THE GLOBE

The redeemer of Pufferfish \ Idol and hero, Obina is a beacon of hope for better days for the people of Itaparica Island. \ DONA ANTONINA (in red), Obina's mother and relatives at the house the attacker bought for the family in Baiacu \ Carlos Eduardo Mansur \ The 16th century was drawing to a close when Itaparica Island became one of the main destinations for slaves brought from Africa. On the island, especially in the municipality of Vera Cruz, Candomblé religious centers and traces of Black culture proliferated. In recent research, the BBC confirmed, through DNA tests to verify ancestry, Obina's intimate connection with the roots of the land of which he is the most illustrious son. Obina has 61,4% African genes, 25,4% Indigenous genes, and 13,2% European genes. And he has a genetic sequence identical to that of a Nigerian Yoruba, the predominant group in the flow of slaves brought to Bahia. \ The struggle against barriers, a legacy of his ancestors, continued into his childhood. Humble is perhaps an understatement to describe the village of Baiacu, where Obina grew up. Those who live in modest homes on dirt streets make their living from a fledgling business, essentially selling fish. Thus began the journey of Obina, who arrived in Bahia yesterday with Flamengo. \ "I was a shellfish gatherer. I caught and cleaned shellfish and oysters to sell in Salvador. One day, Obina saw me carrying that weight in the early morning and said, 'Mommy, I'm going to get you out of the cooler,'" says Antonina, 50, the striker's mother, who had six other children, one of whom, a daughter, died shortly after birth. \ Obina was known as Sadol, a tonic his mother took. At a young age, Obina began going to the sea with his father. He wanted to help his family. Little by little, he was going from house to house, trading shellfish, as they say in Baiacu. But he loved soccer and played on the village's bare fields. Until José Nunes Sampaio, known as Zé Gordão, owner of the Estrela de Março school in Itaparica, came along. In 2000, he saw the skinny boy score two goals for Internacional de Baiacu. \ "The boy didn't want to come; he wanted to help his mother. When I convinced him, he came to training and scored five goals. Later, he played for Estrela de Março in Fonte Nova and scored a goal. I took him to Bahia, but Bobô said there were a lot of them like him. So, I sent him to Vitória. Every day, Obina wanted to leave," says Zé Gordão. \ Today, Obina's deeds are legendary. \ "In the game where they discovered Obina, he scored half the world's goals," says Obina's uncle, Manoel, saying, in the local lingo, that he had played a lot. "Zé Gordão would ask, 'Who's that number nine?'" At the time, Obina's weight problem was the opposite. But his health was impressive, especially considering the family's difficulties. \ "I'm sure it was the fresh seafood," she assures. "His father and I never went without food, but it was really hard to keep the house. One day, Obina called and said he'd received R$120. It was his first salary at Vitória, and he wanted to give me everything. I told him I needed money for lunch. But he insisted on giving it to me," says Antonina. \ Family Help and Plans for Pufferfish \ The mother is in tears as she recalls passages from her son's story: \ - When he went to Flamengo, he said: "Mom, it's time for you to stop selling shellfish." \ No sooner said than done. It changed not only Obina's life. Antonina now has a house in a gated community in Vera Cruz. The plot of land is far from huge, the furniture is little more than the basics, with a TV, a DVD player, and a rather unsophisticated sound system standing out. But it's a new life. And a stepping stone to other dreams. \ "I have faith. He's going to play for the Brazilian national team," says his mother. \ In the Mediterrâneo Condominium live Obina's mother, uncles, cousins, siblings—almost 20 people. A portrait of the burden many Brazilian players have to carry. Obina also helps his friends in Baiacu and plans to transform the mud houses on the dirt streets of the old village into brick houses. In Baiacu, Obina is a hero and a beacon of hope for better days. \

Renato Mauricio Prado

Fire round \ Let's take a guess? In this extremely even (and low!) league, I think this round could be decisive. If Grêmio beats Cruzeiro at Mineirão Stadium and São Paulo (who face Botafogo at Engenhão Stadium) doesn't win, I believe the Gauchos will get their hands on the trophy, regardless of the results of Palmeiras (against Goiás at Palestra Stadium) and Flamengo (against Vitória at Barradão Stadium). \ I believe this because, in this case, Celso Roth's team will open up at least a four-point lead over the second-placed team, with six rounds remaining and, theoretically, just one more very difficult game - against Palmeiras, at Parque Antártica. \ On the other hand, Flamengo will still face Cruzeiro and Palmeiras. And São Paulo, which will no longer face any of the real title contenders, will need to do its homework and continue to hope for others to stumble. \ On the other hand, if Cruzeiro defeats Grêmio and São Paulo, Palmeiras and Flamengo win, the final stretch of the tournament will be completely set on fire, with this incredible classification - tiebreakers defined by the criteria of number of victories and goal difference: \ 1) Grêmio: 59 points \ 2) Sao Paulo: 59 points \ 3) Cruzeiro: 58 points \ 4) Flamengo: 58 points \ 5) Palmeiras: 58 points \ Ever wonder? \ In the event of a draw at Mineirão and victories for São Paulo, Palmeiras and Fla, I think Cruzeiro will be out of the running for the title - and will even see its place in the Libertadores threatened. \ The same reasoning, however, could apply to the red-black team from Rio, if they don't beat their counterparts from Bahia, at Barradão. \ One last calculation, which is of direct interest to Botafogo fans: if Glorioso (Botafogo) defeats São Paulo and Cruzeiro and Flamengo lose, the dream of the Libertadores Cup becomes extremely attainable for the team led by Ney Franco. \ In short: I couldn't resist this whole exercise in logical reasoning for this final stretch, even knowing that the championship has proven to be quite illogical, precisely because it's leveled down and therefore capable of surprising results, like the bottom-placed team beating the leader, and so on... \ In any case, the fun of it all lies in the discussion and not in whether or not such predictions are correct. \ After all, when evaluating the role of a columnist, there always remains the priceless quote from the late and brilliant Zózimo Barroso do Amaral, who might even make an inaccuracy here, another there, but never lost his nose for a good note or controversy: \ - You want precision? Then buy a Swiss watch...\

