Usually practice is not a day at the beach but today it was. We spent the morning with a light training session on the beach near our hotel since we had a long and hard day yesterday. The mood was light and fun and once training was finished we enjoyed the big waves and some beach soccer with some of the locals. The Brazilians love to show their individual skills and try to one-up each other while they juggle the ball and do tricks to fake each other out. It was a great way to spend the morning after our victory yesterday but the sun took its toll on many as there were several red faces and backs by this afternoon.

It was back to work as usual in the afternoon as we returned to ABC’s training field for a spirited workout with Coach Beto. We began practice as ABC was winding down their training and there were about twenty ABC supporters that came to watch their practice but stuck around to watch us as well. It still amazes me to see the kids climbing walls and perching atop them to catch a glimpse of the teams practicing. The metal gate at the west end of the field is open to a dirt road running past and always has someone stopping to watch as they make their way down the road. One such individual stopped and watched our entire practice today. Once again proof that everything in Brazil stops when there is soccer going on

From the former prison we took a twenty minute drive through some very poor neighborhoods to Miguel’s home town of Macaiba. We first had to make a quick stop at city hall so the mayor of the city could join us on our tour. It is a smaller city that overall is very poor. As we drove through the narrow stone streets there were people everywhere. The little shops were abuzz with activity, chickens mulled around in their cages, and a huge line of people waiting to enter a restaurant called, ironically, “Restaurant Popular�. Our final destination was an orphanage that is home to around forty children from age two to seventeen. These children are found homeless and parentless around the city, some living under bridges, and are taken in by the wonderful people at the orphanage. The orphanage consists of separate boys and girls dormitories, the main classroom/cafeteria building and a few other small buildings that house the workers who live there also. The glassless windows of the dorms provided the only light as we entered them. A few pictures and decorations gave the drab building some color but it was unable to hide the hard facts that made up the building. The concrete bunk beds were only made softer with the thin mattress that covered the hard stone. The beds were decorated with a tattered stuffed animal that I am sure are the prized possession of each child. Their clothes were pilled together in extremely neat piles on shelves as there were no dressers to be found. The clothes I am sure were shared by all of the children that were the same size. There was also a very small playground set and of course a sand soccer field. That is where most of the children spend their leisure time, visioning themselves as the next great Brazilian soccer star. Their faces were beaming with smiles as we arrived in their classroom. Some were hamming it up for cameras that pointed in their direction as the workers stood quietly and watched from the periphery of the room. We unloaded suitcases full of clothes and toys that we had brought along on our journey just for this purpose. They kids were extremely excited to receive these gifts as well as the four soccer balls that we brought along for them. In fact before we had left the complex several of the boys had already started juggling the balls and displaying their talents for us. It was a heart touching scene as the children waved to our bus with huge smiles on their faces as we pulled away. Hopefully we helped brighten their day just a little with our gifts and our smiles. I know they brightened ours.

The somber bus ride back through the streets of Macaiba and back into Natal lead to another tour and visit with more residents of Natal. Our bus pulled into a seniors home that housed 23 women and 17 men aged 60 to 102!! The residents sat outside their rooms quietly with the friendly workers interacting and caring for their needs. We met one man who told us stories about when the Americans first started coming to the area during World War II. Telling us how much he liked to spend time with them and drink beer with them. Another gentleman who was blind played and sang some samba music for us during our visit. The boys shared pictures of their families with the residents which I think they really appreciated. One gentleman actually asked to keep one of the photos and of course Jeff let him keep it.

After lunch we had some time to rest before we made our way to City Stadium for our game against the America Futbol Club’s U17 team. As our bus pulled up to the 60,000 seat concrete structure the quiet excitement felt by all was evident. We walked through the eight foot high metal gates and made our way inside the stadium. Walking down fifteen to twenty stairs under the waterless moat separating the stands from the field and then up the same fifteen to twenty stairs to field level. The perfectly groomed Bermuda grass looked like bright green carpet as the centerpiece of the huge stadium. The quick and highly skilled Brazilians provided a huge challenge for us and we rose to the occasion. With fans slowly filtering in for the later match featuring the top America FC team, we struck first, taking the lead 1-0. Feeling our confidence growing we surged forward again and scored a second time off of a corner kick. Feeling the pressure of losing in front of their home fans the AFC team turned up the intensity of their attack and managed to close our lead to one goal at 2-1. Our tough defense managed to hold off the Brazilians and we became the first American team to travel with Delima Soccer to Brazil and beat a Brazilian opponent. Quite an accomplishment for our kids and surely something none of us will soon forget.

