TODAY NICARAGUA NEWS – Humble and quiet, Oscar Duarte, one of the leading players in Costa Rica’s La Selección, national football team, received a hero’s welcome on arrival to his homeland.
At the Augusto Sandino international airport in Managua, hundreds of young fans and their families came out to congratulate Duarte for his outstanding participation in the World Cup 2014.
Duarte arrived in Nicaragua Thursday, two days after in San José some 500.000 people came out to congratulate Costa Rica’s national team for their performance in Brazil, where Duarte played a key role.
From Managua, Duarte was escorted by caravan to his hometown of Catarina, where he says he will be sharing time with his family and to thank his country for their support and the support for the Costa Rica national team.
His family’s intention of a quiet encounter was overshadowed by the large crowd and disorder at the Managua airport, people who came to be part of the country’s history – the first Nicaraguan football player to participate in a World Cup event.
“I want a car”, shouted Duarte who in a voice of despair from the pressure of the crowd that broken police security lines by so many who wanted to be close to him. Finally, Duarte was reunited with his mother, Walkiria Gaitán, and whisked off in a van.
Considered one of the best players in World Cup group play, Duarte also received an award from the Asociación de Cronistas Deportivos de Nicaragua (ACDN) – Nicaragua Sports Writers Association.
“True, Costa Rica opened doors for me to train as a football player, and I have much to thank them for their support. Now I see the support here, something nice for me because I knew I had the support of my family, but never imagined by some many others, which means I’m doing something right,” said Duarte.
For Duarte playing in the World Cup was a dream come true.
In Catarina, Duarte is a big deal, having left as child coming back as a star and making history.
But for Duarte, Catarina is a place to visit, to spend time with his family, in between his work as defender for Club Brugge in the Belgian Pro League.
