The red-black Dona Zica
Flamengo's iconic fan earned the nickname Zico
By Communication - Official Club Website - in
Last Sunday (July 29.07), Flamengo fans turned out in force at Maracanã to support the team. Around 40 Flamengo fans left their homes in the rain and cold - unusual for the Marvelous City - to cheer on the team on the field. Among so many fans, there was one very special one.
A regular fixture at the old general manager's office, a constant presence at the new Maracanã, and a symbol of the Mais Querido (Flamengo's most beloved club). This is Dona Zica. Although many no longer need an introduction, some probably don't know the depth of this fan's love for Flamengo. Today, at 63, Maria Boreth de Souza owns a simple, unfussy home, decorated entirely in red and black. You don't need to visit Dona Zica's home to sense her love for the club, as she and the Mais Querido's jersey are inseparable. Mother, grandmother, and wife, this fan is the head of a family completely passionate about Flamengo. All this love and her nickname have an explanation, and it began about 56 years ago.
Dona Zica left home when she was seven years old. Due to family problems, Maria believed her life would be better away from her stepparents and, for the next ten years, decided to live on the streets. Sleeping rough and managing to eat through help from others, Dona Zica, who had always been captivated by the Red-Black team, saved money from odd jobs and bought her first Flamengo jersey while still a child.
Over the following years, Maria fell in love with the club. She began frequenting Maracanã and even traveling with fans, hidden among flags in the luggage compartment of tour buses. The uniform became her official attire for many years, until the already worn red-and-black jersey with the number ten on the back changed her life.
It was Christmas Eve and her birthday, and Dona Zica decided to hop on a bus, aimlessly, only to spend part of the night sleeping inside. Some time later, Maria was woken by the driver to get off the bus and ended up having to spend the night on a cement bench in the street. Little did she know that she had fallen asleep in front of the Antunes Coimbra family's house, where she was awakened by Dona Matilde, Zico's mother. The family invited young Maria into their home, initially for lunch. What was a one-course meal lasted a day, two, three, and she never left.
Zica, already a fan of Galinho and Flamengo, grew even more passionate about the Rubro-Negro from that moment on. "I can't describe that family and everything they did for me. I remember that Arthur nicknamed me Ziquinha that Christmas, because of my Flamengo number 10 jersey. More than anything, from that birthday on, I found a home. They captivate us out of nowhere; it's always great to be around any of them," said Dona Zica.
Maria's love for Flamengo became unconditional, and she began attending Maracanã even more often to cheer for the Rubro-Negro. Dona Zica became such a dedicated fan that, during a difficult time for the club, she argued with Saint Jude Thaddeus, Flamengo's patron saint. "I always pray for him to protect our players, my family, and then, yes, I ask him to protect me. Despite this, there was a time when we were doing very badly in a championship, and after asking my saint for help so many times, I realized I wasn't doing anything to change the situation. I put the image in the back of my closet, and when I decided to make peace with him, I said in a prayer that it would be the last chance I would give Saint Jude Thaddeus. From that moment on, it was all victories," she said.
Dona Zica manages to share the status of fan and idol of current and former Flamengo players due to her passion for Flamengo. Besides Zico, the illustrious supporter claims to be a fan of Dida, Obina, and, of the current squad, captain Léo Moura. She says that when Flamengo loses, she prefers no one to talk to her, and that when she wins, it's all about celebration, even staying up all night, stopping by home just to change her favorite Flamengo jersey. "Flamengo is a belief. Our anthem is a prayer. There's no way to describe what it's like to support this club; you have to live it to know. I ask the fans to continue supporting us, just as they did last Sunday (July 27.07), and I'm sure we'll go far," concluded an emotional Dona Zica.
A regular fixture at the old general manager's office, a constant presence at the new Maracanã, and a symbol of the Mais Querido (Flamengo's most beloved club). This is Dona Zica. Although many no longer need an introduction, some probably don't know the depth of this fan's love for Flamengo. Today, at 63, Maria Boreth de Souza owns a simple, unfussy home, decorated entirely in red and black. You don't need to visit Dona Zica's home to sense her love for the club, as she and the Mais Querido's jersey are inseparable. Mother, grandmother, and wife, this fan is the head of a family completely passionate about Flamengo. All this love and her nickname have an explanation, and it began about 56 years ago.
Dona Zica left home when she was seven years old. Due to family problems, Maria believed her life would be better away from her stepparents and, for the next ten years, decided to live on the streets. Sleeping rough and managing to eat through help from others, Dona Zica, who had always been captivated by the Red-Black team, saved money from odd jobs and bought her first Flamengo jersey while still a child.
Over the following years, Maria fell in love with the club. She began frequenting Maracanã and even traveling with fans, hidden among flags in the luggage compartment of tour buses. The uniform became her official attire for many years, until the already worn red-and-black jersey with the number ten on the back changed her life.
It was Christmas Eve and her birthday, and Dona Zica decided to hop on a bus, aimlessly, only to spend part of the night sleeping inside. Some time later, Maria was woken by the driver to get off the bus and ended up having to spend the night on a cement bench in the street. Little did she know that she had fallen asleep in front of the Antunes Coimbra family's house, where she was awakened by Dona Matilde, Zico's mother. The family invited young Maria into their home, initially for lunch. What was a one-course meal lasted a day, two, three, and she never left.
Zica, already a fan of Galinho and Flamengo, grew even more passionate about the Rubro-Negro from that moment on. "I can't describe that family and everything they did for me. I remember that Arthur nicknamed me Ziquinha that Christmas, because of my Flamengo number 10 jersey. More than anything, from that birthday on, I found a home. They captivate us out of nowhere; it's always great to be around any of them," said Dona Zica.Maria's love for Flamengo became unconditional, and she began attending Maracanã even more often to cheer for the Rubro-Negro. Dona Zica became such a dedicated fan that, during a difficult time for the club, she argued with Saint Jude Thaddeus, Flamengo's patron saint. "I always pray for him to protect our players, my family, and then, yes, I ask him to protect me. Despite this, there was a time when we were doing very badly in a championship, and after asking my saint for help so many times, I realized I wasn't doing anything to change the situation. I put the image in the back of my closet, and when I decided to make peace with him, I said in a prayer that it would be the last chance I would give Saint Jude Thaddeus. From that moment on, it was all victories," she said.
Dona Zica manages to share the status of fan and idol of current and former Flamengo players due to her passion for Flamengo. Besides Zico, the illustrious supporter claims to be a fan of Dida, Obina, and, of the current squad, captain Léo Moura. She says that when Flamengo loses, she prefers no one to talk to her, and that when she wins, it's all about celebration, even staying up all night, stopping by home just to change her favorite Flamengo jersey. "Flamengo is a belief. Our anthem is a prayer. There's no way to describe what it's like to support this club; you have to live it to know. I ask the fans to continue supporting us, just as they did last Sunday (July 27.07), and I'm sure we'll go far," concluded an emotional Dona Zica.