
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.
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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.
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