When Thursday Is
Sunday in Costa Rica
Every Thursday is
Thursday, except this
week, when Thursday is
like Sunday as the "Clasico"
between the Liga
Deportiva Alajuelense
and Deportiva Saprissa
is played.
And news for soccer
fans, as the Ministro de
Trabajo, Francisco
Morales, said yesterday
that there is no legal
basis to allow workers
time off work for the
event and will
have to watch the gave
on television or listen
to it on the radio.
According to Morales,
all public sector
employees are expected
to be at work on
Thursday, as usual, but
concedes some
flexibility that the
game can be seen on
television or heard on
the radio during their
lunch hour.
As to the private
sector, Morales said
that is up to the each
individual employer if
they will give employees
time off or not.
The "big game" get
underway at noon on
Thursday at the
Alejandro Morera Soto
stadium in Alajuela
between rivals, La Liga
Alajuelense and Saprissa,
the two teams part a
dividing line between
Costa Ricans, including
spouses and parents and
children.
The "morados" (Saprissa)
is looking to take its
fourth consecutive
title.
With no doubt the
stadium will be filled
to the brim and the
country will come to a
standstill for the 90
minutes of game play.
The Liga general
manager, Jorge Araneda,
is hopeful that
employers will give
their employees time off
to enjoy the game. "I
believe it will help
many to have time off to
relax, as the game will
take stress off", said
Araneda.
More than 250 police and
50 Tránsito (traffic)
have been assigned to
the detail of keeping
the peace and
controlling traffic
around the stadium. In
addition, a number of
anti-riot police will be
on hand just in case.
The subdirector of the
Fuerza Pública (police),
Randall Picado, said
that the players will
travel to the stadium by
bus and be under police
escort for the ride to
the stadium to avoid any
problems.
According to German
Marín, director of the
Policía de Tránsito,
traffic controls will be
begin at least four
hours ahead of the start
of the game, and since
this is a championship
game, will continue well
after the game has
ended.
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