For five years American football players prepared to face the World Championship in Helsinkiwith the purpose of improving the bronze of the 2017 Canadian edition, but that illusion fell apart days due to the errors of the Mexican Federation of the specialty, which he did not buy the plane tickets on time and thus they lost all possibility of looking for a medal.
July 27th, the players found out that the tickets were not purchased to make the trip to the World Cup venue, in such a way that they put aside the preparation and focused more on looking for the tickets that would take them to Helsinki; The first excuse of the Federation – headed by César Barrera – was that I didn’t have Conade’s budget.
Finally, the appeal arrived that same Thursday night and on Friday they began to look for various ways to reach the World Cup venue; however, the federation put different obstacles on them, such as the one that they had to invoice, and that of the four million they gave him, only two were destined for the world contest.
On Saturday the players began to leave, but distributed in different flights, and even most had to wait for a while in different countries like Germany, Switzerland and France, a connection that would take them to Finland. The debut against Great Britain was lost on the same day, as was the possibility of obtaining a medal.
On Sunday eight players arrived in Helsinki, by Monday there were already 21and until this Tuesday was when the team could finally be completed, to the limit to have played against Australia early this Wednesday.
“There are already 39 players and there are a few more to comethe truth is that it was a very tiring process, and we didn’t think it would be so much wear and tear to do someone else’s work, but psyched up, we know what we’re coming for, what we’re going to face and we’re going to give it our all”, said the player Michelle Zamudio.
The player stated that it is unfortunate that they were not in time to seek the gold medal in this World Cup. “The truth is that it weighs a lot on us to have to fight for a fifth place, since the truth is that we brought a very good team, a lot was expected of us, and even the rivals knew that we could fight for the gold, so it weighs a lot on us to fight for a place when we knew we could strike gold,” he said.
It’s not the first time
Michelle indicated that it is not the first time that this type of situation has happened since something similar happened for the World Cup in Canada in 2017but they were notified in advance that there was no recourse.
“In the last World Cup we did something similar, but it was not so sudden, at that time the Orobio accountant was there and a month before traveling he told us there is no money, and he gave us that opportunity to get money, do things, and in the end we He said that the federation was going to pay, that we did not have to put any weight, but he had the decency to tell us a month before and we could move. And in this time they did not give us time for anything.
The 3rd contingent leaves for Helsinki, equipped women’s team, on the way to the 2022 world championship pic.twitter.com/PY4RRG7fUo
— Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Americano AC (@FMFAOFICIALMX) July 31, 2022
The player had to go through a viacrucis to reach Finlandhowever, it comforts him to be there and to be able to play in this contest that is every four years.
“First I arrived in Paris, and they told us there are no tickets from there to Helsinki, so we stayed there one day and it was a group of 12 people, and then the other group of almost 22 players arrived, and from there I went to Munich and then to Helsinki. Already psyched up, it was a torment to be there and knowing that we didn’t have tickets, but we told ourselves we’re going to give it, we’re going to get there, and we’re already focused on showing why the teams aren’t so afraid and leaving the best for last. We come to have fun, to get to know, and to show the talent that exists in Mexico”.
Chronology: Nightmare days.
26/7/2022
On July 26, a conference was offered where it was indicated that the team’s goal was to seek gold in the World Cup; the next day, the group was supposed to travel, but it was not done because the Federation did not buy the tickets.
29/7/2022
Relatives of the players held a demonstration in front of Codeme, closing Churubusco; meanwhile, Conade distanced itself arguing that the Federations are responsible for the logistics of the trips.
30/7/2022
In the following three days the players traveled by different routes, until yesterday there were already 39 of the 45 that make up the team; On the way, several were stranded in other cities looking for lodging.
2/8/2022
Yesterday the Mexican team was able to train with most of the players in Helsinki; today at dawn they appeared before Australia.
FCM
