Hondurans leave politics on the bench

Hondurans of all political persuasions are united in their passion for football

By Bruno Garcez
BBC News, Tegucigalpa

Saturday will be the day on which Hondurans will either put their differences aside and shine on the world stage or risk being isolated from the international community... of football.

In the middle of its worst political crisis for decades, Honduras' national squad will face a fierce opponent, the US, playing at home in San Pedro Sula.

Victory over the Americans would rubber-stamp the Hondurans' passport to South Africa, which will host the 2010 World Cup.

If it makes it to the tournament, it would be the first time that the national squad has qualified for the games since 1982.

Hondurans are true lovers of the sport and mad about their national squad, known as "La H".

The traditional match between the two greatest teams in the country, Olimpia and Montagua, normally halts the intense chaos of the capital's busy streets.

Small screen

The derby was played last week and throughout its 90 minutes, the country seemed to forget the crisis sparked on 28 June, when Honduran President Manuel Zelaya was ousted and expelled from the country.

Mr Zelaya managed to return secretly to the capital, Tegucigalpa, and sought refuge in the Brazilian embassy, which he is now unable to leave without risking arrest.

The police officers and soldiers the interim government has positioned in a cordon surrounding the embassy will be following the thrills of the game closely, but the deposed president will not.

Mr Zelaya will not be able to follow the game, but the soldiers will

"There are no TVs inside. He'll have to follow it over the radio," Mr Zelaya's daughter, Xiomara Hortensia, said.

The police officers and soldiers, on the other hand, will place a wide-screen TV in the office just outside the embassy and show their support for "La H".

For most Hondurans, a decisive win by the country's squad - which currently occupies the 42nd position in the Fifa, football's international governing body, ranking - would have far more impact than any political victory.

"The ongoing political problems will not affect the game in the least. People aren't thinking about politics. They are concentrated on showing support for the national team," says salesman Hector Castro.

"It would be phenomenal if they win. We will be in the finals."

Accountant Herson Soto acknowledges that the political crisis is very serious but adds: "When 'La H' is on the pitch, everyone forgets about everything else.

"We will be following the match with great eagerness. I fully believe in our strengths."

Politics and the pitch

His belief is such that Mr Soto will undertake a four-and-a-half hour drive to watch the game live in San Pedro Sula's Olympic stadium.

Although most Hondurans do not wish to mix sports and politics, the athletes from the national team did plan to make a political statement, but were prevented from doing so.

When the ball rolls in the capital, political passions are forgotten

The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Football Associations (Concacaf) turned down the players' request to enter the pitch with a peace symbol stitched on their jerseys, a reference to the country's political turmoil.

Since Mr Zelaya was deposed, the interim government has imposed successive curfews.

After his return these were further lengthened with the country's citizens at one stage unable to walk freely through the streets for more than 24 hours.

Such measures had a hugely negative impact on local businesses. But some street vendors are now aiming to make up for what they lost.

Football War

With shouts of "Bon, precio, la H!" ("Get your cheap shirts here!") several vendors are trying their luck in street corners and at traffic lights - it is a quick and easy way to make a buck in the Western hemisphere's third poorest nation.

"Yesterday, I only sold five, but today I've shifted 15 already. If I manage to sell them all, I'll manage to get $100," says Noel.

In spite of the atmosphere of euphoria, there are also concerns.

Fifa has decided to allow the game to be played on Honduran territory, but local authorities have had to take extra security measures.

The staff providing security around the stadium - which has capacity for 40,000 spectators - will total some 1,200 officers, including soldiers, police and fire fighters.

Hondurans seem to be united in their support for "La H".

But if the worst does happen, it will not - sadly - be the first time in the country's history that sports leads to violence.

In 1969, when both Honduras and El Salvador were seeking to qualify for the World Cup, a bloody feud engulfed the two nations, leaving thousands dead in a few days.

Known as the Football War, the conflict was sparked after supporters and immigrants from both nations were persecuted and murdered in the short run between different matches.

Right now, however, Honduras faces no foreign enemy. Rather, locals seem keen to join together in one voice to support their national team.