SPORTS JOURNAL

Jorginho on a peace mission

Rio de Janeiro - Brazilian National Team assistant coach Jorginho was in Gávea on Monday to watch Flamengo's training session and chat with Caio Júnior while the players worked on the field. \ The visit is part of a tour that the CBF Technical Committee (actually, the idea was publicly suggested by São Paulo's coach, Muricy Ramalho) will be making to the country's main clubs, aiming to exchange information with other coaches.\ "I came to talk about several issues with Caio. Juan, for example, was with the national team last time and didn't play. We know that this hurts the club and we came to thank Flamengo for their understanding. I should visit other clubs in Rio, Dunga should go to the clubs in the South and we should go together to those in São Paulo," says Jorginho, who also had a lively conversation with Obina.\ Absences\ Marcelinho, Kleberson, and Jônatas did not train yesterday. The first spent the weekend in Campina Grande and joins the delegation today in Salvador. The second again presented with a fever but will be re-evaluated. Jônatas, in turn, continues to accompany his father, who suffered a heart attack, in Fortaleza. \ With these absences, Caio Júnior replaced Airton with Kleberson and replaced Fierro, who he highly praised, with Marcelinho. (PC)\

Mengo believes in coincidences

Caio Júnior could be another Brazilian champion coach whose name begins with the letter C

Eduardo Lacombe, Nathan de Lima and Pedro Chiaverini

Rio de Janeiro - The letter C is the third letter of the Latin alphabet and the 19th of the Cyrillic alphabet. It is also used to signify many things such as the speed of light in a vacuum, carbon, the musical note C in some languages ​​(such as English and German), and the temperature unit Celsius (°C). However, for Flamengo fans, the letter has a much more special meaning, as it represents national titles. \ In the five times the club was Brazilian champion, the name of its coach began with the letter C. This was the case in 1992 and 1987 with Carlinhos; in 1983 with Carlos Alberto Torres; in 1982 with Carpeggiani and in 1980 with Cláudio Coutinho. \ Now in 2008, this list could grow, as the current coach is known as Caio Júnior. To qualify for this select group, he relies on the speed of his full-backs, who have been the main attacking force throughout the season. With Léo Moura and Juan in high spirits, the team is strong.\ In addition to his wingers, the coach relies on the strength and solidity of his defense. The experience of Fábio Luciano and Ronaldo Angelim helped the team achieve the fifth-best defense in the competition, conceding only 33 goals in 31 rounds.\ However, while the defense and attack (the best in the competition with 51 goals) have been doing their job, the midfield is lacking. Since Renato Augusto left for Bayer Leverkusen in Germany, Flamengo has lacked a standout player who can act as a maestro, preventing the team from faltering. Everton, Sambueza, Ibson, and Kleberson have already been tested for this role. \ But none of them managed to click. Without a creative player, all that's left for Caio Júnior is to rely on the Flamengo fans to lead his team to the long-awaited sixth championship. The passion of the supporters should be the great advantage for Flamengo. \

Kleberson is now a doubt for the game against Vitória.

Rio de Janeiro - The red-black midfielder arrived in Salvador with a virus and became a doubt in the lineup Flamengo for next Wednesday's game against Vitória. The player, who showed up to training on Monday with a fever, was spared from the activity, but said he will play: \ "I have a viral infection, but it will be fine," says the player.\ If he is not fit to play, the likely scenario is that Kleberson will be replaced by Airton, who trained with the starters this Monday.\

Márcio Braga returns to talk about the Hexa

Rio de Janeiro - The president of FlamengoMárcio Braga once again expressed confidence in a sixth Brazilian championship. After controversial statements in recent weeks in which the manager said he had already ordered the title celebration and that his team would beat Vasco da Gama because they were a weak team, the director once again spoke about the sixth title on Monday morning.

"Flamengo will win the sixth title. The president is here as a soldier to work alongside his troops. If the spirit that has always been a hallmark of Flamengo players is present, we will be champions," says Márcio Braga.

Furthermore, the red-black leader appeals for help from the club's patron saint, São Judas Tadeu, who celebrates his birthday this Tuesday.

"Let's ask Saint Jude Thaddeus to enlighten Flamengo. There's only one recipe for being champions: winning," he concludes.

Kleber Leite denies interest in Adilson Batista

Rio de Janeiro - Possible reports that Flamengo is flirting with Cruzeiro's current coach, Adílson Batista, have been denied by the club's vice president of football, Kleber Leite. Leite believes the news was released to undermine coach Caio Júnior in the final stretch of the Brazilian Championship.

"That was incredibly irresponsible. I haven't been to the Club of 13 meetings for over a year, I've never seen Adílson Batista in my life, I have a great relationship with the Cruzeiro board and I trust Caio Júnior a lot," the director says angrily.

THE DAY

Gabeira doesn't want the team to die on the beach \ Rio - Yesterday, a day after being defeated at the polls by Eduardo Paes, Fernando Gabeira donned the Flamengo fan club's jersey, went swimming, and then said that, unlike his situation, he hopes the team doesn't fall short. “I lost in the 'photo finish,' but that can't happen to Flamengo. In the game against Coritiba, a namesake of mine came on, wearing number 43, and the crowd chanted my name. It was a tribute to me,” believes Gabeira, who was escorted by Márcio Braga to attend mass, seated in the front row, in front of Caio Júnior. “You didn't lose, Rio lost,” said Márcio. \ Gabeira said that, after the campaign, he could finally wear the Flamengo jersey and recalled that the last time he was at the Maracanã was for the 2-2 draw with Fluminense in August. \ Marcelinho Paraíba was excused from training, as he was in Campina Grande. Jônatas is in Fortaleza to be with his father, who suffered a heart attack. Kléberson, suffering from a virus, did not train, but assured that he will face Vitória. \ In training, Fierro played in Paraíba's position. The Chilean will be used during the match. Aírton replaced Kléberson. Despite adopting secrecy as a new tactic, Caio Júnior is expected to field Bruno, Jaílton, Fábio Luciano and Ronaldo Angelim; Leonardo Moura, Toró, Íbson, Kléberson and Juan; Marcelinho Paraíba and Obina. \

Not-so-humble president \ Rio - Yesterday, shortly before captain Fábio Luciano said that a lot of respect and keeping their feet on the ground were needed to focus on the title, president Márcio Braga, once again, displayed another exaggerated dose of confidence. \ "We ask Saint Jude to light our path, and on Saturday the results were already good for us. Flamengo will win the sixth title," the director proclaimed.\ The 68.800 tickets for the game against Portuguesa, on Saturday, at Maracanã, have been on sale since yesterday at Gávea, Laranjeiras, São Cristóvão's headquarters and at Maracanã ticket office 8, from 9 a.m. to 17 p.m. If Vitória wins, the expectation is a full stadium. \

