played 3 matches, 2 at home and 1 away. Time and distance between the cities, weather conditions, the roads' woeful state, and specifically, study and work reasons have complicated their situation. However, thanks to the birth of the first University clubs in Bolivia, a new horizon is on the sight. UPB, new Cochabamba's team, might be ideal for Pilo Anaya's crew. "We've found a terrific predisposition from UPB to launch rugby and we're now training together. Our first clash is planned for April aiming to repeat it every two months. We want to insert as well matches against the teams from Santa Cruz, Best case scenario would be 3 home and 3 away matches, and we're going to do everything to participate in Copa Bolivia 2008. Along UDABOL in Santa Cruz, UPB is the first university to support rugby. Thanks to Pablo Ocampo's enthusiasm we know can ring the bell in other universities and perhaps, in the foreseeable future have a league soon". Martín Alcorta and José Graña, both ex Jenecherú, gave birth to UDABOL, the first camba University team. Martín explains the reasons behind the scenes: "We had two main goals: the main one is spread the sport around the city, the second one to get guys from both clubs in a joint commitment to scrap the enmity. We invited players already studying somewhere else to imitate the project and raise their own teams. We offer support and guidelines on how to start from scratch taking it step by step. We should go hand by hand with the boys' education, complementing it with rugby values: goodwill men, partners, friends, pawing spirit and lastly, great players". So far, the proposal had good response, even with teachers approaching. What about joining to a club? Jenecherú, as an example, was offered to pay 1200 USD per month to associate to Club Hípico but the facilities were inadequate for rugby practice. Nowadays, Jenecherú's has an accessible fee which is about 6 USD a month. In Santa Cruz players only contribute less than a dollar-a practice to pay for their training pitch lightings". UDABOL had its first match against Universitario from Cochabamba in camba land. The result, hugely in favour of the formers, had to do with experience. Martín points out: "Beyond the final score, I enjoyed our guys' happiness. They came from Jenecherú and Santa Cruz and felt like having played together forever, they left differences aside. We had a trainer that, at first instance, denied to release their players. If necessary I'm willing to discuss and explain the idea behind this. We want players from both teams to help newcomers and thus rugby becoming more attractive for them. Our final desire is having a full pool of UDABOL players, though in first instance I reckon we should continue with this disposition. Let's face it: The guys do not play in a regular basis. We should focus on offering them the chance to play as much as possible and let them having fun". The match anecdote's thanks to the courtesy from Juan Manuel D'arruda, nicknamed as Pincher. "Universitario had some missing players, that's why some of our boys, Pincher among them, completed their line up. Getting to the dusk of the game, referee calls a penalty and advises that it was the last play. We lined in defence prepared to play the ball. However, Pincher, surprising everyone, kicked into touch and the referee almost yelling at him pointed 'What's in your mind, how dare you to kick into touch if I told you it was the last play!' After the final laughs, they watched the semifinal between England and France and shared rugby stories. The visit had its second part when UDABOL went to Cochabamba. A crowd of around 300 showed up, which accounted for a great number taking that the same day Bolivia's Football team was playing for the Football WCQ's. Though the coverage was not as good as in 2006, ads showing up in the city generated the interest of new enthusiasts that started training as soon as January 2008.
