Mario Camposeco
Encyclopedia
Mario Salvador Camposeco López (6 August 1921 – 17 June 1951) was a Guatemala
n footballer.
Born in Quetzaltenango
, he started his football career in 1938 playing for the local team América. He then joined club Xelajú becoming its captain and helping the team become champion of the Quetzaltenango department for 10 consecutive seasons (1940-1950). In 1942 he was called as a reinforcement for CSD Municipal
by coach Manuel Felipe Carrera to play against Atlante F.C.
of Mexico, and in 1943 he was first capped
with the Guatemala national team
. In 1948 he was part of a Municipal squad that won a friendly tournament in commemoration of the Cuban Independence in Havana, Cuba
. He later participated in the VI Central American and Caribbean Games
in 1950. At the time he became the second best scorer ever for Guatemala with 23 goals, which remains the 4th highest total of all time.
In June 1951, after a friendly match in Quetzaltenango, he was invited by a friend to go aboard an aircraft
and fly over the city; there was a mechanic failure and the plane crashed, killing both the pilot and Camposeco. Following the death of the footballer, Quetzaltenango club Xelajú changed its name to "Xelajú M.C." in his honor. The team's stadium was also renamed to Estadio Mario Camposeco
after him.
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
n footballer.
Born in Quetzaltenango
Quetzaltenango
Quetzaltenango, also commonly known by its indigenous name, Xelajú , or more commonly, Xela , is the second largest city of Guatemala. It is both the capital of Quetzaltenango Department and the municipal seat of Quetzaltenango municipality....
, he started his football career in 1938 playing for the local team América. He then joined club Xelajú becoming its captain and helping the team become champion of the Quetzaltenango department for 10 consecutive seasons (1940-1950). In 1942 he was called as a reinforcement for CSD Municipal
CSD Municipal
Club Social y Deportivo Municipal, also known as Municipal or Los Rojos , are a Guatemalan professional football club based in Guatemala City...
by coach Manuel Felipe Carrera to play against Atlante F.C.
Atlante F.C.
Club de Fútbol Atlante, is a Mexican professional football club, currently playing in the Mexican First Division League. The club is based in Cancún, Mexico as of the start of the 2007-08 season, when they relocated from Mexico City, and plays its home games in Estadio Andrés Quintana Roo.-Domestic...
of Mexico, and in 1943 he was first capped
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
with the Guatemala national team
Guatemala national football team
The Guatemala national football team is the association football team representing the country of Guatemala and is controlled by the Federación Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala. Founded in 1919, it affiliated to FIFA in 1946, and it is a member of CONCACAF....
. In 1948 he was part of a Municipal squad that won a friendly tournament in commemoration of the Cuban Independence in Havana, Cuba
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
. He later participated in the VI Central American and Caribbean Games
1950 Central American and Caribbean Games
The 6th Central American and Caribbean Games were held in Guatemala City, Guatemala, from February 28 to March 12, 1950. The games included 1.390 athletes from fourteen nations, competing in nineteen sports.-References:...
in 1950. At the time he became the second best scorer ever for Guatemala with 23 goals, which remains the 4th highest total of all time.
In June 1951, after a friendly match in Quetzaltenango, he was invited by a friend to go aboard an aircraft
Light aircraft
A light aircraft is an aircraft that has a maximum gross take-off weight of or less.Many aircraft used commercially for freight, sightseeing, photography and scheduled flights are light aircraft.Examples of light aircraft include:...
and fly over the city; there was a mechanic failure and the plane crashed, killing both the pilot and Camposeco. Following the death of the footballer, Quetzaltenango club Xelajú changed its name to "Xelajú M.C." in his honor. The team's stadium was also renamed to Estadio Mario Camposeco
Estadio Mario Camposeco
Estadio Mario Camposeco is a soccer stadium located in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. It is the home to one of the most traditional clubs in Guatemala, Xelajú MC . The stadium has a capacity of 11,000, and it was named after footballer Mario Camposeco, who played for Xelajú MC....
after him.