More than a hundred boys and girls from the Alhué Football Training School had a sporting and educational experience at the El Teniente Stadium in Rancagua. The action was part of the “Stadium Experience” program of Codelco El Teniente Division, which has allowed more than 20 thousand people to get to know and enjoy the facilities of the main sports venue in the O'Higgins region.

The event encouraged sports and promoted a better quality of life for participants. Parents enjoyed a guided tour of the stadium, while young people used the fields of this historic venue that hosted the 1962 World Cup and the 2015 Copa América.

Cristián Sanhueza, Community Development Director at El Teniente, explained that “we want children to have an enriching experience in which they can form bonds of camaraderie and learn the importance of teamwork, all while discovering the history and legacy of this place.”

Inés Leiva, the school's president, said that "economically, this type of activity is not feasible for us due to the number of children. In addition, we have a large number of young people who want to develop soccer as a professional. So, visiting this space is extremely important."

The Alhué Football Training School was born as a free space, managed by the Vuelta de la Piedra Residents' Association in collaboration with the Alhué Municipality, where more than 200 boys and girls from different sectors of the commune actively participate.

Matías Vidal, a teacher at the organization, explained that “the most important thing is the experiences that children have in their childhood. Living what a professional lives, especially in the sports field. All these children long to play in a full stadium, so this is a dream.”

Professional sports experience

This initiative is part of the Estadio Experiencia program of the El Teniente Division, designed so that children, young people, seniors and communities can get to know the Estadio El Teniente, live professional sports experiences and enjoy its facilities.

Noemí Abarca, the school’s guardian, explains that “we are far away. So, it is important to know these spaces, because they do not happen most of the time. We are grateful for this opportunity and that they have invited us so that our children can get to know them.”

For his part, Heriberto Tapia, the club's representative, added that "I had never been to this beautiful stadium. This is a very important experience for our children to encourage sports. There are children who dream of becoming professionals and for them this activity is significant."

Since its implementation in 2022, the Stadium Experience has benefited more than 20,000 people. In the first months of 2024 alone, more than seven thousand people from 12 towns in the O'Higgins region have visited the sports venue.