After our game we got to stick around and take in the event that was the AFC match versus a team from Sao Paulo. The crowd of approximately 20,000 erupted as AFC emerged out of the tunnel and ran onto the pitch. Bright red road flares, matching the team’s colors were lit in the tightly packed supporters section to our right. A barrage of fireworks went off behind the home team’s goal as the fans began to sing and chant in order to urge their team on. The drums and horns began to sound before the action started and we would discover would last until we were on our way back to the hotel. The game began at a fast and feisty pace and the home team fell behind 1-0 midway through the first half. The fans were not happy but still honked horns, beat drums, sang and danced in the stands. Every call and every play brought out the passion of the Brazilian fans. They waved hands and screamed in Portuguese as the action unfolded. Inspired by the support AFC surged back for three unanswered goals, each followed by pandemonium in the stands with flares being lit and drums being pounded. When the final whistle sounded the stands erupted again as the home side had triumphed. As we exited the stadium the streets were alive with the AFC fans, honking horns, waving flags and celebrating the victory. It was truly something we could not experience in the US. It was amazing!!!

Boarding a bus in late morning we headed to the FaceX Athletic Complex to play Futsol against a Brazilian team. We split our squad into two and each played a forty minute game against some very skilled Brazilians, including three professional players who make their trade in Europe. Two of these players also earned Gold Medals in Futsol at the World University Games. So needless to say our boys had their hands full all game long. It was a great experience to play against such skilled players who make their living playing this technically challenging game. I am sure it will be one of the most memorable soccer highlights for many of our players, as is the rest of this trip! No need to mention scores but we lost both games by less than ten goals. In this high scoring sport that’s pretty good.

After lunch we gave the boys the rest of the day to relax and enjoy the weather at the beach. After days of rain and a very quiet beach, it came to life with a sea of umbrellas lining the shore and a sea of vendors lining the boardwalk. The vendors were selling almost anything. You could find sunglasses, hammocks, snake-skin belts, paintings, bikinis, t-shirts and a huge variety of soccer jerseys. Not to mention the endless amount of food that vendors that pushed up and down the beach in their carts, offering their treats to all beachgoers. As much as the Brazilian people like to relax on the beach, they also love to play there as well. There were several games of paddleball and beach soccer games going on as we passed by. They makeshift metal goals stuck into the sand were the only markings on the field with only the water as a sideline. A primitive “weight room� was also found on the beach with a chin up bar and dip bench made of wooden boards and the plywood weight bench holding a bar with two concrete disks on either end of the bar. You would think it was only there for show until you saw two guys working out with the equipment. The beach was alive with the sights and sounds of Brazil and I was soaking in all of it!!

Later in the afternoon Miguel invited Beto, Coach DeVries, Richard Veth and myself to watch the ABC U20 team play in game one of their League Championship. They played the other Natal professional club, America FC. The large stadium was quite empty but the passionate ABC faithful that were there were not afraid to show their allegiances. Every time America’s number ten touched the ball he was pelted with insults and was referred to as “Dancer� for his lack of productivity with the ball and unwillingness to pass. “Dancer� did however get a little revenge as he scored the lone goal for America to tie the game early in the second half. He celebrated enthusiastically and pounded his chest to the home side fans that were, luckily for him, separated from him by both the riot police and a twenty foot high chain link fence. He then pointed to the number on the back of his jersey as if the entire fan base did not realize it was he that had just found the goal. Let’s just say this did not win over any of the fans. In fact a few of the words they started calling him after that cannot be repeated in this blog and I didn’t really need a translator to recognize them. That goal didn’t help his team either as ABC found the back of the net for three more beautiful goals and won the match 4-1. They play the return match the day we leave and ABC can claim the title with a win or a tie. The passion of the fans was incredible with some almost in tears as they stood and cheered, thrusting their fists in the air with pride. I can not wait until we see the top ABC club in action with the stadium full of supporters all displaying the same emotion at once. I am sure it will send chills up my spine.

Tomorrow is another great day as we hop in dune buggies to visit the largest sand dunes in Brazil. It is a day long trip and is sure to be quite the ride! Until tomorrow, chow!!