Ronaldo praises Obina \ Rio - Ronaldo Fenômeno makes no secret of his desire to play for Flamengo. What's more, he'd like to partner with Obina, whom he considers the most complete player at Gávea. "He's a player with many virtues. They said he was fat, but then he scored a goal, made an assist, and was awarded a penalty against Coritiba. He immediately lost weight," joked the Phenomenon, drawing laughter on the "Bem, Amigos" program on SporTV yesterday. \ The striker, who has been recovering from left knee surgery at Gávea, said he monitors the physical tests of all Flamengo players, paying special attention to Obina. "He has impressive performance. He's Flamengo's most complete player."\ In the morning, in Gávea, Obina spoke privately with Jorginho, Dunga's assistant coach with the national team, who began a tour of clubs with Flamengo to meet with coaches. That evening, when he landed in Salvador, his hometown, he was treated like the star of the show: around 300 excited fans chanted "Barack Obina," tried to grab him, take pictures, get autographs, or at least touch him. \ Regarding the conversation with Jorginho, Obina denied that it was an opportunity to wear the yellow jersey. "It wasn't like that at all. We talked about football in general." \

Anything goes in the search for the sacred hexa \ Flamengo prays to Saint Jude Thaddeus and adapts its training schedule to its dream of winning the title. \

Janir Junior

Rio - More than asking for an early blessing from Saint Jude Thaddeus — the saint of impossible causes and patron saint of the club whose day is celebrated today —, Flamengo increased the list of precautions in the final stretch of the Brasileirão, as the chances of winning the title increased. \ Vice president of football, Kléber Leite, praised the work of Caio Júnior and the players. The schedule was adapted so that nutrition and rest are closely monitored during a grueling week with travel and crucial matches (Vitória, tomorrow; Portuguesa, Saturday). 'Pajama training' was advised. The coach is keeping it a secret. And next week, when they face Botafogo (on the 9th), the concentration period will increase from two to three days. \ “At this moment, no sacrifice is so great that it cannot be made. Furthermore, we are concerned because we have two games in a short period. We will sleep in Salvador after facing Vitória. Rest is very important. And on Saturday, against Portuguesa, we will also have to deal with the heat,” points out Caio Júnior. \ Before the coach gave interviews, Kléber Leite spoke with Caio. Then, on his own initiative, the manager approached the reporters to praise the coach and issue a warning. \ "I am extremely satisfied with Flamengo's work. In this final stretch, they will put many banana peels in our path, and at Flamengo, everything becomes a bomb," said the director, referring to rumors that could be planted. \ What's certain is that after the 3-0 loss to Atlético-MG, Caio experienced moments of pressure, and a loss to Vasco could have made the coach's situation untenable. The victory over their rival and the rout against Coritiba eased the mood and favored the coach. \ "I keep my cool in football; I'm a professional. Things happen for which we don't understand the reasons," Caio Júnior declared, responding to a question about a possible departure. Later, the coach, who points to São Paulo having a slight lead among the five teams vying for the title, added: "Now, the pressure is positive." \ BLESSING FOR THE TITLE\ After years of pleading not to be relegated, in 2007 the request was for a spot in the Libertadores Cup. Yesterday, in addition to thanks, prayers for the title were offered in the chapel of Saint Jude at the club itself. "Flamengo is a team of grit, that's why the jersey is called a mantle," said Father Leandro Cury, from the Immaculate Conception Church (Engenho de Dentro). The white jerseys that will be worn against Vitória were blessed.\

Time to wear the mantle. \ Famous fans call on red-and-blacks to celebrate Flamengo Day \

Rio - For Catholics, today is Saint Jude Thaddeus' Day. For Flamengo fans, it's more than that: today is also Flamengo Fan Day. As a tribute to the world's largest fan base, the Rio de Janeiro city hall decreed last year that October 28th would be a day dedicated to the supporters of the club that has Saint Jude Thaddeus as its patron saint.\ Currently, there are plenty of reasons to celebrate the date: the possible achievement of the sixth Brazilian title and, consequently, the return to the Copa Libertadores, in 2009. The joy is so great that some of Flamengo's illustrious fans promise to take their shirts out of the closet today to sing to the whole world about their joy of being a red-black fan.\ "For those who are eternally passionate about Mengão, every day is Flamengo Day. Every day, we cheer, suffer, and believe in the country's most beloved team. The date is special. However, winning the sixth title will be even better," said singer Felipe Dylon.\ Like Felipe, singer Gustavo Lins doesn't have many memories of the last Brazilian Championship he won due to his youth: "I was born in 1986 and was very young in '92. People of my generation don't have many memories of that victory. This time, if Flamengo wins the Brazilian Championship, I'll celebrate a lot. We deserve this day and this national title," Gustavo emphasized.\ Leaving euphoria aside, there are those who are more skeptical, but no less passionate about Flamengo, as is the case of a regular at Maracanã, the actor Marcelo Serrado, who confessed that he didn't know that today would be 'his day'.\ “I swear I didn’t know. So, we all have to leave the house wearing our Flamengo shirts to celebrate our day,” the actor points out, also revealing that he doesn’t have much faith in winning the Brazilian Championship: “I don’t think we’ll win the sixth title this time, but I’m confident we’ll qualify for the Libertadores,” he said.\ At 74 years old, some of which he has dedicated to Flamengo as social vice president, actor Milton Gonçalves melts when speaking of his passion: "Flamengo is engraved in my heart. No amount of money can buy the thrill of seeing a packed Maracanã stadium, with the red-and-black fans cheering our team on. When the fans cheer Mengo, no one beats us. Congratulations to all Flamengo fans, and celebrate without violence."\

Corinthians declares support for Fla's title

Rio - After Flamengo issued an official statement congratulating Corinthians on their return to the Brasileirão Série A, the São Paulo club's board decided to reciprocate the affection and, showing a great relationship with the Rio de Janeiro club, announced this Monday that they wish Flamengo luck and success and that they are rooting for their 'co-brother' to win the Brazilian title.

Check out the official statement published on the official website of the São Paulo club:

'Sport Club Corinthians Paulista thanks Clube de Regatas do Flamengo for their expression of affection for our return to Série A.

