Sometimes it takes a jolt of disquieting news from far away to remind us that Europe is not the be-all and end-all of global soccer.
Tele Santana led Brazil at the 1982 and 1986 World Cups and guided Sao Paulo to two successive wins in the Libertadores Cup in the early 1990S.
Santana was widely respected for his sense of fair play and his refusal to use rough-arm tactics.
"I'd rather lose the game than tell my team to foul, kick the opponents or win with an illegitimate goal," he said.
"Football is art, it's enjoyment and it's not about hoofing the ball upfield."
Tele Santana has never compromised to hold up "O Jogo Bonito" (effectively, "The Beautiful Game" in Portuguese).
"He was a great coach and a great friend, like a father to me,'' said Brazil captain Cafu, who played for Santana at Sao Paulo FC. "He gave me advice that I still use today.''
Despite containing stars like Zico, Falcao and Socrates, Brazil lost 3-2 and was eliminated by eventual champion Italy in the 1982 World Cup when it just needed a draw to reach the semifinals. But who can forget the silky skills of Socrates, a medical doctor by profession whose backpasses were better than what most others did forward, Pele was quoted as saying.
Probably the world has lost the art of the game that Mr. Santana dreamed of, long before he departed.
Tele Santana passed away, aged 74 after battling illness. He left his mark and had a successful career.
RIP Mr. Santana
No comments:
Post a Comment