2025-08-04, 06:30 PM - Word count:
Coming into this season I never expected to have the chance to be able to create something that would help expand the SSL. When the post got put up that the league was looking for new OMs for expansion teams I immediately started writing up my application to become an OM for a new organization and I could not have been happier that I did. I've already learned so much about the people around the league and I'm super excited to build a winning culture over in Guatemala and Cote d'Ivoire. It wasn't all just excitement though. I had initial worries that I wouldn't even be a thought about getting an expansion slot or maybe the people around the league wouldn't like the branding idea I've come up with. After all the hard work Canadice Thunder and I have done to create this org, I can't wait to be able to fill my locker room with people that are excited to be apart of something special and hope that people can get on board with the big plans I have for us. I also wanted to share a little more on both of the clubs and how tied they are to their locations, culturally.
Xelajú's logo is of a quetzal which is Guatemala's national bird and helps tied it to their location within the country in the city of Quetzaltenango, which in Mayan, is called Xelajú and it derives our nickname of Los K'iches which is the name of one of the largest Mayan groups in all of Guatemala. The bird is standing on a ball shaped star, related to the deep study of astronomy that the Mayans had done. The colors match the colors of the Quetzal which is a beautiful teal and the cosmic purple is in the name and relates to the sky the Mayans studied.
Masques logo is of a traditional Ivorian dancing mask that they would make before their festivals which are held in a very sacred manner and are not meant to be decorative. They are supposed to hold the spirit of their ancestors and the wearers supposedly transcend and embody the spirit. This is to help the Ivorian people feel much closer to their ancestors. The colors are relative to what the masks are made of, the dark mahogany wood that the base is made from and the yellow can be the main color of many of the masks they wear.
408 words
Xelajú's logo is of a quetzal which is Guatemala's national bird and helps tied it to their location within the country in the city of Quetzaltenango, which in Mayan, is called Xelajú and it derives our nickname of Los K'iches which is the name of one of the largest Mayan groups in all of Guatemala. The bird is standing on a ball shaped star, related to the deep study of astronomy that the Mayans had done. The colors match the colors of the Quetzal which is a beautiful teal and the cosmic purple is in the name and relates to the sky the Mayans studied.
Masques logo is of a traditional Ivorian dancing mask that they would make before their festivals which are held in a very sacred manner and are not meant to be decorative. They are supposed to hold the spirit of their ancestors and the wearers supposedly transcend and embody the spirit. This is to help the Ivorian people feel much closer to their ancestors. The colors are relative to what the masks are made of, the dark mahogany wood that the base is made from and the yellow can be the main color of many of the masks they wear.
408 words
