US Marine "represented" Flamengo in Iraq
"Gringo" from Paraná, Bruno Bonalti went to war, but he didn't forget his sacred mantle
By Official Website Team - in
The year was 2008, the Iraq War was raging, and in the United States, Bruno Bonaldi, a Brazilian-born American, was preparing to embark for war. Training after training permeated the young man's routine before embarking for the Middle East. In his luggage, caution, nostalgia, and... the sacred mantle, which this Flamengo fan could never be without.
Almost a year away from home, Bruno wore a Flamengo jersey during the nearly 12 months he spent on a mission in Iraq. He reveals that, even though he didn't fully understand what the Iraqis were saying, he recognized that they knew a bit about the history of Brazil's most popular club.
"Communicating with the Iraqis was difficult. I only knew a few phrases like 'Hi, what's your name?', 'Stop! Hands on your head!' or 'Do you know where the bombs are or who makes them?' But even so, I could tell that some Iraqis, when they saw the shirt, said a lot of things. I only understood Flamengo, Zico, Junior and Maracanã," recalled the "red-and-black marine", who sent his image to the club's official website.
And Bruno says the idea of taking the sacred mantle to "war" didn't come suddenly. When, in May, he embarked for California for final training before his mission, he tried to buy a flag. Unable to find one, he dug into his closet for his "red-and-black armor."
"I went to Iraq in 2008. Interestingly, I arrived there on September 11th and stayed there until mid-April 2009. Luckily, I saw Mengão win the championship on TV, already in 'gringo' territory. But I couldn't stay there that long without taking something from Flamengo. I was preparing to go to California in May, where I would conduct war training, already anticipating our mission, and I tried to find a club flag. Since I couldn't get one, I didn't hesitate. I took my sacred mantle," he detailed.
The days in Iraq were difficult, of course. However, one thing brought the Marine closer to his home country and eased the tense atmosphere: Flamengo news.
"Following the games and getting news was difficult. The internet there was very poor, and I didn't have much time. But when I could, I accessed sports websites to keep up with the team's performance. My fiancée even recorded some games and sent them to me. At the time, she was a Corinthians fan, but today we're married and she supports the Greatest in the World," Bruno concluded, giving more details about the day he took the photo wearing a Flamengo jersey on the front lines.
"I was preparing for a patrol through the villages in Al Ambar and took the photo. The sacred shroud always came with me. Interestingly, when I got there, I noticed that some kids, who liked soccer, were playing soccer with a plastic bottle. It reminded me of my childhood in Brazil. At the base where we were there, in Iraq, there was a ball that no one used. So, without thinking twice, I took it and gave it to the kids, who were delighted."
Almost a year away from home, Bruno wore a Flamengo jersey during the nearly 12 months he spent on a mission in Iraq. He reveals that, even though he didn't fully understand what the Iraqis were saying, he recognized that they knew a bit about the history of Brazil's most popular club.
"Communicating with the Iraqis was difficult. I only knew a few phrases like 'Hi, what's your name?', 'Stop! Hands on your head!' or 'Do you know where the bombs are or who makes them?' But even so, I could tell that some Iraqis, when they saw the shirt, said a lot of things. I only understood Flamengo, Zico, Junior and Maracanã," recalled the "red-and-black marine", who sent his image to the club's official website.
And Bruno says the idea of taking the sacred mantle to "war" didn't come suddenly. When, in May, he embarked for California for final training before his mission, he tried to buy a flag. Unable to find one, he dug into his closet for his "red-and-black armor."
"I went to Iraq in 2008. Interestingly, I arrived there on September 11th and stayed there until mid-April 2009. Luckily, I saw Mengão win the championship on TV, already in 'gringo' territory. But I couldn't stay there that long without taking something from Flamengo. I was preparing to go to California in May, where I would conduct war training, already anticipating our mission, and I tried to find a club flag. Since I couldn't get one, I didn't hesitate. I took my sacred mantle," he detailed.
The days in Iraq were difficult, of course. However, one thing brought the Marine closer to his home country and eased the tense atmosphere: Flamengo news.
"Following the games and getting news was difficult. The internet there was very poor, and I didn't have much time. But when I could, I accessed sports websites to keep up with the team's performance. My fiancée even recorded some games and sent them to me. At the time, she was a Corinthians fan, but today we're married and she supports the Greatest in the World," Bruno concluded, giving more details about the day he took the photo wearing a Flamengo jersey on the front lines.
"I was preparing for a patrol through the villages in Al Ambar and took the photo. The sacred shroud always came with me. Interestingly, when I got there, I noticed that some kids, who liked soccer, were playing soccer with a plastic bottle. It reminded me of my childhood in Brazil. At the base where we were there, in Iraq, there was a ball that no one used. So, without thinking twice, I took it and gave it to the kids, who were delighted."