Argentine Footballer Tomás Molina Speaks Out on Ciudad Juárez Insecurity
Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico – Argentine forward Tomás Molina, a former player for FC Juárez, has publicly detailed his unsettling experiences with insecurity during his time in Ciudad Juárez in 2023. During an interview with the Argentine sports channel TyC Sports, Molina, currently playing for Argentinos Juniors, described the border city as an environment marked by visible military presence and strict warnings for residents.
“You’d see a war tank as if it were nothing”
Molina, who played for Bravos during the Clausura 2023 tournament, recounted feeling apprehensive from the moment he arrived in Mexico. “Juárez is one of the two most dangerous cities in Mexico, along with Sinaloa. I remember it was complicated upon arrival. My signing was delayed for a few days, and I thought: ‘this is a sign, God is telling me this isn’t the way,'” Molina stated in the interview.
The footballer further elaborated on the daily impact of insecurity, describing scenes that he found shocking and which dictated his life off the pitch. “Strange things would happen, like being on the street and seeing, so to speak, a war tank pass by with a guy on top with a machine gun, as if it were normal. There were shootings in shopping centers,” Molina detailed.
Warnings and Curfews Defined Daily Life
Upon his arrival, Molina received immediate warnings about safety. “When I arrived, they told me not to go out to eat at night, not to go dancing. There was even a moment with a curfew; we couldn’t go out,” he added, highlighting the restrictive nature of life in the city for residents and visitors alike.
A Brief Stint with FC Juárez
Tomás Molina’s tenure with FC Juárez was limited to the Clausura 2023 tournament. During this period, he participated in 13 matches and scored four goals, finding the net against teams such as Chivas, Mazatlán, Santos Laguna, and Necaxa. Following the conclusion of the tournament, Molina returned to Argentina, joining Talleres de Córdoba.
Before his move to Mexico, Molina had gained international experience in 2022 with Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Quito in Ecuador. His career began at Huracán and included spells at various Argentine lower-division clubs like Almirante Brown, Brown de Adrogué, and Ferro Carril Oeste. After his time with Juárez and Talleres, he played for Central Córdoba (SdE) before signing with Argentinos Juniors in 2024, where he is currently a key offensive player.
Molina’s candid remarks shed light on the challenges faced by professional athletes in regions grappling with significant security concerns, underscoring the broader societal issues that can impact even high-profile individuals.
