The perimeter of the kancha: Sports as heritage to revalorize the memory and identity of San Eugenio

Abstract

This article undertakes a reflection concerning the rescued memory and identity of the working-class neighborhood of San Eugenio, discussing themes related to its heritage that highlight the role of sport as a catalyst and activator of a community. From recognizing the sociocultural influence of the Ferroviario ́s Sports Club in neighborhood dynamics, an initiative propelled by the State Railways Company (EFE), to revisiting the disconnected urban scene that occurred due to its decline and destruction, this article offers a narrative of socio-cultural cohesion through the interpretation of the Quechua term 'kancha'. This term represents the quality of these large spaces as surfaces that allow for multiple activities and play a central role in the functionality of their boundaries as vibrant edges of popular activities, which in the case of San Eugenio ensured the consolidation of the neighborhood.