Nearly 27,000 people celebrated this Friday at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, the goal of Davinson Sánchez, 28, from Cauca, who with his play contributed to raising the score in the Copa América match against Costa Rica. After several attempts he put Colombia’s score at 2-0, in a contest that ended with the tricolor winning 3-0.
Sánchez’s goal is the best news they receive these days in Cauca, which is currently impacted by the violence that hits the region. This department, which lives off the cultivation of sugar cane, and others such as corn, sorghum, soybeans, coffee, cocoa and cassava, literally comes to a standstill when there is a meeting like the one this Friday in Arizona: because there are the duo of Caucano defenders Yerry Mina and Dávinson Sánchez, two of his favorite sons.
When the Colombian National Team plays, In Caloto and Guachené everyone dusts off their jerseys and gathers in the streets. People gather wherever there is a television or radio broadcasting the matches. It is almost a holiday in both municipalities, with an average population, each, of 20,000 inhabitants.
Yerry was born in Guachené on September 23, 1994, and Davinson in Caloto on June 12, 1996, neighboring municipalities, no more than 30 minutes away by road; both affected by the armed conflict. There they grew up until their passion for sport took them to distant lands. The first plays today for Cagliari Calcio in Italy’s Serie A; and the other in Galatasaray SK of the Turkish Super League.
How did two young Caucans manage to stand out in such a competitive world? This is a recurring question, and the answer, with its variations, is very similar to that of many Latin American players of humble origins. However, throughout the history of these municipalities it has been said that their young people breathe sport there. Their days revolve around the ball or the ball of any discipline, with the dream of becoming high-performance athletes.
Yerry Mina or Davinson Sánchez are today an inspiration for new generations who see sports as an opportunity to get ahead and support their families. This is due to the fact that mayors and governors have wanted to prioritize sport in their management plans.
In recent times, for example, Guachené has strengthened its sports schools, and the demand from local coaches has always been the same: to be able to have scenarios in line with local talent.
A few years ago, sports were practiced there in mud and without grass. Times have changed, and improvements are reported; But there is still much to do, they say.
