Saturday, August 22, 2009

When in Rome Manaus...

When Manaus bid to be the host city for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, most of its residents were probably aware that holding the games in the middle of the Amazon jungle, in a city with few roads connecting it to the rest of the country, was a stretch of the imagination. However, soccer, or football as it's known outside of the U.S., is so popular in Brazil (think Pelé) that the residents, given the chance to host the World Cup, probably didn't give a hoot about road connectivity.

People tend to dress fairly casual, even in business situations, in Brazil. So it may come to no surprise that I often see people at the local government office where we're working wearing football jerseys of their favorite team to work. Die-hard fans have plenty of car regalia, mobile ringtones, and even tattoos in some cases of their favorite team. FIFA football is a way of life in Brazil, and Manaus is as proud as could be about their involvement in the 2014 games. People mention it daily. Children likely imagine themselves playing in the World Cup when they play matches in the parks on the weekend.

Our driver, Monteiro, is no exception in his love for football. Well, his love of the sport is exceptional in the sense that probably 10 minutes don't pass without Monteiro thinking of the game. When walking from the car to the office, he'll often give a practice kick with his foot in the air, daydreaming right along with the kids in the park.

So I was rather honored when Monteiro invited me to play soccer football with him on Sábado (Saturday). He knows that as an American I know next to nothing about FIFA, but I do like the game itself.

Actually, what we'll be playing isn't football, but an abbreviated style of the game, with a smaller field, five people to a side, and a smaller ball. Monteiro said this style of the game is called futebol de salão, or futsal. We'll be playing in the evening since it's too hot in Manaus to play while the sun is out.

I'm expecting the other people there will be fairly serious about the game, even a casual, weekend futsal match amongst friends. So it's a good thing that Monteiro is rather protective of me (note: I'm in charge of payroll); he said he would bring me some shin guards. But, actually, I think Monteiro mentioned that our translator, Ary, and tech staff, Armando, will be joining us, so it should be a fun evening.

(The picture is of Charles Miller, revered "Father of Brazilian football" and inventor of futsal)

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