7-a-side: from the Paralympics to the barrio

Created in Scotland for the 1978 “Cerebral Palsy International Games”, this football variation has quickly gained popularity among the less athletic of the bunch, the occasional player.

Throughout central Mexico is common to find amateur clubs, conformed by people of all ages and sizes, gathering at night on football pitches waiting for their turn to play. These leagues have become a great business for the pitch owners increasing the number of places to play all over the cities, indoor for the rainy season and outdoors for the rest of the year.

For many, this is the chance to live the dream of playing in a football league in a country where soccer is the sport by antonomasia. For the rest, is a perfect excuse to drink beer with the friends any night throughout the working week.

Pachuca, HGO, Mexico.

February 17^th, 2011.