NASHVILLE – When asked what makes him so passionate about soccer, Nestor had to pause for a moment.
“Wow, where do I even start?” he said.
That’s how much Nestor and his friend Ofelia love the world’s game, and it’s another reason why they are so excited that soccer at the highest level is arriving in Nashville next year.
“Hispanics and Americans are coming together for soccer, which is all of our passion,” Ofelia said.
Both Nestor and Ofelia are members of Pancho Villa’s Army in Nashville, the official supporters group for the Mexican National Team. When he’s not cheering on Mexico, you can see Nestor in the Nashville supporters section. He has been seen wearing his distinctive Lucha Libre mask.
That passion for the Mexican National Team boils over into his passion for Nashville Soccer Club.
“Nashville kind of took us,” Nestor said. “Mexico is definitely a part of us, but Nashville is definitely our second home. If Nashville has a soccer team, then we’re definitely going to be with them.”
When former Chivas Guadalajara (MX) forward Daniel Ríos became the first Nashville SC MLS signing ahead of this season, Nestor and Ofelia were ecstatic to learn someone from their home country would be representing their new hometown. The representation and connection he brings is one they will cherish.
“It’s definitely a huge thing for us to have somebody to represent us, somebody that you can see on the field that looks like us and somebody that we can actually talk to in our own language,” Nestor said. “That’s very important to us and kind of brings us closer to the team. We love going to watch Daniel Ríos.”
With Nashville SC joining MLS in 2020, Nestor and Ofelia are excited to see their passions played out on the biggest stage in the Music City.
“Soccer, to me, is a way of life,” Nestor said. “I was born into it. I was born with it. What do you do when you don’t have anything else to do inside the house? You go outside and play soccer. There’s always somebody outside playing soccer. That’s what makes me passionate about it. I think I just have it in my blood.”
While the friends enjoy each other’s company at matches, Nestor is also thrilled to share their passions with his children. They come with him to Nashville SC matches, and will now have a club at the highest level to call their own.
“It is extremely cool for us to be able to have that and for them to be able to experience that, to grow up with it,” Nestor said. “You only have them for 18 summers. If you look at it that way, you say man, what else can I do other than go to the park, etc. To bring them to a game, maybe even go to the playoffs one day or to a championship one day, aspire for something big like that, and just be a family, it’s something to remember always.”
Want to join Nestor and Ofelia in this passionate family of soccer fans? Click here to order your season tickets for Nashville SC’s inaugural MLS season.
