Futebol in Espaco Crisanca Esperanca

On Monday the ninth and Tuesday the tenth I was a part of a basketball and soccer team in Espaco Crianca Esperanca. Espaco Crianca Esperanca has indoor basketball on Mondays and soccer Tuesday through Friday. I am glad I was able to attend these two days to see the tremendous difference in the children from one day to the other. I witnessed a complete change in atmosphere with the children from Monday to Tuesday.

On Monday the children were very excited to have us join their teams. They tried to get to know us, and asked lots of questions. They were simply curious about us joining them for basketball. The children were very energetic on both days, but in a different way. On Tuesday more than twice as many children showed up. Their ages were from nine to fourteen years old. They welcomed us, but were not around us as they were the previous day. They focused on the game only.

We were split up into teams of five. There were about eight teams. Two teams played against each other until one scored, and then another team would go in. I watched three teams before my team played. I watched their facial expressions closely, and their enthusiasm. I looked at the young faces and I saw another type of face. I could see the concentration in their eyes. Their love and passion for the game radiated in their movements of this "jogo bonito" or beautiful game as famous Brazilian soccer player, Pele, referred to it as. They were so concentrated that they would not leave even for a drink of water.

Children in Brazil start playing soccer at a very young age. At Espaco Criana Esperanca younger children, both girls and boys, play indoor soccer at an earlier time. They are taught the basics of soccer.  One of the biggest reasons why soccer is played so much in Brazil is because it does not require a lot of equipment like other sports do. Soccer also became very popular in Brazil in the nineteenth century, and spread to other countries. Children see soccer as a way to rise in their community and work toward a better future.

I was able to talk to one of the boys that I had played basketball with the previous day. He was showing off his moves and he said that he wanted to be as good as Ronaldo. After I saw him play I was sure that he was serious about following in the footsteps of this soccer sensation and role model. He has a dream of becoming a world-class player. I couldn’t help but think of how that would help his family. I wondered if aiming for a better income to help his family was what motivated him to work so hard towards becoming a great player. Whether it is for money, the love of the game, or a little of both, he dreams of one day being the best soccer player.