FACING THE ADVERSITY Rugby faces two adversities: Lack of sporting culture and short knowledge of its meaning. However, Bolivian-born players made up a higher percentage than before among the active rugby population. Pablo Lavezzo acknowledges that a helping source would be foreign workers. English, South Africans and French work in the oil companies, and some of them hold positions at schools. "Foreigners should be our safe bet at schools thanks to their deeply knowledge of the game. At Universities once we got word support, we might continue with our ongoing methods. On the other hand, we have the football clubs, but they're not interested in other sports. Their managers close doors even before letting you explain how we might help". The sixth team is taking shape in Colegio Militar de Aviación, in Santa Cruz. Martín Acosta explains that their aim is to take a first run up, even though they can't see the sport fully consolidated. Their target are guys aged between 5 and 22, their aim involving them with the sport and forge competition, the only way he sees for Governmental entities can give their support. "Let's think and analyse all the time rugby took to take off and grow in Argentina" and clarifies "If we wish to make a comparison, there's a long way to go. We want it to develop in a blink of an eye because back in Argentina we had everything setup and just had to play at weekends. Today, our roles are different, and it's good to be mindful of the reality, but with self-confidence". Pablo attaches that along rugby's growth, Bolivia hopes to participate actively with a national side at South American level not far beyond in the sight, but first they should draft a method to attract new players, which is the main goal: "We need to work in every area and prepare to become good managers, coaches, and players, we've to learn how to apply methods besides common sense". Pilo Anaya continues: "We've a huge task, uncommon in major rugby nations: Develop grown up inexperienced players. Imagine how difficult it's to make football lovers understand that the ball should be passed backwards. The same when travelling with the club, you might wake up bald with your face painted and full of toothpaste. We have a Bolivian who was brought up in Argentina and played there since he was a kid. He knows what everything is about and right now, a 12 year old who spent two years living and playing south of the border is very willing to retake the sport here. Our plans are to visit primary and high schools, and with the help from UPB launch a little school project for them as well". None of the Bolivian sides have an own rugby pitch. They've to rent pitches to train and play, if not public parks being the answer. Recruiting is by mouth, in educational institutions, in gyms or with any advertisement. Guigo Griet points: "Ruggers learn how to overcome obstacles. We make big efforts to travel: raffles, kermesses. We knock every neighbourhood door. We don't have medical insurance, because the insurers rather give it to the parachutist than to the 'crazy hitting-heads no-helmet bunch'. Moreover, different to what it happens in many countries, in Bolivia rugby is not the sport of the elite: Some of our players work at night in printing workshops or handle baggage in the airport. Many of them are not able to cost themselves a trip, even to Cochabamba. But the effort is everywhere: We've designed a scrum machine and made it weld, the same way we designed posts, rucking shields, contact pads. Balls and shirts we bring them from Argentina". Anaya completes: "Sincerely, I think rugby won't leave Bolivia and we Bolivians, we don't let rugby leave. The three teams from Santa Cruz had always been there for us and here, both teams are trying to go together, bringing rugby to other neighbourhoods and checking what's going on around the country". In respect of this, two brothers from Cochabamba left to La Paz and are trying to get a group and start the sport in the capital city. An Oruro's group, Oruro Royal RFC, gave it a shot as well by training in sand flats, 3500 meters above sea level. "We got in touch and visited them. After cold huaris (a drink from the zone), we left balls, a rules handbook and CDs. Oruro's geographical situation makes rugby a hard sport to play. They're a bit passive nowadays but we're considering to visit them or inviting them to Cochabamba", explains Anaya. In fact, there's a Griet proposal on the table to join all teams in Bolivia: "I'm planning to hold an all-Bolivia meeting on April 12th. We want to open the season and I've the feeling that we might be able not only to play but to inspire new teams to establish themselves, evaluate the situation and start talking about a nearer future's Union".
WAYS TO DEVELOPING AN UNION The establishment of a Union is yet a pending issue. There's a statute that had been developed to structure the activity in Bolivia. Pilo Anaya explains that to become a legal entity, according to national laws, a Union has to be made up of clubs with a legal personality. As well, the Union should have a minimum number of teams and once formed, they might be ready to apply for CONSUR's membership with the aim to participate as guests in Sudamericano B as a truly goal.
