Esperanza Wayuu Wins East Fifth Bi-national Schools Tournament
July 9, 2012
The Sports Foundation School Esperanza Wayuu was crowned champion of the East Fifth Bi National Schools Tournament that took place in Cucuta from 23 to 30 June.
The great final played against Cucuta’s Juventudes Chamitos gave victory to La Guajira team by a score of 2-0, extending its participation options in other events nationwide.
"This participation was a great opportunity for establish myself as top scorer and to confirm ourselves as a team," said Dandy Fernando Choles, age 13 and native of Camarones, district of Riohacha.
This Cerrejón sponsored foundation currently has 280 kids enrolled, of whom the top 20 between 12 and 13 year old were chosen to join the peewee team that represented La Guajira in the tournament; eight of them belong to the Wayuu ethnic group.
Esperanza Wayuu benefits
- 40 indigenous communities neighbouring the railway line
- Roche, Patilla and Chancleta resettlement communities,
- The indigenous communities of Guamachito and Trupio Gacho
- The municipalities of Albania, Maicao, Hatonuevo and Barrancas.
The school was created with the objective of strengthening values in kids, giving healthy use of leisure time, promoting an environment of brotherhood and solidarity and to identifying talented athletes to project them regionally, nationally and internationally.
In the future, the foundation school envisions working in other sports such as chess, wrestling and strengthening archery, a Wayuu traditional game.
The delegation that accompanied the team included coach Arnoldo "El Guajiro" Iguarán, athletic trainer Julio Herrera, technical advisor Berto Contreras and delegate Francisco Hernandez.