Sexo y droga y Penarol

We at Just Football love nothing about the game more than when supporters come together to create imaginative and visual labours of love to express passion and support for their club. Tifos, banners, choreographed stunts – anywhere in the world. It’s what makes the game unique, what makes the game special. Every now and then in our fan culture section we have brought you clips or photos of such displays – as in our currently dormant Photo,Shoot section – and in 2012 we intend to bring you more and more.

On that note, Uruguayan club Peñarol began their Copa Libertadores campaign this week, losing 1-0 to Godoy Cruz. The Manyas, one of Uruguay’s best supported clubs, went all the way to the final last season before losing to Brazilian outfit Santos, and the aim for the black and gold-wearing team from Montevideo will be to return to another final in 2012 if possible.

Cruising around YouTube as your editor likes to do every now and then, I came across some quite wonderful clips of the recent banner Peñarol unveiled to celebrate their 120th anniversary last season. The flag received worldwide media coverage for being the world’s biggest. It took four months to sew and cost  US $33,500. It measured 310 metres by 48 metres (1017 feet by 157 feet) and weighs just over two tonnes, needing around 300 fans just to carry it from the club’s headquarters to the Centenario stadium.

A labour of such love as this deserves your time. So sit back, close your eyes and imagine you’re at the Estadio Centenario. Now open them, put these videos on full screen and enjoy. Oh and if you want to join in (it’s a catchy tune), here are the words – including mandatory dig at local rivals Nacional:

Y dale alegria alegria a mi corazon,
La Copa Libertadores es mi obsecion,
Tenes que dejar el alma y el corazon
Tenes que dejarlo todo por Peñarol..
Y ya veras la Copa Libertadores vamo a ganar
Y ya veras no somos como los putos de Nacional

Peñarol, Just Football salutes you:

Fan Culture, Football in Latin America, Penarol, Uruguay