Carlos supports a team called Guarani who are based in the capital. They are in the upper half of the premier division but do not have the money to top the league. The stadium seats about 40,000 and is split into two sections that face each other. First the smaller section constructed more as make shift stand with plastic seats made up of both the (hard core) home and away fans who sing, dance and bang their drums through out the game.
The opposite stand is constructed mainly as concrete steps, like the old terracing in British football stadiums, but most people sit. The issues are that it is uncomfortable for 90mins and the terracing is very steep. Being half cut (drunk) the first problem was not an issue for me but trying to coordinate myself down from the upper section, where Carlos sat us, was a challenge.
There are no stands at either end just a tall metal mesh fence or a outdoor synthetic football pitch at the other.
Tickets are G40,000 [$8/£5] (I’m still trying to figure out the rate myself, but paid G20000 for 5 beers yesterday). The action was not in the same league as the UK premiership (but I don’t suppose they get paid like them either), although the quality of the play and reffing seem to be an improvement on that which I’d seen in Argentina. Also I did not get pelted with paper as I did at the game in Bolivia.
You feel no malice at the stadium and there are no flags with threatening images (e.g. the River Plate game with flags lambasting the Falklands) so it is safe (even for Brits). As such if you like football, recommended.
Signing off with love from South America
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