In 2006, at the age of 44, with two international club titles under his belt, freddy calf he decided to leave a promising coaching career to immerse himself in politics. At the time, many were surprised by the unexpected turn. But whoever is the brains behind champion Chienciano has already decided to assemble a team to gain access to the mayor. San Martin de Porres.
He was neither the first nor the last in a long (increasingly) list of personalities in Peru who moved from grass to the political arena. Their cases are prime examples of how football has implications beyond spectacle and entertainment.
Long before, Antonio Makilonteam captain at the 1930 World Cup, was elected mayor of San Martín de Porres in 1950. A few years later, in 1970, the former goalkeeper Luis Suarez he became the first mayor of San Juan de Lurigancho. At the beginning of this century, the former Alliance midfielder Paul Hinostroza, “Churre”, became the highest authority in San Juan de Miraflores. While over the last decade Roberto “El Chorri” Palacios he worked as an alderman in his beloved Chorrillo. Another footballer, former referee Alberto Tejada is now completing his third term as mayor of San Borja.
For Pedro Ortiz Bisso, a sports and political journalist, the publicity that comes from football in many cases allows him to enter the political arena. “Sports, because of its popularity, the way it opens doors so easily…allows you to have a level of presence in different environments that the average person doesn’t have if you want to get into politics,” he says.
Regional and municipal elections – 2022 They are no exception to this story. We are looking at some of the names associated with football who are aspiring to join this list and become the new local authorities.
They take to the field
With several years already in these battles, George Forsyth conducts a new electoral process. Elected Mayor in 2018 Victory. Attracted by the media momentum of his administration, he tried his luck at Election 2021 unsuccessfully. The Civic Center of Lima is the next target for former goalkeeper Alianza Lima, who wears the jersey today We are Peru.
A special case, on the other hand, is the active football player. Miguel Rebolledo, which a few weeks ago played at the departmental stage of the Cup of Peru. Piuran Nueva Juventud de Lineas is aspiring to become the district councilor of Buenos Aires (Morropon Province). In this competition, he also comes with a shield We are Peru. “The offer to apply for an advisor position was born out of football and adds to the fact that I am a humble person,” he told El Popular newspaper.
The philosopher and professor at the University of Ruiz de Montoya Soledad Escalante believes that a football player has qualities associated with honor and effort that can pay off in the election campaign. “The leadership that an athlete, a footballer has, is fundamental because it is positive leadership. Teamwork is very important and it is a quality that is highly valued and much needed in politics,” he reflects.
The ones in black also apply
In addition to football players, former referees will also take part in this election, who will try to follow in the footsteps of their peer Alberto Tejada. In Arequipa, a former FIFA referee Victor Hugo Rivera He is a candidate for the provincial municipality of Arequipa from the movement “Together for the development of Arequipa”. While his colleague David Morales, who was also an international judge, is aiming to become mayor of Villa Maria del Triunfo with We are Peru.
Historian and journalist Jaime Pulgar Vidal argues that the crisis of representation in traditional political parties encourages more attention to proposals coming from other areas. “We live in what Vargas Llosa would call a civilization of spectacles. Where the most important thing is no longer rational questions, but emotional ones, in how we perceive ourselves, in what we used to stand out … and that this is not necessarily rational, but rather something rather passionate. And what could be more passionate than football?”, — comments the author of the book “Football, Politics and the Nation”.
From Leaders to Candidates
A separate chapter in this review deserves those actors who, although not inside the green rectangle, make decisions in the world of baseball. There are many cases when sports leaders became authorities and political representatives.
Oscar Medelius and Kurt Vollsports boys), Juvenal Silva (Scientific), Rofilio Neira (Inti Gas), Cesar Acuna (Cesar Vallejo University), Dante Mandrotti (Cantolao Academy), Alfredo Gonzalez (Sports University) are some names of directors who have served as mayors, governors, and congressmen.
For Pulgar Vidal, given the low authority of political parties, a football club allows you to get closer to the fans, potential voters. “Often the only thing that a citizen of civil society thinks represents him, where he built his identity, is his football team,” he argues.
In this election, we also find a former congressman Joaquin Ramirezwho was president UTC D Carlos Manucci, seeking to return to politics as mayor of Cajamarca with the Cajamarca Siempre Verde movement. In Cusco, the former boss of Chienciano, Edy Cuellar seeks access to the post of regional governor in the Inca Pachacutec group. At the same time, the former leader sports boysMiguel Monteverde will try to lead the Callao region with the Por Ti Callao movement.
The relationship between fans and managers can easily turn into an exchange of favors, says Pulgar Vidal. “When this manager wants to jump into politics, the voter thinks, “Since you did something good for me, you qualified my team for the Copa Sudamericana, now I will repay the favor by voting for you.” This is how these patronage relationships are established in football in the absence of political parties,” he notes.
Not everyone who sailed between these two waters had a good walk. Experts warn that success in one area (sports) does not guarantee good results in another (politics). Those who will be elected on October 2 will have to demonstrate with their efforts that the ball does not get dirty.
Source: RPP
I’m Liza Grey, an experienced news writer and author at the Buna Times. I specialize in writing about economic issues, with a focus on uncovering stories that have a positive impact on society. With over seven years of experience in the news industry, I am highly knowledgeable about current events and the ways in which they affect our daily lives.