- published: 21 Nov 2007
- views: 269998
The Apertura and Clausura tournaments are a relatively recent innovation for many Latin American football leagues in which the traditional European football season from August to May is divided in two sections per season, each with its own champion. Apertura and Clausura are the Spanish words for "opening" and "closing". In French-speaking Haiti, these are known as the Ouverture and the Fermeture.
The Apertura is held in the first half of the calendar year in Chile, Colombia, Haiti and Paraguay while it is held in the second half of the calendar year in Argentina, Bolivia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama and Uruguay and Venezuela.
In most leagues, each tournament constitutes a national championship in itself. On the other hand, in the leagues of Nicaragua, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela, the winners of the Apertura and Clausura play each other in a playoff for the season title, or there is a final stage where teams qualify based on placements in the Apertura and Clausura. Thus, two championship titles are awarded per year in the first group of leagues, and only one in the second. In Mexico, for instance, the winners of each tournament play each other at the beginning of the following season for another title, but this is a rather minor season curtain-raiser, akin to national Super Cups in European leagues. Some Apertura and Clausura tournaments also have second stages to decide the winner.
I'm talking to myself,
and no ones listening.
I watched you crying till the sun went down.
But I still had to say goodbye.
Somethings we cannot control,
you must hate the words you've said.
But I bet your hoping,
I regret.
Somethings we cannot control,
you must hate the words you've said.
Oh you know who you are,
you're the cold,
you're the lonely little girl.
I said every time I feel like things are ok,
you make your way, back into my life, oh you do.
Oh and I'm learning that's all you have to give,
or offer me, and I'm telling you.
It don't feel so good, oh no.
I'm talking to myself,
and everyone is listening.
I wouldn't change a thing for you,