Football in the West of Minas: the intermunicipal meetings and the meanings of sports practices in Oliveira (1916-1925)

• Autor(a) principal: Venâncio, Daniel
• Data de Publicação: 2019
• Outros Autores: Freitas, Euclides
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Revista Maracanan (Online)
• Texto Completo: https://www.e-publicacoes.uerj.br/maracanan/article/view/37739
• topic: Soccer/Football; City of Oliveira (Minas Gerais; Brazil); Club; Intermunicipal Meetings; Futebol; Oliveira (MG); Clubismo; Encontros Intermunicipais

This article analyzes the early years of the introduction of soccer (football) practices in the city of Oliveira, located in the Western region of the state of Minas Gerais. The foundation of the Oliveira Sport Club in 1916, a group formed by representatives of the local elite, was the starting point of the process of introducing the sport in the city, as well as the formation of club meetings in the adjacent localities. The analysis of the local periodicals indicates that, in addition to their sporting dimension, an aspect almost neglected by the media, the soccer meetings promoted by the elites of the Western Minas Gerais have become festive events capable of promoting the social and political integration of the wealthy groups. This festive play configuration underwent significant changes after the year of 1925, when the founding of new clubs from other social strata and the intensification of sporting events gave soccer matches attributes that fit the sports field, such as excitement, tension and competitiveness.