Guillermo Griet's opinion: "Sport Secretary and the Olympic Committee have several issues at the moment to grasp at us. First we've to consolidate ourselves and find a way to form a Union. Patience is our strength, create 'rugby men' a first term goal and only as a consequence, a transparent, positive political structure, for and on behalf of Bolivian Rugby". Pablo Lavezzo and Martín Alcorta agree that after the good support when the story started, once Pipo Viale had to come back to Argentina due to health reasons, Hugo Porta's CONSUR's didn't lift the phone even once to agree terms to send at least technical communications. After Viale, nobody took notice of the needed support. They hope that with Roberto Paganini's presidency, situation may change. Griet persists: "We grow thanks to the effort of the Bolivians. We'll have to gain our place in the world of rugby by our own merits". As well as moral support, all new or used material is of huge need: balls, contact pads, rucking shields will be very appreciated in the last South American country to play rugby. Heading into the regional scene, Youth competitions in Argentina are held between the provincial sides and national sides from Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. Asked about how an inclusion should work, Martín underlines: "I doubt playing in Argentina would be convenient at this point, we're talking about teams high above our level. I think that with Ecuador, we should group ourselves to Peru, Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil and therefore design important things. It would bear fruits to all of us". Guillermo closes: "Perhaps, more matches in between, we might get the experience and be able to confront other South American sides in club level. On the other hand, as a national side, I don't have a single doubt that besides the Big 3, we would be able to match the national sides from Sudamericano B. Let's hope we can compete against them in the near future".
THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE SEASON: COPA BOLIVIA October's last weekend will see the 4th edition of Copa Bolivia. The tournament, main highlight of Bolivian rugby, is a 40 minutes-a match affair that took shape thanks to Santa Cruz RC. The cup started as an initiative of the club, prosecuting rugby spread in 2005. The last edition, featured Santa Cruz RC and Jenecherú RC, Universitario, Universidad Católica and Zenta RC from Salta, Universitario from Tucumán, Suri RC from Jujuy and Antapacay from Antofagasta, Chile. With unquestionable dedication, Santa Cruz RC invites foreign teams that besides having a superior play level, compete hand by hand with Bolivian teams. This Cross Border tournament is ideal to show the city's privileged geographic situation. The main goal is to have teams from all bordering countries. The club is targeting Copa Bolivia as the premier event of Bolivian Rugby and they'd like to: set up the window in CONSUR's calendar; join efforts to have participating teams from every bordering country; strengthen their infrastructure and continue with the ongoing competition format. We'll be open-eyes for the instances of this new edition.
THE LITTLE RUGBIERS Guillermo Griet is on charge of Jenecherú's kids. About 30 boys from 5 to 13 learn the game every Sunday morning. "It's the ideal age to assimilate the game's knowledge. So far we're getting excellent results. At this point we've a pair of M-18 that rose through our seedbed. We'd like to see Santa Cruz RC taking their own project and therefore help perfect all boys' education while sharing a tercer tiempo". Every summer, Griet has a free little rugby school where he teaches individual skills with a massive showing. Since last semester, both camba teams established their own M-18 divisions, and Santa Cruz has their own M-16, fully made up by Bolivian boys. They're the future of Altiplanic rugby and, perhaps, the base of a national side in the incoming years. As far as Cochabamba is concerned, priority number one is take up again kids' field by making the most of RWC2007 spread. Last year they were a bit careless, but they've today about 12 kids giving shape to Pipo Viale's school. "We need adults' team support to keep it. Due to lacking of resources we weren't able to get it ahead properly but I trust that this year things will be different. We need dozens of parents trusting our boys, supporting them in every tackle and cheering up for them in every run. We've to train, spread and help to establish new clubs, renew material, get appropriate training fields and play as much as we can. But we should not lose our horizon and what rugby needs to mark in everyone's life: virtues and ethics. In a personal basis, I've a debt and that is widespread rugby all around Bolivia. Of course, I've my heart in my club but I wish rugby to get to everyone's door and heart". All the interviewed thanked the support given in their challenges: the Italian rugger who visited Santa Cruz, Venezuelans who ran aground in Cochabamba, the bumping into characters that link to rugby in these lands. Griet closes our trip: "Bolivian rugby does exist, and it's a good one, I can assure you'll have news about it pretty soon. And if any rugger, team, club or national side wish to visit this beautiful country, we've our arms wide open to receive all of you".
To know more about Bolivia's rugby you can check up these web sites: http://rugbydebolivia.blogspot.com, http://jenecherurugbyclub.blogspot.com, http://www.santacruzrugby.com, http://rugby-cochabamba.blogspot.com. |
