Often soccer with me. Why have Venezuela historically been massive under achievers ? Population wise I think of Plymouth
7 December 2016
EXXO
Venezuela is the only large South American country in which football was not the most popular 20th century sport, probably being 3rd most popular for most of that time, and is still probably in second place to baseball. A few years ago in better times there were about 6 clubs with an average attendance of over 6,000 …. this season there isn’t one…. Tranmere have better attendances than most of their top-flight clubs.
7 December 2016
this leaden paul
The economic situation in Venezuela could also be said to be a factor in that.
9 December 2016
dickhead in quicksand
David Munrow travelled South America recording different sounds. Does that count?
10 December 2016
EXXO
@TLP: that’s what I meant by ‘in better times’. But when Venezuela was relatively oil-rich it still didn’t help their football much.
11 December 2016
EXXO
@Peter: Great progress meanwhile for Venezuelan women’s football, currently the best on the continent at U-17 level, and rivalling Brasil for U-20 dominance.
An important milestone tonight at club football level, as tonight’s South American club final (Copa Libertadores Feminina), a competition usually dominated by the Brazilians, sees Estudiantes de Guarico from small-town provincial Venezuela take on the almost equally unheralded Paraguayan side Sportivo Limpeño.
And can we find any mention of this whatsoever on the main Venezuelan sports websites, national papers, etc ? Nope.
Peter mcornotholgist
Often soccer with me. Why have Venezuela historically been massive under achievers ? Population wise I think of Plymouth
7 December 2016
EXXO
Venezuela is the only large South American country in which football was not the most popular 20th century sport, probably being 3rd most popular for most of that time, and is still probably in second place to baseball. A few years ago in better times there were about 6 clubs with an average attendance of over 6,000 …. this season there isn’t one…. Tranmere have better attendances than most of their top-flight clubs.
7 December 2016
this leaden paul
The economic situation in Venezuela could also be said to be a factor in that.
9 December 2016
dickhead in quicksand
David Munrow travelled South America recording different sounds. Does that count?
10 December 2016
EXXO
@TLP: that’s what I meant by ‘in better times’. But when Venezuela was relatively oil-rich it still didn’t help their football much.
11 December 2016
EXXO
@Peter:
Great progress meanwhile for Venezuelan women’s football, currently the best on the continent at U-17 level, and rivalling Brasil for U-20 dominance.
An important milestone tonight at club football level, as tonight’s South American club final (Copa Libertadores Feminina), a competition usually dominated by the Brazilians, sees Estudiantes de Guarico from small-town provincial Venezuela take on the almost equally unheralded Paraguayan side Sportivo Limpeño.
And can we find any mention of this whatsoever on the main Venezuelan sports websites, national papers, etc ? Nope.
20 December 2016