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Paraguay's devotion to coach Alfaro inspires 'Alfarito' clay figures

From Proceso Digital · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • A Paraguayan artisan has created 'Alfaritos,' small clay figures honoring national football coach Gustavo Alfaro.
  • The figures, inspired by Alfaro's success in leading Paraguay to the World Cup, have sparked 'Alfaromania' among fans.
  • Alfaro is highly regarded in Paraguay, seen as a leader who restored the team's hope and qualified them for the World Cup after a 16-year absence.

In Paraguay, a wave of devotion for national football team coach Gustavo Alfaro has manifested in the creation of 'Alfaritos' – small, 30-centimeter clay figures paying tribute to the Argentine tactician. These figures, conceived by Paraguayan potter David Chun, serve as both decorative pieces and piggy banks, capturing Alfaro's likeness.

We were gathered with a friend and my wife, talking about how the person with the least rejection in Paraguay would be Professor Alfaro, and we came up with an idea to represent him.

— David ChunDavid Chun, the artisan behind the 'Alfaritos,' explains the inspiration for the clay figures honoring coach Gustavo Alfaro.

Chun explained that the idea for the 'Alfaritos' emerged from a casual conversation among friends who noted Alfaro's widespread popularity in Paraguay. The figures are more than a business venture; they are an homage to the 63-year-old coach, who has inadvertently ignited an 'Alfaromania' among fans since guiding the Albirroja back to the World Cup after a 16-year absence.

Referred to affectionately as "El Profesor" (The Professor) by the national team, Alfaro is also known as "papá guasu," a term blending Spanish and Guaraní that signifies his respected leadership. He took the helm of the Albirroja during a period of poor results and successfully steered the team to one of South America's direct qualification spots for the World Cup, despite a shaky start to the qualifiers.

More than a business idea, Chun explained that they sought to pay homage to the 63-year-old coach, who after guiding the Albirroja to the World Cup, unintentionally unleashed an 'Alfaromania' among Paraguayan fans.

— EFE (reporting on Chun's statement)Describing the motivation behind the creation of the 'Alfaritos' figures.

"Alfaro gave us back the hope of participating in the World Cup," Chun stated, recalling the team's emotional journey through the qualifiers, which included significant home victories against powerhouses like Brazil and Argentina. This renewed sense of optimism fueled the creation of the 'Alfaritos,' which Chun anticipated would be well-received.

Alfaro gave us back the hope of participating in the World Cup.

— David ChunDavid Chun expresses the impact of Gustavo Alfaro's coaching on Paraguayan football fans.

The production of the 'Alfaritos' blends traditional Paraguayan craftsmanship with modern techniques. Chun's workshop uses 3D-printed molds to ensure uniformity in the pieces, which are then crafted from black clay by experienced artisans like Ramón Veloso. After drying and firing in a traditional wood-fired kiln for 24 hours, each batch of 100 figures takes about five to seven days to produce, with additional time for painting.

That's why the idea (of the 'Alfaritos') occurred to us, and we calculated that they would be successful.

— David ChunDavid Chun on the anticipation of the 'Alfaritos' figures' popularity.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Proceso Digital in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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