Brazil and Soccer - Paulistao 2008 Finals

If you know nothing about Brazil you surely know at least that most Brazilians have a passion for soccer. That feeling goes to the highest levels of intensity when final games are taking place in states championships held every year. The fact is soccer is sure the national game of Brazil.

A Little Background - Sao Paulo State 2008 cup finals

It is hard to write about an event such as the final games of the Sao Paulo State cup The Paulistao as it is called. As you will read bellow. The anxiety is too big on both side but, the story for the Campinas (Campinas in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil) people is some what more dramatic.

A City's Passion for Soccer and Its 100-Year-Old Team

Ponte Preta is 108 years old, the club was started on August 6, 1900, the oldest team of the state and yet it has never won a cup. Many finals, many second places, but the taste of bringing home the trophy is still to be felt by its fans.

The games

Palmeiras and Ponte Preta met last month for the first of two games of the final of the Sao Paulo state championship (April 27). Palmeiras has maybe more fans than the city of Campinas has inhabitants, figuratively speaking. Palmeiras is the team from the capital of the state of Sao Paulo with large salaries, stars, and all infra-structure - against the country side team, that is Ponte Preta. A game fight like David against Goliath.

I went then on through the streets of Campinas from the early morning up to the game into Moises Lucarelli stadium and after while people where going home documenting that passion and the forms it takes.

The fans

Prior to the game Ponte's fans were already in front of their stadium cheering and having a great time. TVs and radio networks all ready to transmit the game did prey on those fans for material for routine insertions and comments. I confess I did the same.

Many people go to the game on foot here. On the streets cheerful fans showed their love for the game and their team. Ponte Preta's mascot is, as you can tell from the photo beside, a monkey and Palmeira is a parrot. Of course in the streets of Campinas you would not see a parrot walking around, maybe not even flying. It would be too dangerous.