Brazil and Soccer - Paulistao 2008 Finals

If you know nothing about Brazil you surely know at least that most Brazilians have a passion for soccer. That feeling goes to the highest levels of intensity when final games are taking place in states championships held every year. The fact is soccer is sure the national game of Brazil.

A Little Background - Sao Paulo State 2008 cup finals

It is hard to write about an event such as the final games of the Sao Paulo State cup The Paulistao as it is called. As you will read bellow. The anxiety is too big on both side but, the story for the Campinas (Campinas in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil) people is some what more dramatic.

A City's Passion for Soccer and Its 100-Year-Old Team

Ponte Preta is 108 years old, the club was started on August 6, 1900, the oldest team of the state and yet it has never won a cup. Many finals, many second places, but the taste of bringing home the trophy is still to be felt by its fans.

The games

Palmeiras and Ponte Preta met last month for the first of two games of the final of the Sao Paulo state championship (April 27). Palmeiras has maybe more fans than the city of Campinas has inhabitants, figuratively speaking. Palmeiras is the team from the capital of the state of Sao Paulo with large salaries, stars, and all infra-structure - against the country side team, that is Ponte Preta. A game fight like David against Goliath.

I went then on through the streets of Campinas from the early morning up to the game into Moises Lucarelli stadium and after while people where going home documenting that passion and the forms it takes.

The fans

Prior to the game Ponte's fans were already in front of their stadium cheering and having a great time. TVs and radio networks all ready to transmit the game did prey on those fans for material for routine insertions and comments. I confess I did the same.

Many people go to the game on foot here. On the streets cheerful fans showed their love for the game and their team. Ponte Preta's mascot is, as you can tell from the photo beside, a monkey and Palmeira is a parrot. Of course in the streets of Campinas you would not see a parrot walking around, maybe not even flying. It would be too dangerous.

The police work was very efficient and no major event or violence happened, but I tell you what there were police officers all over the place. All fans were searched upon entering the stadium, each group entered by a different gate and inside they were kept in very separate places. It worked.

The press from all over the state came to cover the event and I went after some sport commentator to check what the prospects were for the match in their expert opinion check the video below with Mr Celso Cardoso and Mr Felipe his producer, both from TV Gazeta minutes before the game.

Look for Interview with TV Gazeta journalist Mr Celso Cardoso here at AC.

They agreed that it would be very, very difficult for Ponte Preta to win against Palmeiras, but it is a game and it takes 90 minutes and everything can happen, Mr Cardoso affirmed. Check at Youtube (the video is not very good, but audio is ok)

Well, the first game ended as the experts predicted Palmeiras 1 and Ponte Preta 0, the next game would be in Sao Paulo May 4^th, the following weeked, what they call here the return game and now the task would be even more difficult for Ponte Preta must score 2 to nil to win the 2008 championship. The next Sunday I followed it all to witness who would win, Palmeiras or Ponte Preta -- David or Goliath!

Still it was not time for Ponte Preta to conquer the Paulistao. In August, Ponte Preta will be 108 years old. Hopes were high in the city for the Monkey, as Ponte is called, to bring home her first state title.

May 4y the last game

Minutes before the game and during the first half I cycled around to take some shots. Many people in Brazil (not only in Campinas where the pictures were taken) like to go to bars to sit among friends, drink, eat some snacks and watch the game. Check images on the side.

Not many bars were open; I was surprised. For Ponte to win today they needed to score two or more goals over Palmeiras. Many fans were not very confident especially because Ponte was now going to play in Sao Paulo at Parque Antartica, its opponent's house.

Everything can happen in soccer but the superb championship played by Palmeiras was too much against the odds. Palmeiras won 15 games, including its final 2, lost only 4 and went even 0 to 0 in another 4. Well, this time Goliath made it happen; poor David did not have a chance. Before the first 30 minutes of game were covered, Palmeiras was already two goals ahead of Ponte Preta. In the end, Palmeiras defeated Ponte Preta 5 to 0.

So Palmeiras is the 2008 Paulistao Champion. The truth really is that Ponte Preta made a great tournament. With much less money to invest and no big names in its team, the Monkey went really far and deserves to be applauded for that.

Journalists from TV Bandeirantes (BAND) were working in front of Ponte's stadium. They were waiting to see if the fans would show up to celebrate. It did not happen. A trend of Brazilian culture does show up, something we are trying and need to learn better - but still second place and nothing is the same around here.

Teasing a Trend of Brazilian Soccer Fans
(This part was first published at OMNI - there you may see more pictures)

There are some trends about Brazilian sports fans, soccer fans especially, that are somewhat remarkable. Like the one pointed out above. Another strong one, which looks like a need, is to mock the opponent team's fans and team.

As you read before, the 2008 state champion was determined between two finalists: one from the capital of the state Sao Paulo and the other from the countryside. The team from the capital is a big club and the other one - although the oldest club in the state -- is much smaller.

Thousands of people in the city were cheering for Ponte Preta (or just Ponte), but not everybody in Campinas was sad it lost to Palmeiras. Campinas is a large city and, of course, there are other teams. The archrival of the Monkey (Ponte's nickname) was once champion of the Brazilian cup. So the Guarani Futebol Clube does have the right to boast a star on top of the team coat.

On the picture of Ponte's team you see a banner where you may read literally "It is possible." Back on the first game I already had it in mind to write on the large differences between these two teams and what a good surprise it was to find that banner there on the field. It came across like a glove for this article in which I set Palmeiras as Goliath and Ponte as David, from the famous biblical fight.

Well, the colors of Guarani are almost exactly the same as those of Palmeiras -- basically green and white -- and since Campinas is a countryside city, many fans have actually two teams, one from the major leagues and a local one; or better, one from the capital and the local one. You don't need to know much about soccer to guess rightly that most fans from Guarani are also fans of, or at least have more admiration for, Palmeiras than they would for the local rival in such a game.

Proof of that is what I found on the streets and squares of Campinas, hanging in trees, light poles and so on. I took a picture so you can see for yourself below. (beside)

To tease Pontipretanos (Ponte Preta's fans) and for the amusement of many the large banners are hung all over. In the banner, there's a message on top that says, "Guarani the only champion of Campinas," and the one below, "Not all is possible!" Beside also you may see a banner set in a T-shirt wore by Joao Queiroz from Campinas a big fan of Guarani, many other fans are doing so.

Pay back

From what heard, Guarani is facing financial problems and will have to sell its stadium to solve tax, salary and other debts. They expect and most probably will also build a new stadium somewhere else in Campinas. If that happens the payback is surely on its way. Creativity for that Brazilians do not lack.

Nobody is dead yet so it is OK so far. Let's hope it stays like this -- just fun for fans.

Important note to fans: There are not taking sides here! This whole article is about the game, the passion for it, the teasing and the mocking trends that exists among soccer fans - is a fact, that is the pointy here. You may put on your comments, state what you think about it all, that is great, you are welcome to participate. But, please, avoid low level language and swear words, kids read this articles. Thank you very much.