BRAZIL: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Former Brazilian soccer player and Iraqi coach Zico holds traditional charity match in Sao Paolo

Record ID: 254352

  • Title: BRAZIL: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Former Brazilian soccer player and Iraqi coach Zico holds traditional charity match in Sao Paolo
  • Date: 30th December 2011
  • Summary: SAO PAULO, BRAZIL (DECEMBER 28, 2011) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF MORUMBI STADIUM WHERE FORMER BRAZILIAN PLAYER AND IRAQI COACH ZICO HELD HIS TRADITIONAL CHARITY MATCH CLOSE OF BRAZILIAN FLAG ZICO ENTERING FIELD FOR MATCH FORMER BRAZIL STRIKER RONALDO , BRAZIL STRIKER NEYMAR AND OTHER PLAYERS AND FORMER PLAYERS ENTERING FIELD FOR MATCH TRIBUTE TO LATE BRAZIL CAPTAIN SOCRATE
  • Embargoed: 14th January 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil, Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVADEUTPXQACI4PPL644MWQYMLQI
  • Story Text: Former Brazil soccer star Zico played brilliantly in front of nearly 40,000 fans on Wednesday (December 28) in his traditional end of the year charity match in Sao Paulo 's Morumbi stadium.
    The team led by the 58-year-old Iraqi coach won the game 7-5 and featured players like Brazilian star Neymar and former Brazilian striker Ronaldo. Their rivals "Zico's friends" was mainly made up of current and former players of Sao Paulo 's popular club Corinthians.
    Fans paid between US$3 to US$8 to watch the friendly match where some US$140 thousand was collected for Brazilian charity institutions.
    Santos' striker Neymar told reporters he was disappointed to see that few Brazilians were supporting his team in the FIFA Club's final against champions Barcelona this month.
    "Only a few people were supporting us; only those who really want the best for Brazilian football," he said.
    Fans cheered and shouted every time the 19-year-old touched the ball, especially in a play where Zico scored after a pass from Neymar.
    Zico's charity match has become a tradition in Brazil in which every year he gathers a number of local and international soccer stars from the past and present to raise money for a number of charitable institutions.
    He said the match is also a holiday present for football fans.
    "We are closing the year with a gift such as this, by gathering great players of Brazilian football from today and from the past who were willing to come here and put on a great show for this public, playing in a friendly way. I think that everyone who came here will leave satisfied," he said.
    In its eight year, Zico decided to pay tribute to one of his good friends, former Brazil captain Socrates, who died of organ damage at the age of 57 earlier this month.
    A qualified doctor, Socrates led one of Brazil 's most dazzling teams and stood up to the country's military rulers.
    His brother and also former player Rai, played for Zico's side and scored a goal he said was in memory of Socrates.
    "I followed him (Socrates) since I was a small boy inside my home, observing his career, his attitudes and I have always been privileged for this. He was someone that I learned from only by observing everything that happened in his career. In and outside the field, I only learned from him," he said.
    The match ended the same way it began with a goal by host Zico, who scored the first and last goal of the game.
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