DISQUS

José · 1 year ago

Kartik: I respectfully ask you to take us (Puerto Rico) out of the "American side". I am assuming that by "american" you mean US. If not, then the mexicans are as americans as we are and your statement would not make any sense. I attended the Islanders-Santos game and I didn't hear anyone cheering for "U.S.A.".

huricano · 1 year ago

Puerto Ricans have American passports, and most on the Island want it to remain that way. The mayor of Bayamón supports statehood, so do many of the supporters.

Gret · 1 year ago

Puerto Rico Islanders are a member of the USL First Division. Yes, we cheer for Puerto Rico because the Islanders are from Puerto Rico but hey, the Island is a non-incorporated territory of the United States. Puerto Ricans are American citizens. Don't let politics ruin this guy's happiness for Puerto Rico Islanders. Lets celebrate!!

Lew · 1 year ago

Jose, with the number of American players playing for Islanders thyey are basically an American side. I'm sure this why Kartik classifies them as such besides the obvious fact that they play in the American based Second Division. When the Islanders went with a purely Latin model they stunk. Now with Americans and good players from the Islands they are among the best teams in the region.

Ivan · 1 year ago

Kartik, thanks for the post. I appreciate your support for our young team. Gret, you are right on. Jose, you do have a point, but your closing remarks can come off as divisive. I was also at the game and in case someone didn't notice this is a club tounament, not an international one. The splash of politics seem to always come into play (no pun intended). Puerto Rico is a U.S. Territory, and with us Puerto Ricans being U.S. citizens, the Islanders can be correctly called a U.S. based club. However, in international sports competition Puerto Rico plays as a separate nation, in the same manner that Scotland, England, and Northern Ireland play as separate nations in international play and they are no doubt all UK teams. Attempting to negate Puerto Rico's intimate relationship with the U.S. seems like a sorry rant of denial because a few may wish it were not that way. Let's celebrate their success in Concacaf play, and hope that they and other USL/MLS clubs continue to provide us with exiting quality soccer (football). Thx.

gonzalez · 1 year ago

FWIW, the Islanders qualified in representation of the Puerto Rican Football Federation (FPF in Spanish), and NOT USSoccer.

huricano · 1 year ago

But they are a USL team, and as such we should be happy that they are mentioned within the realm of US soccer (maybe we can look at it as US soccer being within the realm of PR soccer, but there is no need to be divisive). Moreover, the relationship with USL is good for soccer on the Island, which otherwise would have to base from which to grow upon when faced with the popularity of basket y volleyball.

José · 1 year ago

It was not my intention, but I'm glad for the reactions to my comment. Not because I agree with them (obviously, I don't), but because they show the complexity of the subject. This is the best we can hope from this format (comments to a blog).
The central argument in Kartik's "Final Thoughts" is based on a link between Dynamo and the Islanders that consists of them being both on the "american side", and Santos, Tauro and Cuba being on the other side. The debate raised by my comments show the flaw in that argument. Besides that, I find Kartik's statements about football excellent.