CITY
PROFILE
LA
PAZ, BOLIVIA
La Paz is the de facto capital of Bolivia, being
the center of administrative activity. The city is host
to about a million people according to the 2001 census.
History
Attractions
Tours
La Paz has also been a hub of sports
activity over the years. Various sports clubs are actively
involved in promotion of their favorite pastime. But
like all Bolivians, it is football which really fires
the imagination of the population.
La Paz is host to a number of club
sides, some of which have been at the top of the Bolivian
pyramid for a long time.La Paz also has its own regional
league below the top tier from which sides can gain
promotion to play against the top dogs if they can come
through against the teams from the other 9 departments
(into which Bolivian teams are tradiionally separated
into) in the annual Copa Simon Bolivar, named after
the founder of the modern nation. The regional league
is further subdivided into 2nd, 3rd and 4th levels,
providing a good depth to the whole structure.
BOLIVAR: By far the most successful
side in Bolivian history, they have claimed no less
than 16 titles.Won the Apertura title last season.
THE STRONGEST: Tradition personified,
this club has been up there right from the start. With
9 National titles in addition to 14 La Paz championships,
this side can rightly claim to be flag bearers of their
nation.
LA PAZ F.C.: The club side recently
known as Atletico Gonzalez, recently gained promotion
to the top flight and are keen to cement their place.
A respectable mid-table position will have definitely
pleased their fans.
DEPORTIVO MUNICIPAL: Although they
ply their trade in the regional league now, the fans
still remember the glory days when Municipal could rightly
lay claim to be the best side in the land, twice.
CHACO PETROLERO: Relegation in 1998
hit the club hard and they have been trying to come
to terms with their reduced status ever since. A sole
title triumph though will always remain a beacon of
hope.
DEPORTIVO ZURACA: Zuraca have spent
most of their existence in the lower reaches of the
pyramid and although the club have lately come close
enough, still a considerable effort is required to take
them up the next level.
DEPORTIVO FERROVIARIO:Another club
with high aims and relative underachievement. Ferro
have their work cut out to become a leading proponent
of their city, yet alone the whole country.
DEPORTIVO DON BOSCO: Bosco are upstarts
who for the moment have more modest aims which seem
to be solidfying their place in the second tier. Good
things might come later.
ASSOCIACION DE BALOMPIE BOLIVIANO:
Have struggled perpetually with the tag of perennial
minnows. With so many other teams from their area, they
have a huge fight on their hands to climb up.
MARISCAL BRAUN: Relegated in 2002,
2 years on they seem to be in a cloud of confusion to
what direction to take. Considered a strong side who
could eventually upset the monopoly of the big two,
they were left to rue all their hard work undone in
one mad season.
REGATAS FLAMENCO:Regatas have just
recently gained promotion to the second tier and immediately
they found out that they need some more time to develop
as a decent team to stay there.
HISKA NACIONAL:Hiska had been flirting
with disaster for sometime now, but the last season
saw some weird happenings at the club. They were excluded
from the championship for missing two games and will
start life in the 3rd level next season.
C.D. LITORAL: It is hard to comprehend
what happened inside the club which led to their implosion.Winner
of the La Paz championship 3 times, the club saw frequent
relegations recently and to cap it all off, they withdrew
from the championship altogether in 2003.
JERUSALEM: The name may conjure up
images of miracles and grandeur, yet those are precisely
what the club lacks right now. Just recently they were
demoted to the 3rd level.
OLYMPIC: No gold medals for them.
Yet to achieve any semblance of success, recently failed
promotion to 2nd tier.
UNIVERSITARIO: Once grand masters,
now also rans. They are in the midst of a seemingly
eternal hibernation. The glory years of La Paz championship
are ancient history now.
UNION MAESTRANZA: Have been a yo-yo
side of late and thats not between top and 2nd level
even. Main aim: survival for now.
ALWAYS READY: Peculiar name but one
very characteristic of South America. Their readiness
(or lack thereof) is apparent in their inability to
stay put in one division.
ATLETICO ALIANZA: A new name who
will probably take their time in settling down. Stabilization
is the name of the game for them.
UNIVERSIDAD IBEROAMERICANA: Avoiding
relegation at the last, things can only look up for
them next season. The first season was nothing short
of a headache for their fans.
PORVENIR: Unknown and unaccomplished
describe them really well. Uninspired might not be too
far off either.
E.M.I.: Better get some verve into
their game if they want to make any impression on the
other sides.
ENTEL BOLIVIA MAR: Relegation to
lower levels, the future is bleak for this side. Not
too many fans really sticks it in too.
FIGARO: The figures tell us ,they
have no hope. Withdrew from the competition and maybe
no one will hear of them again.
S.S. AYACUCHO: A La Paz title, how
they must wish that they could revisit time. Alas, its
mediocrity for them now.
FRATERNIDAD TIGRES: Looking for bigger
things yet finding even small tasks hard to achieve.
16 DE JULIO: Does that date signify
the demise of the club or the start of a possible bright
future. Only Nostradamus knows.
VILLA DOLORES: Have been upto 3rd
level but achievement eluded them completely.
ATLETICO LA PAZ: Although their name
implies they should be a leading side, facts tell another
story.
31 DE OCTUBRE: A better future was
predicted but the club took a wrong turn and have been
on the downward slide ever since.
ATLETICO ILLIMANI: " We are
the underdogs who never achieve anything". Seriously
though, need to be more consistent.
WHITE STAR: The only stars in their
side are in the super nova stage apparently.
SAN MARTIN: Do they even have a purpose?
Oh yes, make life difficult for themselves.
DEPORTIVO PILCOMAYO: The less said
about them, the more it seems. Need to sort out their
priorities.
MAGALLANES: If Magellan knew about
them, he never let it be known. And why would he?
This overview doesn't include the
sides that once played in the La Paz championship but
who don't appear on the records anymore. More about
them in a later edition.