We also wish our Rio de Janeiro brother all the luck and success in the final stretch of the 2008 Brazilian Championship. We're rooting for the red-and-black title!'

SPORTS GAZETTE

Out of shape, Ronaldo is inspired by Obina for recovery

Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Since mid-2006, excess weight has been a real problem for... attacker Ronaldo. The player showed up and played in the World Cup that year overweight, and in the final stages of recovery from knee surgery, he's struggling to get back into shape working out at Gávea. But the Phenomenon already has a boost in his fight: his training partner Obina.

"Obina is a very important player for Flamengo. I identified with his situation this week, when everyone was saying he was out of shape and overweight. Then he played against Coritiba, scored a goal, made passes, and immediately lost weight," the player said ironically to Sportv.

Just like the Phenomenon, Obina was out of action for a long time due to injury and had to deal with rumors about his weight, something that Ronaldo guarantees is a lie – following the team’s day-to-day activities, the former Barcelona and Real Madrid striker even revealed that he is interested in the results of the exams of the current darling of the crowd red-black.

“How am I? training "At Flamengo, I follow and am curious about the players' test scores, and Obina is the most complete of them. He's the strongest and has incredible speed. This data isn't released, but it's there. Obina is the strongest," praised the striker, currently without a club.

Thus, the player who was named the best in the world by FIFA three times is making his comeback with the goal of proving the wrong to all his critics, just as the Flamengo striker, voted by fans as better than Cameroon's Eto'o, did. Without as much prestige on the field, the "Phenomenon" admitted he's still overweight, but assured that this situation's days are numbered.

“The ideal average for a player, a professional athlete, is 12% body fat. I take weekly measurements and, at the moment, I'm at 14%. A few more days and I think I'll get there, but ideally I'd lower it even more,” confirmed the player, who, however, sees this as his biggest challenge: “The hardest part is losing weight, because when you're at the table everything is so delicious,” he joked.

Image recovery

Another challenge for Ronaldo Nazário de Lima is to leave behind the controversy caused by the scandals involving transvestites in which he was involved this year. This issue, however, is already a thing of the past and has not damaged his image, according to the player.

'I don't know how to assess the impact of this, but in the streets, in the following month, I received special affection from people, who were showing solidarity with me. Nowadays it's as if nothing happened,' assured Ronaldo, who, however, isolated himself in his residence after the incident, as he revealed to the press at the time.

'It's a closed chapter. It was a stupid thing I did, and the only person who hasn't forgotten is my wife, who reminds me and scolds me every day, and rightfully so,' added the athlete, calm about his situation.

Ronaldo will only stay at Flamengo if he wins well and plays at Maracanã

Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - The biggest dream of Flamengo fans for 2009 is to be able to count on attacker Ronaldo is on the roster. Without a club, the player is undergoing physical rehabilitation at Gávea, but despite interest from other clubs, he sees the possibility of being confirmed as a new signing becoming increasingly slim. On Monday, he explained why: he needs to earn well and play at the Maracanã.

“In my head, it’s an old dream (to play for the red-black team). I’ve always been fan"I still am, but I have to be in top form to deserve to wear the Flamengo shirt. That's an important factor. The other is the financial aspect, because both sides will have to give up a lot, even though there are alternatives to reach an agreement," the player explained in an interview with Sportv.

The player is in the final stages of recovery, and some European clubs are already showing interest, such as Manchester City, Sampdoria, Palermo, and Paris Saint-Germain. On the other hand, Ronaldo has a good relationship with the Flamengo squad and, moreover, dreams of playing at the Maracanã. The possibility of the stadium closing for renovations frustrates the Phenomenon.

“(Playing at Maracanã) is an important thing, because Flamengo is very identified with the stadium and, if it closes for construction work for the 2014 World Cup, it would be a negative thing for me. With all due respect to teams "To the people of Rio and to the clubs of Rio, I would like to play at the Maracanã, to see that crowd again," said the player.

Despite his strong connection with Flamengo, which led to the creation of the Fica Ronaldo Movement, which has over 25 members, Ronaldo could have started his post-surgery journey at another club known for its excellence in restoring athletes' fitness: São Paulo. However, sponsorship issues prevented the Phenomenon from going to Morumbi.

"I was getting close to starting training on the field, but my sponsor is different from São Paulo's, and then I would have to wear the jersey. That would have been a problem for me," revealed the player, who is already participating in 'rachões' with the rest of the squad at Gávea.

Timão thanks Flamengo and cheers for the title of its co-brother

São Paulo (SP) - The relationship between the boards of directors of Brazil's two most popular clubs couldn't be better. After Flamengo congratulated Corinthians on their return to the Brazilian Championship's top flight in an official statement, Corinthians thanked the club in the same way on Monday.

"Sport Club Corinthians Paulista thanks Clube de Regatas do Flamengo for their expression of affection upon our return to Série A. We also wish our fellow Rio de Janeiro club all the best and success in the final stretch of the 2008 Brazilian Championship. We are rooting for Flamengo to win the title!", says the official statement on the Corinthians website.

Corinthians mathematically secured their return to the top tier of Brazilian football. overcome Ceará 2-0 last Saturday at Pacaembu Stadium. Hours later, Flamengo welcomed its "co-brother" to its website, wishing him a "happy return."

“CR Flamengo shares the joy of Sports Corinthians Club and its loyal fans for their return to the first division of the Brazilian Championship, a club that has never ceased to belong to the elite of national football,” says an excerpt from the note.

With Corinthians as their cheering squad, Flamengo sits fourth in the Brasileirão with 55 points, four behind leaders Grêmio. Palmeiras and São Paulo, two of Corinthians' archrivals, are direct competitors for the Rio de Janeiro team in the fight for the trophy.

For Márcio Braga, a Flamengo-centric heart will lead the team to their sixth title.\ Gazeta Press\

Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Even after being criticized by some Flamengo players, president Márcio Braga didn't change his stance. The Flamengo director once again stated, as he did three weeks ago, that the team from Gávea will be Brazilian champions. This time, however, Márcio Braga praised Flamengo's main rivals.

“Our competitors are at a very similar level to ours. That's why I believe our determination can make the difference against our opponents. I'm sure that this will lead us to the sixth championship. The Flamengo spirit will decide this championship. Therefore, I have no doubt that Flamengo will be six-time champions,” the director stated to the FlamengoRJ website.

