My name is Julius Reynolds. I am 38 years old. I was born in Panama. My roots are from the province of Colón, a coastal province with a lot of Afro-descendant culture. This province is well known since the Panama Canal passes through its waters. I am a member of the La Legión supporters group. Just as I am the number one fan of Panama, I am also a fan of the Arabe Unido de Colon. My passion for this beautiful sport was instilled in me by my father when I was a child.
I grew up in a province where Afro-American gastronomy and joy are very common. I have been instilled with them since I was little. For me, being Panamanian means being happy despite the circumstances. We are a country like any other with social problems, but our joy is never erased from our faces, a joy that we always transfer to all the soccer fields where we go.
I am currently the owner of a barbershop in Panama City where our main clients are people involved in the field of sports - athletes and journalists from different sports branches. The shop is called Nando Barber Luxury, it was opened in October 2020.
Unconditional Support
Since 2011, I have been traveling with the Panamanian national team. I remember it as if it was yesterday when we traveled to Costa Rica. That game was difficult since we did not win, but the joy was unique. Apart from it being my first game abroad, it was also the first time I left the country.
After that trip, I have been to nine countries to watch the Panama team - Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, Colombia, Argentina, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and the United States, and I was at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The latter was the most rewarding of all, since living the experience of seeing Panama in its first World Cup was priceless.
I watch each game regardless of the result because my support is totally unconditional and that makes me follow my teams wherever they play. The province where I come from is rich in Antillean food, and whenever I can, I invite my friends to my home to eat the food I prepare for them.
The Bonds Of Friendship
Being part of La Legión is one of my best experiences, since sharing the same passion with them is something that has no name. Traveling abroad with my friends from La Legión to watch our national team is an incomparable experience since our bonds of friendship get stronger with each trip. Being in Las Vegas and watching the Panamanian team in the Concacaf Nations League was an unbeatable experience.
My ritual before each game is to look for a special outfit for the occasion. My outfit always has three things - dark-colored glasses, a hat, and long socks. The color varies. In the event that victory is achieved, the outfit is repeated.
I am not the founder of La Legión, but since I began supporting the group in 2017 it has grown by 500%. Together with my brother Ivan Reynolds, we pour our life, heart, and soul into each game.
The photos were taken at the Rommel Fernandez Stadium in Panama and in Las Vegas. I tried to capture the joy of Panamanian soccer and show the fans supporting our team.
Soccer Is Joy
In my childhood, I played sports with my friends. I was not very good at it but I did it with a lot of passion. In those moments, the economic resources were very limited so we practiced sports without shoes, and I got used to playing this way. For me, these limitations have never prevented me from following soccer with passion. Today, even after playing sports barefoot with my friends, I can follow my national team wherever they play in the world.
Soccer is joy at a global level, and for me and all Panamanians, that joy captivates us constantly. Soccer is the escape that we Panamanians have so we can forget for 90 minutes those social problems that we can have as a country and any situation that afflicts us as people during this time.
A Benchmark In Fanaticism
In the future, personally, I want to be a benchmark in fanaticism in the Concacaf region and worldwide. I am currently studying to earn a degree in law and political science. I plan to link this university-level career to soccer since one of my goals is to be an agent of soccer players.
Soccer in Panama has limited resources, but with the good results that Panama has obtained at the level of the men's and women's national teams, I hope that this reality changes and that there are more people like me in the region that support unconditionally.
Quickfire Heritage Questions
What are the words or phrases/sayings that anyone from your country will know?
Que sopa (que pasó / what happened))
Pa, encima (Sin miedo / Without fear)
Cinta no (lenguaje coloquial en la región de Colón para darle ánimo a los jugadores / colloquial language in the colon region to encourage players)
What are the most distinctive landmarks in your country?
Panama is known for the Panama Canal since it is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World and is our main source of income for the country.
What is your country most famous for?
Panama is known for its geographical position, as a strategic point for logistics in world trade.
What do you consider your most distinctive food dish?
Chicken and rice is the distinctive dish of my country.
If you could say “these three things symbolize our country and our people”, what would that be?
Panamana characterized by the following:
The joy of its people.
The passion for living all sports, not only soccer, where there is Panamanian participation.
The diversity of culture. Panama, being a melting pot, has a wide culture.
