Pabellón Municipal O Gatañal

The Pabellón Municipal O Gatañal is not a cathedral of sport. It lives in Cangas do Morrazo. The arena is a functional block of concrete, built in 1993 to replace the old Romarigo pavilion, and it has served the community ever since. It is managed by the local council, which has recently agreed to pay for a full rehabilitation of the building to fix the damp and the leaks in the roof.

Inside, the air is still and thick. The stands hold three thousand people, though the official league lists it at two thousand five hundred. When the home side, Club Balonmán Cangas, hosts a match against Barcelona or the local rivals Teucro, the place is full. The supporters know the game well, and the pressure is constant. In 2012, the team won the promotion playoffs here, watched by a crowd that packed every seat. Since then, they have played in the cup competitions, losing close matches in the Round of 16 and the quarter-finals, but the fight remains in the dressing room.

The building itself is plain, with high windows letting in the grey light of Galicia. It is not a landmark, but for the people of Cangas, it is the only ground that matters. The work to repair the envelope and the facades is due to start soon, funded by the provincial government. Until then, the players continue to train on the wooden floor, and the fans continue to fill the seats.