With 55 points, Flamengo is in fourth place, four points behind leaders Grêmio. team Carioca still has seven matches ahead, starting with Wednesday's duel against GHT - Vitória.

Another director who spoke out on Monday was the vice-president of football, Kléber Leite, who was irritated by a report that he had started, during a meeting of the Club of 13, talks to hire coach Adílson Batista, currently at Cruzeiro.

"That's a blatant lie. I haven't been there (to the Club of 13) for at least a year. I don't know the..." treinador "I'm not from Cruzeiro and I've never even had phone contact with him. The news is false," Kléber assured.

Flamengo improves finishing to face Vitória\ Gazeta Press\

Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - The five goals scored by Flamengo against Coritiba don't seem to have left coach Caio Júnior completely satisfied. So much so that, on Monday morning, the Flamengo players returned to training and carried out a specific finishing drill at Gávea.

A key player in Flamengo's attack, Marcelinho Paraíba was excused by the coaching staff and did not participate in training. Enjoying his time off with his family in Campina Grande-PB, the player agreed to join the team in Salvador. Meanwhile, midfielder Kléberson and reserve goalkeeper Diego, both suffering from the flu, were spared from Monday's training session. Kléberson, however, is not expected to be a problem for the upcoming match. GHT - Vitória-BA.

Another absence from Monday morning's training session was midfielder Jônatas, who stayed in Ceará, where he is with his father, who is suffering from medical problems. In addition to his family issues, the player is also facing ostracism at Flamengo and has been used sparingly by coach Caio Júnior in the Brazilian Championship.

Those who attended the training session and spoke with some Flamengo players included the Brazilian National Team's assistant coach, Jorginho. He was at Gávea to talk with the Flamengo board and coaching staff about the recent call-ups of left-back Juan, who, in the last two [tournaments], has been called up for the national team. games of Brazil, was not even used by coach Dunga. Juan could still wear the yellow jersey again in 2008, as Dunga's team has a friendly against Portugal on November 19 in Brasília.

PELENET

Flamengo receives divine blessing before match against Vitória.

Raphael Raposo\ In Rio de Janeiro\

On the eve of Saint Jude Thaddeus Day, the club's patron saint, Flamengo strengthened its relationship with the divine. To overcome the gap between the teams ahead and win the Brazilian title, the players received help from heaven this Monday. Shortly after their morning training session in Gávea, the athletes were blessed by Father Leandro Cury of the Immaculate Conception Church in Engenho de Dentro. In recent years, the club had taken a similar step, but the prayers were for staying in Série A.

"It's a huge honor to be invited to this kind of ceremony. I'm a Flamengo fan, as are many of my family members. I'm grateful for the joy these players are giving us, especially in the match against Coritiba (a 5-0 win). We ask that God's blessing come through Saint Jude Thaddeus (the club's patron saint)," said the priest, who received a personalized shirt.\ Besides most of the players on the roster, the ceremony was attended by the club's president, Márcio Braga, and the defeated candidate for mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Fernando Gabeira, who had been cooling off in the club's pool in Gávea before the meeting.\ The priest took the opportunity to not only wish luck to the red-black players and everyone present, but also to bless the uniforms that will be used by the athletes in Wednesday's match against Vitória, at Barradão, for the 32nd round of the Brazilian Championship.\ The Gávea team is fourth in the national competition with 55 points. Leader Grêmio has 59, followed by São Paulo with 56 and Cruzeiro with 55. \

Kleber Leite denies interest in Adilson Batista and confirms Caio Jr.

Raphael Raposo\ In Rio de Janeiro\

Over the weekend, speculation about Flamengo's interest in Cruzeiro coach Adilson Batista was circulated in Gávea. On Monday, Flamengo's vice-president of football, Kleber Leite, visibly irritated, denied the rumors, saying he barely knew the Cruzeiro manager, and reiterated his intention to keep Caio Júnior in the role for 2009.

Rumors swirled that Kleber had taken advantage of a Club of 13 meeting to consult on Adilson. However, the Rio de Janeiro-based leader assured that he hadn't been to the club's headquarters in about a year.\ "This news is completely unfounded. They said I said this at the Clube dos 13, but I haven't been there for a while. About a year. Despite Adilson's good work, I don't even know him well. We are very happy with Caio Júnior. Besides, I am very good friends with Zezé Perrela (Cruzeiro's vice president of football) and I would never do that to him," he stressed.\ Kleber Leite also spoke about the Diguinho case. Last week, it was reported that the Botafogo midfielder would be Flamengo's first signing for next season. However, the director again denied any interest in the player. Furthermore, he made it clear that he intends to negotiate the transfer of some defensive midfielders at the end of the year. \ "I've already said he's an excellent player, but we have a lot of players for that position. And they're all very good. In fact, we have so much quality that this position will deserve special attention next year," he said.\ Currently, Flamengo's squad has six defensive midfielders: Toró, Ibson, Kleberson, Airton, Jônatas, and Jaílton. In addition to these, the young Rômulo, a starter in last year's Brazilian Championship, who is on loan to Paraná Clube, is set to return at the end of the Série B.\ Controversial classic\ The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has already stated that it wants the Botafogo vs. Flamengo match on November 9th to be held at the Maracanã stadium, not the Engenhão, where it was previously scheduled. The organization claims that the Olympic stadium does not have the necessary security for a classic match of this magnitude. Tired of the controversies, Kleber Leite put this discussion aside and assured that Flamengo will face Botafogo anywhere, without complaints. \ "Nothing is set in stone yet. The CBF hasn't set a date. But we're not too worried about that. They could even set a date on a pitch at Aterro do Flamengo and we'll still play," the director joked. \

Ronaldo praises Obina and Angelim and reiterates his desire to play for Flamengo

From UOL Esporte\ In Rio de Janeiro\

Obina and Ronaldo Angelim received special praise this Monday. According to striker Ronaldo, the Flamengo fan favorite is one of Flamengo's most important players, as is the defender, who boasts excellent positioning on the pitch.

