Welcome to our exciting series Passion and Pride, where The Asunción Times dives into the heart of Paraguayan football, spotlighting the 12 teams of the Primera División. In each episode, we will introduce you to one club, uncovering their rich histories, fierce rivalries and special moments that have shaped Paraguay’s top league. In part seven of Passion and Pride: Sportivo Luqueño, famous as “Kuré Luque” (Luque Pig).
Origins of a city’s pride
Club Sportivo Luqueño was founded on 1 May 1921 through the merger of three neighbourhood teams: Marte Atlético, General Aquino, and Vencedor. The goal was simple but ambitious: to unite the city of Luque under one banner and prove that its passion could rival that of Paraguay’s nearby capital Asunción.
Luque has long been known for its artisans, musicians, and workers. It is a city famous for filigree jewellery, Paraguayan music and carnival traditions, all expressions of creativity and resilience. Naturally, the football club reflected these same values: a team born from the people, rooted in cultural pride and collective effort.
The “Kuré” (Pig) that became a symbol
Among the many traditions of Sportivo Luqueño, one stands out: its unusual nickname, Kuré Luque, or “Luque Pig.” Originally, rival fans used it as an insult, mocking supporters who travelled to matches on trains that also carried livestock. Yet instead of rejecting it, Luqueños embraced the name and turned it into a symbol of unity.
Today, the “pig” is a proud emblem. It appears on shirts, murals, and songs. What once was meant as derision has become a mark of identity: a story of defiance that perfectly captures the spirit of Luque: proud, resilient, and unbreakable.
Glory and resilience
Throughout its history, Sportivo Luqueño has experienced moments of great triumph and deep struggle. The club won the Paraguayan Primera División in 1951, 1953, and 2007. The early titles established it as a powerful provincial force capable of challenging the dominant clubs from Asunción.
The 2007 championship, after more than fifty years of waiting, was celebrated as a victory for the entire city. Streets filled with parades, songs, and fireworks. A collective outpouring of emotion that proved Luque’s enduring faith in its team.
Despite periods of financial instability and relegation, Sportivo Luqueño has always returned stronger. The club’s promotion back to the top division in 2024 symbolised more than sporting success; it was a cultural reaffirmation that Luque’s pride endures no matter the odds.
The heart of Luque
At the centre of this passion stands the Feliciano Cáceres Stadium, named after one of the club’s most important presidents. Inaugurated in 1999, it has hosted international tournament matches such as the 1999 Copa América. Yet for locals, it is far more than a stadium: it is a meeting place, a space where family, music, and memory converge.
On match days, vendors line the streets, musicians play traditional songs, and entire families make their way to the stands. The heartbeat of the city seems to sync with the rhythm of the match.
A city in blue and yellow
More than any other club in Paraguay, Sportivo Luqueño blurs the line between football and identity. The city itself becomes an extension of the team: from bakeries decorated with blue and yellow ribbons to buses painted in the club’s colours and artisans selling jewellery engraved with its crest. The colours of Sportivo Luqueño are woven into the rhythm of daily life, transforming ordinary corners into monuments of belonging.
For Luqueños, supporting the club is not merely a choice; it is part of who they are. Football here is a cultural language, a shared sense of belonging passed from generation to generation. Here, football is not an event but a way of life.
The spirit of Sportivo Luqueño
Sportivo Luqueño represents more than a century of pride, resilience, and community. Its colours are not confined to jerseys but spread across walls and hearts. Its nickname, once an insult, has become a rallying cry. And its story, marked by struggle and triumph, continues to define a city that breathes football.
To follow the club, find Sportivo Luqueño on Instagram.
Read the previous Episode 6 of Passion and Pride, about Cerro Porteño, where “Doña” Susana” is recognised as the first woman to found a professional football club in Paraguay!
