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More than a sport, soccer is a tradition migrants carry with them from their home countries. In New Bedford, that tradition lives on in the Liga Latina, a group of teams that plays winter championships on indoor courts and, once the weather turns, competes in a tournament whose final is scheduled for this month.
Over the past two years, enthusiastic players and their families have gathered at Dias Field, a longtime venue known for hosting the youth baseball league for years, as well as a community of Hispanic ballplayers who still take the field every weekend.
Since the field’s inauguration in New Bedford’s North End, the soccer league has gained new momentum after spending several years moving between different areas of the city.
“The league started in the South End of New Bedford, but then we moved over here. We’ve been here two years now, and we’re happy,” said Miguel Machado, president of the league. “We’re grateful to the city for giving us the chance to settle here,” the Honduran native said.
“We have teams with players from every country in this league,” said Benjamín García, a member of one of the competing teams, who acknowledged that the Cape Verdean team is, without question, the best of the 10 currently competing.
In fact, they are the reigning champions and will have to defend their title Nov. 8, when a new tournament final will be played for a prize of $3,400 for the winner and $1,600 for the runner-up.
Gerardo Beltrán Salinas can be reached at gerardo@newbedfordlight.org.
