:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gruponacion/M5IUR5GDRVH27LDZU4TG7ZSQBA.JPG "Celebrating 40 Years of Dedication: Hernán Morales, the Iconic Sports Commentator")
Hernán Morales, an icon on the Costa Rican sports scene, celebrates forty years of unwavering dedication to soccer from the television set. The man who was a player for Saprissa, San Jose Earthquakes and Cartaginés began a role decades ago that would mark him forever: being a commentator.
The year 1982 marked an important milestone for Morales, when he made the decision to retire from football as a player for Club Sport Cartaginés. Once he had hung up his cleats, he was called by Channel 2 to be part of a broadcast of the World Cup in Spain, without the suspicion that he would begin a new life in football, albeit with an unexpected and fascinating direction.
A ‘supposed’ stroke of luck
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At that time, due to its high cost, Morales remembers that top-class soccer broadcasts were increasingly scarce, which represented a challenge for fans of this sport.
However, the invitation that Channel 2 made to Morales marked the beginning of his journey into the world of sports journalism. “They called me to comment on a match between Italy and Poland, a World Cup match that ended 0-0 and that made me sweat like nothing before,” he recalls with a laugh.
This event was the starting point for his journey into narrating and analyzing football matches, establishing him as a respected voice in the sports field. “I feel like it was a stroke of luck because after that the channels took the rights to broadcast the games again and I was able to start doing this,” he remembers.
In fact, Morales had a job as an office worker at a savings and credit board at the University of Costa Rica. He swore that he would stay there as soon as he retired from football, but another path would open up for him. “The truth is, I thought he would be an office worker after football,” he says.
Morales was called to comment on more games, both national and international. By 1983 he was recurring on Channel 2.
Quickly, Morales’ passion for soccer and his ability to convey emotion and knowledge made him a common face on Costa Rican sports broadcasts.
Of course, Morales assures that since then, this journey has been accompanied by nervousness and pressure. “The butterflies in your stomach never go away,” he says.
Unforgettable moments
Over the course of his career, Hernán Morales has witnessed unforgettable moments in Costa Rican soccer. Among his most notable experiences are the first two World Cups in which the Costa Rican team participated.
Especially memorable was the first time that the Costa Rican team qualified for a World Cup, in Italia 90. That historic achievement became a milestone that marked the entire nation and Morales was there to comment on it.
“Ugh, you have no idea how happy that moment gave me. We went round and there was a unique joy. “It felt like being on a page in a history book,” she recalls.
Another episode that he remembers fondly was the coverage of the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup. “It was nice because we hadn’t gone to the World Cup in twelve years and there was a lot of excitement about the great team we had. We didn’t make it past the round, but it was coverage full of adrenaline and emotion,” he remembers.
Throughout these forty years, Morales has worked with different television channels, starting with Channel 2, later he went to Repretel and currently remains as a panelist in FUTV, a company that has the rights to broadcast the majority of first-class matches. division.
“If I had to say what I’ve done well all this time, I wouldn’t know what to say,” Morales says with a laugh.
“I feel that I have always given my best and have worked with respect for the players, teammates and the audience. I guess you could say that,” she adds.
Reflecting on all these years, Hernán Morales does not miss the opportunity to express his deep gratitude to Manuel “Pilo” Obando, the influential announcer and colleague who marked his career in sports journalism.
With emotion in his voice, Morales remembers his late friend as a wise man, who gave him valuable advice that helped him forge his path.
“Pilo Obando was a fundamental figure in my professional life. He taught me how to stay calm in every broadcast, how to take accurate notes and know how to say something different in every game. “He was a master in the art of being respectful of the craft and in transmitting the passion for football in an authentic way,” says Morales.
Profile of Pilo Obando and Hernán Morales
The relationship with Pilo Obando was not only professional, but also personal. Morales highlights that Pilo was more than a mentor; he was a friend and role model in his career. “His advice and constant support were decisive for my growth as a commentator. “He encouraged me to never stop learning and to always look for new ways to enrich the experience of football fans,” adds Morales.
Morales likes to see his journey as a tribute to his friend. “I will always be grateful to Pilo. His legacy is in every broadcast I make and in every soccer fan who shares this passion with me,” Morales concludes.
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2023-10-12 14:19:16
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