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Port of Call |
LAST UPDATE July 12, 2005
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| site design imagesparkle.com |
| September 18, 2004 |
Cartagena, Colombia – Afro-Colombian Sports Exchange |
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| Afro-Colombian soccer team from Aroyo de Piedra |
Colombia is known for its high-level soccer - even in South America where powerful teams and players
abound. Many Colombian soccer players are scattered through the world's top leagues in Brazil, Argentina
and Europe. More than a few players grew up in poor communities like Aroyo de Piedra, a village where
Peace Ball experienced some of the passion of South American flavored futbol. The fourth port of play
for Peace Boat's soccer fanatics the "Peace Ball" team, Aroyo de Piedra is an hour outside
Cartagena, where the boat docked. |
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| Peace Ball captain donates balls to the village Vice President Tomas Nunez |
Starting in the 16th century Cartagena was a way station for slave traders and for centuries slave
ships poured in from the African continent. A number of black slaves were brought over for the construction
of the old city of Cartagena, which is now a UN World Heritage site. During this time, slaves who
fled from this backbreaking labor gathered and formed communities. These places grew to the point
that in 1743 the Spanish government recognized their existence and independence. Those freed slaves
descendants now live in black communities such as Aroyo de Piedra in the suburbs of Cartagena. |
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| The two teams battle for the ball |
Heading down the village's main road, Peace Ball members met up with local youth at the dirt soccer
pitch - a flat stretch of land tightly hugging the ocean and mangroves. Excited to play in such a
naturally beautiful spot, the Peace Ball group quickly got ready for the first of two matches. Inspired
by the tough competition, they kept tight control of the ball, sending defense-splitting passes up
the center and out the wings. Several shots banged off the goalposts or just wide, frustrating Peace
Ball until the Colombian side slipped inside the box in the last seconds to end the game 2-1 in their
favor. The Colombian side's first team of older boys had a distinct height advantage, but Peace Ball
was determined to give a tough game. Both sides battled back and forth with fine footwork and an equal
share of goals. The second half signaled a burst of shots that ended Peace Ball's chances with a 1-3
lose. |
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| The Aroyo de Piedra side eating lunch |
Walking back to the village, members from both sides exchanged shirts and laughed together reliving
their games over a lunch of homemade Colombian food. After eating, everyone gathered again to play
a game of softball, a popular sport in Colombia along with soccer. Just as the obsession with soccer
leads kids to use whatever materials are handy materials to make a ball and net, Colombians like to
say that softball is played with cardboard when no gloves are available. Men played together with
women softball players, who put on a display of their skill that easily matched the grace and power
the men had shown in their two soccer games. |
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| The Peace Boat audience is treated to a dance performance |
As dusk fell the crowd gathered for a welcome festival held for Peace Boat. A traditional dance play
with deep African roots was performed by local girls and boys, while some members from the ship presented
dances from around the world. Despite their long history of suffering, the community of Aroyo de Piedra
showed its determination to pull itself up through sports and song, much as their ancestors did in
freeing themselves from the bonds of slavery. |
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