Jorge Cuesta is 17 years old, he comes from Spain. He got interested in soccer in the Baltics a few months ago, and now is trying to show his compatriots on Twitter, that football at a lower level also can be cool.
Rafał Kobza („Bałtycki futbol”): At first introduce yourself.
Jorge Cuesta (Fútbol Báltico): Well, so I’m a spanish teenager who loves all the exotic football. I started viewing the Estonian Premium liiga at the corona-break and began to take interest about every Baltic life. Their countries, their nature, their way-of-life… Then I started viewing the Latvian and Lithuanian league, and I thought would be interesting to create a Twitter account talking about these football because there was no one other spanish doing this.
Have you ever been in Baltic countries? Or maybe in one of them?
No at the moment. I wish to travel there, but at the moment I have not been in any baltic country.
And why are you interested in such leagues? In Spain you have top quality football – leagues, national team, players. Or maybe you are little „tired” of football in the highest level and that’s the reason why you following for example Latvian Virslīga?
When the COVID-19 irrumped in the world, every football leagues stopped playing (except Belarus) and I think, like most of us, we were hyped with the back of the football (regardless of which league). The Estonia league was the third league, I think, which came back in Europe, and it was streamed on YouTube ( I could watch matches with high quality, when they finished, could wind back for see again certain plays). You have right when you say “I’m tired about highest level”, because sometimes it’s boring to see the same teams, the same players, and the same league. Then, I discovered that Lithuanian league was streamed on YouTube too, and started viewing it. And finally, to complete every Baltic league, I discovered a VPN app which allowed me to see the matches in latvian site Sportacentrs. Above all I want to say that their (Baltic states’) nature and natural fields impacted me firstly. I saw people walking near the field because there is no really stadium bleachers, and I think it’s good to see natural football, where there is no toxic rivality, being tired of the typical football. I know in my country there is, probably, the strongest football, but when you pass every year seeing the same matches there’s a moment you get tired of monotony.
And how do you rate your compatriots’ interest in such leagues?
Probably the spanish interest’s in these leagues is so so low. Generally, when people get tired of watching the spanish league, they start watching others like english, italian, french… But not many people start seeing the Baltic leagues. With this account I tried to make interest on many other spanish people about these exotic football.
Do you have your favourite team from the Baltics?
I’ve got high interest in Estonian Paide Linnameeskond, because there’s the only spanish player in the league (Gurrutxaga), and in Latvian league I think Valmiera is my favourite. In Lithuania I don’t really care about favourite teams.
Who are your favourites to win in baltic leagues?
I think Flora and Riga will be winners of their respective leagues with no doubt, but in Lithuanian league I think Zalgiris Vilnius could beat Sūduva in the last match. I think Suduva can win like last year, but this year I guess will be lower difference of points between first and second team. That’s why I say Zalgiris could win the league in the last match between Zalgiris and Suduva.
And who is your favourite player from baltic leagues?
Today, analysing their level and their football leagues, I will say Tolu Arokodare. I know his attitude in last time has been so kiddy, because there was no probably reason for do what he did. But in footballistic terms I think he’s the most determinant player in the Virslīga.
If you would encourage Spainiards to this direction, what arguments would you use?
I think the Baltic football is calmed, with non-toxic rivalities, with no insults or some more, it’s just a football league where many players do it for fun, not for main job. The fields are so beautiful, with a great ambient, not the typical full covered stadium. I think most of the Baltic teams have got a interesting history (knowing most of them are really modern clubs because the league has got not much years of history).