"I think Obina is an important player for Flamengo. They said he was overweight, he had a great performance against Coritiba (a 5-0 victory for Flamengo) and they changed their tune saying he's already lost weight. Obina is the most complete and strongest player on the team. A player with many virtues," he praised, adding.\ "Maldini (Milan-ITA) was the toughest defender I faced. But I'd like to talk about Ronaldo Angelim. He's not fast, but he has very good positioning. He commits few fouls. I'd like to have him on my side," added Ronaldo.\ In addition to praising Obina, Ronaldo once again spoke about the possibility of playing for Flamengo next season. The striker reiterated the need for both sides to reach an agreement.\ "It's a long-held dream, and everyone knows it. I've always been a Flamengo fan. But I need to be in really good shape to deserve to wear the Flamengo jersey. They're in pole position. There's the financial aspect too. Both parties will have to give up a lot of things, but that can be discussed," he highlighted in an interview with Sportv's Bem, Amigos.\ Last week, the group that launched the "Stay, Ronaldo" movement released the campaign's website. At www.movimentoficaronaldo.com.br, fans can leave their name, email address, and a message explaining why Ronaldo should stay at Flamengo.\ Ronaldo is recovering from a serious left knee injury, suffered on February 13th of this year, during Milan's Serie A match against Livorno. Besides Flamengo, other European clubs have reportedly expressed interest in signing him. "I'll only decide what to do in January, when I'm fit and XNUMX percent physically," he concluded.\

Swimming pool to combat hangovers at the ballot box.

Flamengo had a distinguished presence on Monday morning. One day after being defeated by Eduardo Paes in the Rio de Janeiro mayoral election, Fernando Gabeira displayed his good humor in the pool at the club's headquarters in Gávea.

The politician cooled off from the intense heat in the city (35°C) and soon after received a visit from the president of the red-and-black club, Márcio Braga, with whom he posed for photos. Afterwards, Gabeira recalled a memorable moment while watching a game of his favorite club.

"The last game I went to was the 2-2 draw we had with Fluminense. Flamengo showed their usual fighting spirit and could even have come away with the victory," he said, recalling the derby on August 31st, for the Brazilian Championship.

Credit: Raphael Raposo/UOL Esporte

Dunga's assistant, Jorginho, visits Flamengo to provide clarifications.

Raphael Raposo\ In Rio de Janeiro\

Flamengo received a distinguished visitor this Monday morning. Jorginho, assistant to Dunga, the coach of the Brazilian national team, visited the club where he started his career to "provide clarifications" regarding the call-up of left-back Juan. The former player spoke briefly with some players and with Flamengo's vice-president of football, Kleber Leite.

"Dunga and I are making arrangements to visit the clubs and thank them for loaning us players, who end up weakening their teams. Juan, for example, didn't even play the last time he was with us," explained Jorginho, who is responsible for the Rio de Janeiro clubs, while Dunga will visit the Porto Alegre clubs. Afterwards, the pair will travel to São Paulo.\ "I'm still going to Fluminense to talk about Thiago Silva (defender) and also to visit René Simões (Tricolor coach), who is a great friend of mine. Dunga will do that in Porto Alegre and then we'll go to São Paulo together," he added.\ A Flamengo idol, Juan participated in the last two call-ups for the national team. He played a few minutes in the 3-0 victory over Chile in Santiago, and was a starter in the 0-0 draw with Bolivia at the Engenhão stadium. Kleber, from Santos, was suspended.\ However, in the 4-0 thrashing of Venezuela in San Cristóbal, the red-black full-back was only an option on the bench, as was the case in the goalless draw with Colombia at the Maracanã. \

In intense heat, Flamengo trains without Kleberson and M. Paraíba

Raphael Raposo\ In Rio de Janeiro\

Two Flamengo starters were absent from training Monday morning at Gávea: defensive midfielders Kleberson and Jônatas, as well as forward Marcelinho Paraíba, were absent. Diego is recovering from a virus.

One of the team's key players, Marcelinho, has traveled to his hometown to resolve personal issues. That evening, he will meet the Flamengo delegation in Salvador, where the team will face Vitória on Wednesday in the 32nd round of the Brazilian Championship.\ Kleberson, suffering from the flu, appeared on the field wearing a coat, despite the punishing 35°C temperature. He didn't participate in the training session, but he's expected to play against the Bahian club. If he doesn't play, Airton will likely be his substitute.\ "Marcelin returns to training tomorrow (Tuesday) as normal and Kleberson has had this fever problem again. So, I took the opportunity to test some players, like Fierro, for example, who is doing very well, as is Maxi," explained Caio Júnior.\ Jônatas' situation has not been clarified. It is only known that the player, who was underused by Caio Júnior, traveled to Ceará due to a family matter. He is not expected to be included in the squad for Wednesday's match. \

GLOBOESPORTE

Ronaldo says Flamengo is where he wants to play, but doesn't rule out retirement

Ronaldo says Flamengo is in pole position to sign him, but reveals concern about his physical condition.

GLOBOESPORTE.COM Sao Paulo

var midiaEmbed = { theme: "darkgray", image: '/GMC/foto/0,,15789011-EX,00.jpg' , band: 'TIPO_TXT' , backgroundColor : "FFFFFF", fontColor : "000000", linkColor : "FF00FF", borderColor : "00FF00", autoStart: false, midiaId: 902761 }; var embed = new GMCEmbed(midiaEmbed); embed.print(); There's no way around it. Wherever Ronaldo goes, one thing is essential: his possible stay in the Flamengo, where he is recovering from left knee surgery. This Monday, on the show "Bem, Amigos!", the Phenomenon didn't shy away from his answer and was more direct than usual. He stated that Flamengo is the favorite and, if everything goes well, he will play for his beloved club next season. The player said that playing for Flamengo is more appealing, for example, than for Manchester City, which also expressed interest. \ "If everything goes well, that's where I want to be (Flamengo). I've been in Europe for 16 years. Flamengo is my favorite, if I'm up to it. I don't want to go to the club as a favor; I have to earn it. There's no point in arriving at Maracanã and being booed. There's a chance the fans will throw bombs at training; it already happened this year. Flamengo is the "pole position," and it will depend a lot on me too. The appeal of playing for Flamengo is greater (Manchester City)," he states.\

Ronaldo, however, revealed a fear that, according to him, could make him hang up his boots in 2009. He said that if he does not feel physically ready to perform at a good level, he may stop playing. \ "I could hang it up. If I feel like I'm not feeling well, I'll tie a knot in my boot and throw it over the Bento Ribeiro line. There's no point in being physically fit and not being fast. I've already lost weight, but I have to lose more. If I can't, it'll be even more strain on my joints. I can't make a decision now," he says. \ One of Ronaldo's concerns is his weight, but this problem is already being solved. \ - I started recovery with a 16% body fat percentage, but in the last assessment I did I was at 14% - he reveals. \

Ronaldo praises striker Obina and says he identifies with the Black Angel's situation.

