Bolivians celebrate 'Flamengo Fan Day'
Fla-Sucre, one of the Flamengo fan clubs abroad, even has a generic team to celebrate its passion for Flamengo.
By From the team at Flamengo's official website - in
October 28th is a day of celebration not only for millions of Flamengo fans born in Brazil. In the small town of Sucre, located in the Bolivian highlands, a group of passionate fans intensely lives their love for the most beloved club in the neighboring country. Their dedication is so great that, in August, Fla-Sucre was accredited as one of Flamengo's official Embassies.
This relationship became closer in early 2007, during the Libertadores Cup. To avoid the effects of the altitude of Potosí (3.967 meters), Flamengo decided to set up its base in Sucre, a city with 230.000 inhabitants, the constitutional capital of Bolivia. Throughout their stay in the country, including in Potosí, the delegation benefited from the hospitality and volunteer services of Bolivian Juan Ortega Matienzo. "I helped Flamengo from the preparatory trip of representatives from the football department in January until the delegation's return to Rio de Janeiro," he explained at the time. Later, Matienzo fulfilled his dream of watching Flamengo at the Maracanã.
The passion reached such a point that Matienzo formed a futsal team and named it Flamengo. Over time, the idea expanded and Flamengo de Sucre moved to the football field. In 2008, they won the city's First Division access championship and now compete, with good results, in the municipal First Division B. The team plays in the same uniform as the club that inspired them.
On "Flamengo Fan Day," celebrated on October 28th following a bill passed by the Rio de Janeiro City Hall, Fla-Sucre will meet for the first time to celebrate. According to Matienzo, in a message sent to Flamengo's Vice-Presidency of Planning, the atmosphere will be one of great joy due to the team's good performance in the Brazilian championship. "I want to express my congratulations on this great day, also hoping that our club will bring the joy of the last few weeks. In Sucre, we will meet for the first time to celebrate October 28th, with directors, players, and Flamengo fans from the city."
This relationship became closer in early 2007, during the Libertadores Cup. To avoid the effects of the altitude of Potosí (3.967 meters), Flamengo decided to set up its base in Sucre, a city with 230.000 inhabitants, the constitutional capital of Bolivia. Throughout their stay in the country, including in Potosí, the delegation benefited from the hospitality and volunteer services of Bolivian Juan Ortega Matienzo. "I helped Flamengo from the preparatory trip of representatives from the football department in January until the delegation's return to Rio de Janeiro," he explained at the time. Later, Matienzo fulfilled his dream of watching Flamengo at the Maracanã.
The passion reached such a point that Matienzo formed a futsal team and named it Flamengo. Over time, the idea expanded and Flamengo de Sucre moved to the football field. In 2008, they won the city's First Division access championship and now compete, with good results, in the municipal First Division B. The team plays in the same uniform as the club that inspired them.
On "Flamengo Fan Day," celebrated on October 28th following a bill passed by the Rio de Janeiro City Hall, Fla-Sucre will meet for the first time to celebrate. According to Matienzo, in a message sent to Flamengo's Vice-Presidency of Planning, the atmosphere will be one of great joy due to the team's good performance in the Brazilian championship. "I want to express my congratulations on this great day, also hoping that our club will bring the joy of the last few weeks. In Sucre, we will meet for the first time to celebrate October 28th, with directors, players, and Flamengo fans from the city."