Dante Pollora from Buenos Aires, Argentina, talks about his love from afar for the Cherries.
I am now 19-years-old and I became an AFC Bournemouth supporter in 2014 - from that moment I’ve been watching all the games.
In January 2018 I set up @BournemouthARG on Twitter to report on all the latest developments and news of our awesome club to the rest of the Spanish-speaking world.
This account isn’t affiliated to the club but it’s a fan account that aims to bring Spanish updates to people who are interested.
Since day one, I have had the support of Bournemouth fans from around the world, which in turn has given me greater confidence in what I’m doing, I would like to especially thank the @AFCBSydney supporters in Australia who trusted in me from the very first minute and have always helped me.
I would like to highlight that in Argentina there are social media accounts that support other Premier League clubs, on matchdays we all support each other by sharing information and interacting, all in a very respectful and friendly manner, it’s a great community!
My ‘fanaticism’ for AFC Bournemouth is all FIFA’s fault! I found out about the Cherries and their cool jerseys, plus Matt Ritchie’s game on FIFA and got hooked straight away. Over time, the more I learnt about the club the more I fell in love with it.
But it’s not all roses, because here in Argentina it is a massive challenge watching a team like AFC Bournemouth on television. Only the usual Premier League teams feature so unless we’re playing a top six club I must resort to watching the game over the internet.
During this Covid-19 crisis I’ve been watching many older Bournemouth games such as against Bolton, Manchester United and Liverpool. I also keep myself informed on any rumours and news on player training sessions.
In Argentina we are observing quarantine which has subconsciously made us turn to our devices even more. I stay in touch with many fans, including two other Argentinian Bournemouth supporters who, like myself, had been so eager for the team’s return to action.
Before Project Restart, what we had missed the most was the emotion of shouting 'GOOOOOOOOOLLL' and seeing Bournemouth play good football, which is what we have become accustomed to!
In these first few games it has been strange seeing the team without the fans cheering them on, but we have been glued to the TV set (or internet) since the restart and are sending all that positive energy and our strength so the team can get good results.
In Argentina many of the other local Premier League accounts know me because I went to celebrate this season’s victory against Manchester United at the Obelisk, a historical monument in which Argentinian clubs go to and celebrate when they’ve won a cup or league title.
I had people on the streets asking me which team’s shirt I was wearing - even some old ladies. This was a crazy but important and unique experience for me.
Lastly, I hope everybody is taking care of themselves and their families during these testing times.
With just a few Premier League games left I hope all fans give all their support and love to the players who need and deserve it.
Enjoy football, it truly is something unique!
