Brazilian Soccer = Beautiful Game.

Brazil conjures romantic images of Copacabana sand and beautiful bikini clad women…for me at least. For soccer aficiando’s Brazil is Pele, Zico, Romario, Ronaldo and of course Ronaldinho. Ask a Brazilian about what Brazil means to them, and it will be a very different point of view. Brazilian people will tell you about beauty and extreme poverty, the stark contrast of passionate salsa music and ethic diversity swallowed whole by dark ghettos, drug trafficking and other markers of a struggle that we Westernized countries might fail to see through it’s beauty. Apart from these contrasts, one thing remains constant, a passion for the round ball that unites and liberates. For me the Brazilian game is truly beautiful.

Amidst all the wonders of football in Brazil there seems to be no in-between. Just as there is no grey area within the Brazilian social structure, a recent study by Antonio Muller “Soccer Culture in Brazil” at the University of Texas stated that “Soccer in Brazil is not just a sport. It is an important social cultural expression”, therefore it unites bothrich and poor. What the study also points to is the fact that not much emphasis is placed on soccer as a means to enhance the scholastic life of Brazilian children. If soccer was to illuminate childrens lives it would be best served in school, to instill discipline and work ethic. My better half was at one time a professional salsa dancer, and lived for some time in Brazil. What she saw with her own eyes was a poor people, whom were proud of their culture and loved futebol with a deep passion. What a wonderful boost it would be for young Brazilian soccer players to come through a scholastic system that enhanced their minds as well as their football abilities.

UPDATE: Check this link, this is what I meant by beautiful game!