Photo by: Kara Arndt

Dagoberto Ramírez,a forward for the LePaige futbol team in San Pedro, works as a driver for the municipal government during the weekdays.

 

Video of Dagoberto in Sunday's final match and the victory celebration.

Video: smallfutbol.swf | futbol2.swf

 

Dagoberto Ramírez

Shouting, clapping, and blowing horns, 11 members of the Ramírez family cheer wildly from the sidelines as Dagoberto Ramírez, 32, scores yet another goal in the championship soccer match. At the final whistle, the entire Ramírez family dances onto the field to celebrate with the team.

Dagoberto, with the help of his teammates, scores nine of Le Paige´s 15 goals to Quitor's one, thus winning the championship. With those goals, Dagoberto becomes the leading scorer in San Pedro´s soccer league, totalling 34 goals in one season.

The five members of the Ramírez family who play for Le Paige celebrate their first championship win in three years with 30 other members of their family-a large family for a small community such as San Pedro. They drink champagne from the victory cup, and sing songs late into the night. It is a joyous occasion, and Dagoberto is the brightest star.

When Monday comes again, Dagoberto resumes working at San Pedro´s city hall, driving town officials around the district. He keeps a busy schedule during the week to support his family that leaves him little or no time to practice soccer. This makes his accomplishments on the field even more impressive.

Dagoberto dreamed of becoming a professional soccer player when he was young, but now, just as Le Paige players pass the victory cup from hand to hand, he passes those dreams on to his 14-year-old son. Eduardo has high hopes of becoming a professional, and continues this dream with the love and support of his family.

Soccer is a passion in the Ramírez family, a contagious passion that carries through the generations. Dagoberto says he is able to relive his former dream of playing professionally through his son, and enjoys the thought that his son might have the chance to make this dream a reality. The tradition continues to live.