Aldair 'El Pollo', a former youth player for Pumas and América, is serving a 17-year sentence for a robbery he claims was framed. His story starts in the streets of Iztapalapa, where talent took him to professional academies, but family issues and an injury derailed him. Now in prison, he shines as a top scorer in inmate tournaments and dreams of returning to football.
Aldair 'El Pollo' grew up playing football at home in Iztapalapa, Mexico City. His mother spotted his talent and enrolled him in the Cruz Azul Santa Martha football school. There, a teacher took him to tournaments in places like Xochimilco, La Noria, and América's academy. 'It wasn't an official club, but in that school the teacher had a friend who invited him to various tournaments,' he recounted in an interview for the 'Penitencia' YouTube channel from prison.
After a 6-month trial at Pumas' academy, his skill earned him a spot in Club Universidad Nacional's youth teams. However, family poverty made it tough. 'There was no money; it was very hard to get from Iztapalapa to CU. We had to take the Metro, buses,' he explained. He played for neighborhood teams for pay, but at 16, he suffered a severe knee injury in a match at Peñón Viejo. He lied to the club, claiming it was a home accident.
He left professional football and fell into bad company. 'They'd say: ‘Let's go to a club’ or ‘to drink’ and I started trying marijuana,' he admitted. He confesses to minor thefts at stores like Oxxo for fun but denies serious crimes.
His arrest happened at a party while fetching beers with friends. A Sabritas delivery driver alerted police, accusing them of stealing a merchandise vehicle. 'They caught us right in front; they didn't even catch us in the truck,' he recalled. Though drunk and unarmed, he got 17 years; he's served nearly 6. He could be pre-released after 8 years and 9 months by paying a fine and damage reparations.
In prison, 'El Pollo' is a top scorer in inmate tournaments and has had visits from stars like Raúl Jiménez and boxer Alan 'Rey David' Picasso, who invited him to Emperors FC in the People’s League.