The phenomenon praises Flamengo defender Ronaldo Angelim and says that the best marker he faced in his career was Italian Paolo Maldini.

Hysteria and harassment of Bahian Obina upon arrival in Salvador

Around 300 fans welcomed the Flamengo delegation.

Eduardo Peixoto Direct from Salvador

Players await the green light from security to leave the airport.

O Flamengo trained this Monday morning in Gávea and has already left for Salvador, where they will face Vitória on Wednesday at Barradão Stadium. When the team arrived, around 300 fans were waiting for the players. The one who received a "pop star" welcome, of course, was Obina, a son of Boa Terra. To the cries of "Barack Obina", the attacker had to run to get to the bus. \ To ensure the players' access to the bus, security guards formed a cordon, but even so, the chaos was rampant. Another player who was celebrated was goalkeeper Bruno. \ Fourth in the Brazilian Championship With 55 points, Fla is fighting to beat Vitória away from home, stay in the group of those qualified for the Libertadores and not lose sight of the leader Grêmio, who is 59.\

Before traveling to Salvador, Fla asks his patron saint for a blessing

The ceremony takes place in the Gávea chapel and President Marcio Braga steals the show with his optimism.

Eduardo Peixoto Rio de Janeiro

Wearing the 'Charanga Rubro-Negra' shirt, Gabeira attended the mass alongside Marcio Braga

Before the trip to Salvador, part of the delegation of Flamengo participated in a small service in Gávea, in honor of the club's patron saint, Saint Jude Thaddeus. Unlike in previous years, when the main objective was to avoid relegation in BrazilianThe desire was more "daring". \ In the fight for the title, athletes and coaching staff asked for protection in the final stretch of the competition. Father Leandro Cury was responsible for the celebration and instructed the Flamengo squad to have "the same commitment shown in the 5-0 victory over [opponent's name]". Coritiba". Participating in the mass was politician Fernando Gabeira, defeated on Sunday in the election for mayor of Rio de Janeiro. \ Normally the event takes place in the church in Cosme Velho on October 28th. However, since the delegation will be in the capital of Bahia, it was moved forward and took place in the small chapel of Saint Jude Thaddeus at Flamengo's headquarters. \ Most of the athletes and members of the coaching staff participated in the meeting. The highlight was president Marcio Braga, who was thrilled with the team's fourth-place position in the Brazilian Championship standings and a four-point gap to the leader. GrêmioHe went back to betting high. \ "Let's ask Saint Jude to light our path in this final stretch. If the players have grit, we'll be champions. I'm confident of winning the sixth title," says the manager. \

Feverish again, Kleberson creates doubts in Fla's lineup

Midfielder travels to Salvador with a virus, but says he will be back on the field

Eduardo Peixoto Rio de Janeiro

The intense heat forced the players of the Flamengo to cool off incessantly this Monday, in Gávea. Except Kleberson. The midfielder appeared on the field in what was theoretically not a recommended outfit: a sweatshirt.

His “cold” had an explanation. Just like the day before the match against Coritiba, the player has a fever again. According to doctors, he has a viral infection. Spared from activity, he was replaced by Aírton. Up front, Chilean Fierro took the place of Marcelinho Paraíba, who was released from activity. \ "I'm not going to reveal the lineup. Fierro deserves a chance too. He's adapted and brings good play to the team. We'll see," Caio says. \ Kleberson participated in the celebration of Saint Jude Thaddeus and stated that he will participate in the game. \ - I have a virus, but it will be okay - says the player.\

Players participate in national campaign against corruption

Athletes from teams in the Brazilian Championship Series A will wear shirts to encourage society to report irregularities.

GLOBOESPORTE.COM Rio de Janeiro

Players from the 20 clubs competing in Serie A Brazilian Championship They will engage in the fight against corruption in the country. Before and during the breaks of the games of the 32nd round of the competition, this Wednesday and Thursday, the campaign "What do you have to do with corruption?" will be launched, created by the National Association of Members of the Public Prosecutor's Office (Conamp) and the National Council of Attorneys General. The initiative has the support of Clube dos 13, Rede Globo and UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). \ The project seeks to prevent new cases of corruption in the country by raising public awareness, encouraging reports of irregularities, creating a channel to receive contacts, and punishing those involved. \ In this midweek round of matches, the athletes will take to the field wearing campaign shirts. And banners advocating for the mobilization of society against corruption will be displayed to the fans.\

Rubro-negro Caio Júnior warns that it is time to dry the leader Grêmio

Furthermore, Fla's coach is concerned about São Paulo's consistency.

Eduardo Peixoto Direct from Salvador

Coach Caio Júnior talks to Leo Moura and Ronaldo Angelim at Flamengo training

O Palmeiras fell behind in the tiebreaker criteria. For the same reason, the Cruzeiro remains one position ahead. In turn, the vice-leader São Paulo has a vantage point and is still in the “line of sight” of the Flamengo.

Therefore, it is necessary to approach the GrêmioThe Gauchos hold a four-point lead with seven rounds remaining. Despite a favorable final round and a return to the top four, coach Caio Júnior acknowledges there's still room for improvement.

"We've reduced the gap to second place (São Paulo) to one point. But besides doing our part, now we have to hope that Grêmio drops points. They still have a four-point advantage. This match against Cruzeiro will be very important," says the coach.

Despite praising the Tricolor gaúcho, the Fla commander considers the table of the second-placed São Paulo to be the most advantageous.

"São Paulo is a concern because of their consistency. They haven't had direct confrontations with them, which gives them more chances," he says.

Corinthians thanks Flamengo and says they support Flamengo in Serie A

Last Saturday, the Rio de Janeiro club issued an official statement congratulating Timão on its return to the elite of Brazilian football.

GLOBOESPORTE.COM Sao Paulo

this Monday, the Corinthians thanked the support of Flamengo On its official website, it stated that it is rooting for Flamengo to win the Série A title. Besides Flamengo, Cruzeiro and Grêmio, Palmeiras and São Paulo, Corinthians' state rivals, are also in the running for the title. Brazilian 2008.

