Decatur’s Hispanic Influx: Fusion Cultural: Hispanics find ‘home’ in local soccer leagues - Alabama

“”I can’t imagine life without soccer. Everyone out here speaks Spanish. Actually you can say it is Mexico, only the fields in Mexico are not this good,” said Lagunas, a talented defender for the Atletico Juniors in the Liga Revelacion in Decatur.

Raul Espinoza, president of the Liga Revelacion, estimated more than 500 Hispanics participate in soccer leagues in Decatur. Espinoza’s two-tiered league features 24 teams with about 18 players per team. Team names on the sponsored-dotted jerseys read Scorpions, La Máquina (the Machine) and Vampiros (Vampires).”

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