Oh, to be from Panama right now.
The Central American nation is celebrating like there’s no tomorrow in the aftermath of its unlikely qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Panama will compete in the world’s biggest sporting event for the first time next summer, and president Juan Carlos Varela marked the occasion by declaring Wednesday a national holiday for its working people.
“The voice of the people has been heard,” Varela wrote on Twitter. “Celebrate this historic day for Panama. Tomorrow is a national holiday.”
La voz del Pueblo ha sido escuchada; celebra este dÃa histórico para Panamá. Mañana será DÃa de Fiesta Nacional. pic.twitter.com/RJWNyTs06L
— Juan Carlos Varela (@JC_Varela) October 11, 2017
“It is a historic day for the country,” he continued. “Tomorrow will be free for the public and private sector workers.”
Es un dÃa histórico para el paÃs. Mañana será libre para los trabajadores del sector público y privado.
— Juan Carlos Varela (@JC_Varela) October 11, 2017
“On a national holiday also classes are suspended at the country’s private and public schools, celebrate family,” he concluded.
En un DÃa de Fiesta Nacional también se suspenden las clases en las escuelas públicas y privadas del paÃs, celebren en familia.
— Juan Carlos Varela (@JC_Varela) October 11, 2017
Panama booked its ticket to Russia 2018 Tuesday night with a dramatic win over Costa Rica, combined with USA’s loss to Trinidad and Tobago. The results lifted Panama from fifth place in the CONCACAF hexagonal standings into third and the final automatic qualification spot.
Who can fault Panama’s president for mixing sports and politics in this case?
Thumbnail photo via Dale Zanine/USA TODAY Sports Images
