Analía Antunez has not missed a Nacional game for 25 years. A lifelong fan, she lives in the shadows of Estadio Gran Parque Central in Montevideo, the 34,000 seater stadium of Club Nacional de Football.
Her passion for her team runs deep – beautifully captured in her photographs – which also emphasise the spirit and community found within football. As Analía puts it – football unites people, providing a common bond between all fans.
Club Nacional de Football are from Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay. The club was formed in 1899, as a result of the merger between Uruguay Athletic Club and Montevideo Fútbol Club.
Their home ground, Estadio Gran Parque Central, was built in 1900, making it one of the oldest football stadiums in the world, and the oldest in America. The stadium hosted matches at the World Cup in 1930 and the South American Championships in 1923 and 1924 (now known as Copa América).
The ‘Tricolores’ are one of South America’s most successful football teams, ranking second only to Argentina’s River Plate in terms of points amassed playing in the Copa Libertadores, but falling behind fierce local rivals Club Atlético Peñarol who have five Copa Libertadores titles to Nacional’s three.
Neither Nacional or Peñarol have ever been relegated from Uruguay’s top flight division, and regularly fight it out in the derby dubbed the Uruguayan Clásico.
The two sides first met back in 1900, making it one of the oldest football rivalries outside of Britain.
Bored with digital photography and the huge volumes of content that comes with it, Analía only shoots on film, choosing not to put pressure on her passionate hobby – if she wants to take photos, she will. If not, then she won’t. A refreshing point of view as so many others feel pressured into filling their social media feeds with content to satisfy the algorithms of big tech media pleatforms.
Lower Block: Hi Analís. Where about are you from and where do you now live?
Analía Antunez: I am from Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay. I live in La Blanqueada, the Nacional neighbourhood, 100 meters from Eastdio Gran Parque Central.
LB: How would you describe yourself?
AA: I describe myself as a fan of Club Nacional de Football, it is what permeates all aspects of my life. I have attended all the games for more than 25 years.
Academically speaking, I have a bachelor’s degree in Sociology. I consider myself a self-taught person with extremely varied interests, including taking analogue photographs, but also many other things.
LB: Who were your footballing idols growing up. Can you remember the first big name player you saw live?
AA: My first idol was Chino Recoba (Álvaro Recoba). I was lucky enough to enjoy his goals and his magic live during his two spells at the club, and to be present in the classic comebacks before his farewell from the pitches and in his farewell match.
More recently we got excited with the brief return of Luis Suárz. We were delighted to see Suárez, become one of the most magical and successful players in the world having come through Nacional’s academy.
AA: The first game I attended was when I was a child. My grandfather took me to Estadio Centenario (the national stadium of Uruguay) and bought me a hat which I still have.
The first match I properly remember is the 100-year celebration of Nacional in 1999, against PSV Eindhoven. My favourite uncle took me to that game, it’s with him that I share this beautiful passion.
LB: What is it that drew you towards football as a fan?
AA: I feel that football generates the union between completely different people, where there is something superior that unites us. Something that transcends us. The communion between the fans and the players and the energy they feel on those occasions, in specific, important, magical matches, is indescribable and inexplicable.
LB: Tell me a little about this project. What was your inspiration for it?
AA: I always liked photography, but digitalisation and overabundance had bored me. I like the simplicity and austerity of analogue photography. I like to capture life on the terraces and the amazing things that happen on it. It is without a doubt my favourite place to take photos. I always use compact cameras.
LB: Do you have a favourite photograph from this series?
AA: I have many favourite photographs. I could never choose one.
LB: What’s next for you?
AA: I will continue taking photos in the stands as long as it makes me happy and I can afford it financially. It’s something I do for pure pleasure, the same as going to support Nacional. I don’t pressure myself to take photos, sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. But I hope that the photographs continue to accompany me for several more years.
Follow Analía on Instagram here.
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