SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Brazilian midfielder Kaka fully recovered from thigh strain, says ready to participate at full strength in World Cup

Record ID: 455089

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Brazilian midfielder Kaka fully recovered from thigh strain, says ready to participate at full strength in World Cup
  • Date: 5th June 2010
  • Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 4, 2010) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF THE FAIRWAY GOLF CLUB WHERE BRAZIL NATIONAL TEAM IS BASED BRAZIL MIDFIELDERS KAKA AND JOSUE ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE CAMERA OPERATOR FILMING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) BRAZIL MIDFIELDER KAKA, SAYING: "I'm ok, every training and friendly that we had, we've had one friendly so far, the next one I hope will be much better than this one, I have done everything that has been planned and I believe that I will be playing the first game in the World Cup in optimum condition so I can play a good first match." CAMERA OPERATERS (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) BRAZIL MIDFIELDER KAKA, SAYING: "Kaka's ball! No, it's an Adidas ball and it's a new ball and everything that is new like new technology causes an impression. At the beginning it was a critical impression, who knows if during the World Cup many of the opinions of critics may change. It's all very relative, it was criticised the first week but today many players are saying that the ball is not that bad. I think Michel (Bastos) is not complaining about the ball considering the goal that he scored (against Zimbabwe). It's all very relative." JOURNALIST TYPING INTO LAPTOP (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) BRAZIL MIDFIELDER KAKA (RECEIVING BALL), SAYING: "(Q: Do you know how many sides are to the ball?) I don't know. (On any bet with Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal clash) The bet with Cristiano is only a shirt exchange at the end of the game. There are no other bets for now but we'll see if we want to make a mock bet." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) BRAZIL MIDFIELDER KAKA, SAYING: "I hope this group will be champions and at the end some individual players may shine, but only after a big conquest." PHOTOGRAPHERS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BRAZIL MIDFIELDER KAKA, SAYING: "I'm looking forward to working with (Jose) Mourinho, he's a coach that has won everything with every team he has coached. So I'm very happy that he's now Madrid's coach. I hope to win many things with Mourinho in Madrid." JOURNALISTS KAKA LEAVING AND KISSING WORLD CUP JABULANI BALL
  • Embargoed: 20th June 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA4FXTRYAPOXGBAK2ZS9LDNPYT7
  • Story Text: Brazilian midfielder Kaka told a news conference on Friday (June 4) that he hopes to be fully recovered once Brazil kick off their World Cup campaign in eleven days time.
    Kaka is a key component of Brazil's bid to win a sixth World Cup, with coach Dunga relying heavily on the Real Madrid ace for his team's creativity.
    The 28-year-old was a fitness doubt when Brazil arrived in South Africa last month but since seems to have shrugged off a niggling thigh strain on his right leg.
    "I'm ok, every training and friendly that we had, we've had one friendly so far, the next one I hope will be much better than this one, I have done everything that has been planned and I believe that I will be playing the first game in the World Cup in optimum condition so I can play a good first match," he said.
    As with previous tournaments, the build up to South Africa has seen teams criticise the match ball.
    The Adidas Jabulani ball was promoted by Kaka when it was launched but the ball has fallen to immense criticism from players who say it unpredictably changes direction in mid air.
    "Kaka's ball! No, it's an Adidas ball and it's a new ball and everything that is new like new technology causes an impression. At the beginning it was a critical impression, who knows if during the World Cup many of the opinions of critics may change. It's all very relative, it was criticised the first week but today many players are saying that the ball is not that bad. I think Michel (Bastos) is not complaining about the ball considering the goal that he scored (against Zimbabwe). It's all very relative," he said.
    Brazil are set to open their campaign against Asian minnows North Korea at Johannesburg's Ellis Park stadium on June 15, before facing the Ivory Coast in Soccer City on June 20 and ending their group against Portugal on June 25.
    Kaka denied media rumours that he and Real Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo have bet on the outcome of the group's final match.
    The player said Brazil was motivated to function as a unit.
    "I hope this group will be champions and at the end some individual players may shine, but only after a big conquest," he added.
    The midfielder won the 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year award at Italian club AC Milan before he moved to Real Madrid last summer for around 70 million euros.
    Kaka said he was optimistic that his club can begin to achieve more of its potential now they have hired Portuguese tactician Jose Mourinho.
    "I'm looking forward to working with (Jose) Mourinho, he's a coach that has won everything with every team he has coached. So I'm very happy that he's now Madrid's coach. I hope to win many things with Mourinho in Madrid," he said.
    Brazil's Group G is widely considered to be the toughest group in the tournament with the winners and runners up of the group likely to face opponents from a group that contains Spain and Chile in the second round.
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