(ANS – Itajaí) – “After the heavy defeat by Germany (which I expected, but not on this scale), the population has started  complaining about everything and everyone, but now it's too late. And in a few days everything will return to calm. No one will remember the problems of Brazil and the spotlight will no longer be on us.” So says Fr Roberto Cappelletti, a Salesian missionary, who - in response to our interview - shows the other face of football in Brazil and the political and social consequences. These are now more evident after the elimination of the Selecao.

How do children see the World Cup?
As everyone knows, when it comes to football in Brazil, we are speaking of life, of joy and cheer, despite the difficulties. There were fireworks and celebrations even for a win against Cameroon. And the children are masters of this. They do not have the malice of adults. For them, just to see the national team jerseys of green and gold, is already a source of pride. Anyone who gets hold of a yellow and green shirt (even if it is not of Brazil), wears it with pride, even if it stinks after several days’ use and every inch of it is dirty. That’s what the World Cup means for the kids. They are also happy to know that so many people from all over the world are visiting their country.

What does the World Cup mean for the ordinary people of Brazil?
Before and during the World Cup there were protests by a small part of the population over the waste of money in building twelve  new stadiums, even in places where they will no longer be of any use when the world cup is over. But for now the Brazilian people are still very much dominated by what is happening, and they do not take the initiative to launch a major protest. And when Brazil is playing, all the huge problems of this country seem to disappear. "After the heavy defeat by Germany (which I expected, but not on this scale), the population has started  complaining about everything and everyone, but now it's too late. And in a few days’ time everything will return to calm. No one will remember the problems of Brazil. The spotlight will no longer be on us. The politicians can continue to eat and steal on the quiet to the detriment of the people.

What will happen after the World Cup?
I have already partly answered this. Billions of debt will fall on the shoulders of the poor. They will pay for the money that was wasted on this World Cup.  The price of fuel will rocket. New taxes will be imposed. The poor will still be poor and the few fat rich will get fatter, laughing at the poor behind their backs.  Up to now the poor have not had the strength or the courage to challenge the corrupt and get rid them.

Did the young people have a chance to see the World Cup matches in the villages?

In the in the houses and shacks of the two favelas of this city, the people  may be without rice and beans, they may have nothing to wear, but they will certainly not be without a television and a satellite dish. It's awesome. For them it is a badge of honour. Then they send their children to pick up some food from the trash. In the rest of the city life is good, the majority of the people are middle class or upper class. They have more than one television in their homes.

Published 11/07/2014