In Print: ESPN: - favela Fuleco

FIFA's unofficial 2014 World Cup mascot : a day in the Life of Fuleco. 

My dream until age 13 was to play football professionally. I was disillusioned and failed to see the the factory that turned naive boys into manufactured donkeys. What I finally began to see was dirt, violence, and social inequalities behind the business. I was discouraged.  

I am disillusioned with football. But it is what moves Brazilian society. If it wasn’t for the fact that it is part of our culture, I would have already given up on football socially. >> 

I decided I wanted to be an actor and work in television. But there too, I was met with so many obstacles and challenges. I see the power of manipulation and am disgusted. With it came many questions.. Why in a country filled with inequalities, hunger strikes and demonstrations host the World Cup ? On election year ? Why does the news broadcast always end with football ? Why do we have to discuss the vanity of Cristiano Ronaldo ? Or anyone else ? 

Or perhaps one fundamental question : Why have we divided ourselves in shouting our differences in race, gender, equity and other issues but stand united for a football team ? A national team which itself isn’t united. Unlike in the past, the current Brazilian selection can not even perform as a team. Nearly all them, have left Brazil and play for European teams. Even they couldn’t deal with it. Brazil. >> 

Fuleco, June 1st 2013. Rio de Janeiro