Crazy fan: “Parajo Campana”

There always going to be a specific fanatic who remains in the memories of the fans. Like Spain with its “Manolo”, or Colombia with “El Cole”, the Paraguayan fans have their “Pajaro Campana”. His real name is Castulo Ortega Nogera. His outfit tries to resemble the image of the national bird of Paraguay, the Pajaro Campana (the bird bell?). After the World Cup of France ’98, he says that it occurred to him to dress as this national bird to cheer the Albirroja. Although he doesn’t mention it, his costume is pretty like the one that “Cole” used in the Colombian games.

During the whole qualifying phase of the World Cup 2002 he went to every match in Asuncion and some games in the near countries. Although he barely speaks Spanish (he speaks mostly Guarani, the native language of Paraguay) his presence cheered up the fans in the stadium. Some fans actually saw him as a good luck amulet, but when the team lost a game, he was the target of many whistling.

But sadly in the World Cup Korea/Japan 2002 he lost the appreciation of many fans because each time that the TV showed his image, he was sitting on his butt instead of cheering. Thinking about it, this was not his job, because he is just a fan who strangely has this particular way of showing his support to the team, he doesn’t need to be jumping and screeming all the time. So, because its good intentions this blogger support him over all critics.

Respect this situation, “Pajaro Campana” recently commented to the Paraguayan newspaper ABC Color, that he was very upset in Korea because the police didn’t let him do his “show” because his wings covered the view of other fans that were in the stadium, so every time that he stood, the guards came and warned him. But luckly for us football fans, he affirms that in Germany we will not be afraid of “doing his thing” by any cop, cheering for the team, and trying to recover the appreciation of the fans once again. There is only one more thing to say: Fly, Pajaro, fly…