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A build-up in Brazil

Sumit Bhattacharjee

Fans from the land of Pele plan a new weapon to take on rival fans

SAO PAULO: With just a week to go for the start of the biggest soccer event, the FIFA World Cup, fans from the land of Pele are busy giving final touches to a new weapon to take on the rival fans. They promise that hooliganism will take the backseat in this World Cup, as the war is going to be fought on the World Wide Web.

The Brazilians have been working on this project for two months. They have been gathering details of fans from other countries such as England, Germany, Portugal, Italy and arch rivals Argentina, and they claim to have built a solid data base. "Empty beer bottles and cans will be replaced by laptops and palmtops," says Mathais a former midfielder of Sao Paulo FC.

But will it work? Daniel, an executive with a multinational firm and a soccer lover who plans to go to Germany with four of his friends for the World Cup, is apprehensive. "Soccer is the most popular game and be it Brazil or England or for that matter any other soccer playing country the mood of the fans changes as they reach the stadium," he says.

Well, Daniel could be right. Even at a local league match in Sao Paulo the fever runs high. The fans scream strategies and game plan from the stands, swear at the opposition players and the coach. And in such a scenario when it comes to `Viva Brasil' the mood could be very different.

For Brazilians, soccer is their passion, food, entertainment and essence of life. The passion trickles down the generations like bloodline. "Soccer is our nationality and identity. It is more than our livelihood. In Brazil, whether it is in Sao Paulo or a small city like Mogi Das Cruzes every game that Brazil plays in the World Cup is going to be like a carnival for us," says Ricardo Tarantello, a former Corinthians player.

Preparations

The entire country, from the rural areas to the big cities, is decked up with Brazilian flags and life size cutouts of favourite stars such as Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Robinho and Kaka. Like a national declaration, a small national flag is glued to every personal computer in offices. The patios and libraries in schools and colleges, and the shopping malls, are decorated with flags and placards cheering their heroes. The patriotic fever is at its peak in Brazil at the moment. Young or old, people can be seen sporting the Brazilian official jersey.

When it comes to soccer, Brazilians stand united and even remain undeterred by the ongoing rioting between gangs controlled by the drug mafias and the police in Sao Paulo.

During the World Cup, big screens will be erected in street corners and pubs, while offices will close four hours before the start of every match Brazil plays. The Subway Metro plans to increase the frequency of trains during that period to enable people to reach their destination. Pub owners expect the sale of beer and kaiperinia (a local drink) to shoot up 10 times. Youngsters who are not on the flight to Germany plan to assemble at neighbourhood pubs or at the Paulista Avenue in Sao Paulo. .

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