Last Saturday, the Rio de Janeiro club issued an official statement congratulating the São Paulo club on its return to Série A. Managing the clubs with the largest fan bases in Brazil, the boards of Flamengo and Corinthians maintain a good relationship. In 2007, when Corinthians was relegated to Série A... Series B, the Rio de Janeiro club also issued a statement lamenting the fact.

Obina experiences a morning like a national team star.

Jorginho appears in Gávea to strengthen relations with the clubs and pays special attention to the red-black striker

Eduardo Peixoto Rio de Janeiro

Obina and Jorginho are chatting animatedly.

At every game in Rio de Janeiro, fans mock the Brazilian national team's forwards, calling for Obina. This Monday, the darling of Flamengo had the opportunity to talk to Dunga's assistant, Jorginho, in Gávea. \ The former player spent the morning at the club and watched the entire training session. The visit is part of a new phase of his work with the national team: strengthening ties with the club's coaches. \ "It's important to do this kind of thing. It allows us to see the athletes' behavior up close, and we also exchange information. We go to all the clubs," the assistant coach says. \ According to coach Caio Júnior, the meeting served as an opportunity for both to exchange ideas about football and potential players to be called up. Currently, only left-back Juan is a regular member of Dunga's squad. \ Before leaving, Jorginho gave special attention to Obina. The two talked for about two minutes and smiled a lot. Possible call-up? The Bahia native assures that it's not possible. \

Flamengo thrashes and takes the lead in the second round with extra help from rivals

In addition to defeating Coritiba, Flamengo benefited from Vasco and Fluminense's victories over Goiás and Palmeiras, the former leaders of the second half of the season.

GLOBOESPORTE.COM Rio de Janeiro

var midiaEmbed = { theme: "darkgray", image: '/GMC/foto/0,,15777947-EX,00.jpg' , band: 'TIPO_TXT' , backgroundColor : "FFFFFF", fontColor : "000000", linkColor : "FF00FF", borderColor : "00FF00", autoStart: false, midiaId: 902040 }; var embed = new GMCEmbed(midiaEmbed); embed.print(); The fight for the title of Brazilian Championship continues to be exciting, with changes in positions in each round. The Grêmio has the best overall record and would be declared champion if the championship ended today. But with seven matches still remaining, a lot can still happen. The team that decided to show its strength in the final stretch and make a run for it was Flamengo, which now has the best record in the second half of the season. The 5-0 win over Coritiba was essential for the promotion, but the Rubro-Negro also benefited from two Rio rivals. Vasco defeated the Goiás (former leader of the return leg) by 4 to 2 in Serra Dourada, while Fluminense dispatched Palmeiras (former runner-up in the second round) at Maracanã by 3-0.

Watch the goals from the 28th round of the Brazilian Championship in the video above.

Another one that rose in the table was São Paulo, which now occupies second place both in the overall standings and in the second half after the victory over Vitória at Morumbi (2-1).

Goiás dropped to third place, and Palmeiras plummeted to sixth position in the second half of the season. Among the top teams, the team that's been surprisingly strong is... Santos (4th place). After a poor first half of the season, the São Paulo team has reacted under coach Márcio Fernandes and has been achieving good results, such as Saturday's victory over... Figueirense by the 3 0.

Fla returns to training without Marcelinho Paraíba and Jônatas

Players have been released. The team travels to Salvador this Monday.

Eduardo Peixoto Rio de Janeiro

Sunday off is behind us. On Monday morning, Flamengo returned to training, in Gávea, aiming for the game against GHT - Vitória, this Wednesday, in Salvador. \ The team held a specific finishing practice and had two absences: Marcelinho Paraíba and Jônatas. Both were released. The former spent the weekend in Campina Grande and will join the delegation in Salvador. The midfielder is in Fortaleza visiting his father, who is recovering from a heart attack. \

THROW

Ronaldo: 'If everything goes well, I should stay at Flamengo'

Ronaldo said he has already received the number 9 jersey with his name on it.

Ronaldo is very close to an agreement with Flamengo

LANCEPRESS!

The Flamengo fans' "Stay, Ronaldo" campaign is paying off. Ronaldo has promised to wear the Flamengo jersey if he is fit enough in January 2009. "The Phenomenon" commented that the Gávea club will be his priority, but emphasizes that for that to happen, he will have to be capable of wearing the Sacred Mantle.

"I'm weighing all the factors to make a decision. I've been away from Brazil for 16 years, and my family and childhood friends are here. My dream is to play for Flamengo, and if everything goes well, I should stay here. Of course, as I'm improving, several doors are opening for me. I have several offers, but Gávea is my priority. I want to go to Flamengo not just because it's my dream. I want to deserve to be at Flamengo, to be worthy of wearing the club's jersey. In January, I'll see if I'm in good physical shape, if I've managed to lose weight," explained the now-hairy Ronaldo.

In a joking tone, the legendary number 9 of the Brazilian National Team said that there is healthy pressure for him to stay at Flamengo.

- This week I was training and a Flamengo shirt arrived with the number 9 and my name on it (laughs) - he says.

However, the five-time champion with the Brazilian National Team has not ruled out ending his career if there is no recovery at the beginning of the year.

"If I see that this hasn't happened, I'll tie a knot in my shoe and throw it onto the wire in Bento Ribeiro," he declares.

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Away performance encourages Flamengo

Rubro-Negro is the best away from home in the Brazilian Championship

Obina will play against the club that revealed him

Rodrigo Benchimol SPECIAL ENVOY TO SALVADOR \ \

One of Caio Júnior's main merits at Flamengo is the team's excellent performance in away games (51,1%). Proof of this is that no competitor in this Brazilian Championship has performed as well away from home as the team managed by this coach.

Cruzeiro has the same six wins, but has lost twice as many games, eight against four.

The victories helped the club overcome mediocre campaigns in previous championships. In 2004, its worst year, it had only three wins, eight draws, and a staggering 12 losses. This resulted in a dismal 24,6% success rate.

In Salvador, the players will feel right at home. The crowd in the Bahian capital is large and enthusiastic. The delegation was welcomed at Deputado Luís Eduardo Magalhães International Airport with a party thrown by approximately 300 loud fans. But it doesn't stop there. There's even a beach named after the club in Salvador.

To complete, Flamengo will have a motive on the field