The Ballesol Parque Almansa center, in Madrid, opens its doors to host the last session of the reminiscence workshop organized by the legends of Atlético de Madrid with the Spanish Federation of Veteran Football Associations (FEAFV) and the residence itself. December ended, night falls on the capital and Roberto Solozábal, Marcelino and Manolo Rubio They enter to reunite with their friends while some workers spread joy around the building, greeting the holiday and singing.
Eleven elderly people, wearing mattresses around their necks and with smiles on their faces, are waiting for the start of this last two-hour ‘class’ where they kill the daily routine. It’s your time. It’s time to sit around a table and get started, sing the Atlético de Madrid anthem. Some are trying to get out of it, but there are fewer of them. Nothing to do with the first sessions. “They came sad, sad, and look now”point Marcellin. And he was right.
Because for two hours, time stops in that room. What becomes a slab over the years but becomes short, very short, when memories of football come… and of Atleti. Stories, laughter, applause…
Manolo Rubio goalkeeper of Atleti B between 97 and 2000, he is the coordinator and the leader of the conversation. Start by analyzing the results of the match (Atleti-Lazio). Only two winners, Manuel and Amparo, who have also been the best in recent months and are playing for a shirt donated by Luiz Pereira (after Marcellin will give another).
They do this in a penalty shootout, which was in the 2002 World Cup between Spain and Ireland. Two teams are formed and you have to guess whether it is a goal or not. Solozábal and Marcelino they write judgments and act as speakers. Exercise helps some grandparents remember the World Cup with Al Ghandour as the protagonist. Then the goal came to the stage Iniesta and Spanish world champion. And even the gold medal at the Barcelona Olympic Games. Captain that team Solozabal. Where did they see it, who was with them…
Minutes passed. Two hours passed for these residents whose eyes shone when they saw the Atlético de Madrid Legends Association pass through the door of the center to spend some time with them.
During this time, they were able to use their memory and thinking skills talking about life, football and Atleti, although everything is related. Memory can also win over forgetting. Or at least, fight him. Like brothers, like the anthem with which Ballesol’s grandparents said goodbye to this workshop of reminiscence with a red-and-white aroma.
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
