#Junior60: football legends on the pitch in Gávea
Commemorative match brings together big names in British sports at Flamengo's home stadium; Junior sings Happy Birthday and receives a gift from President Bandeira de Mello
By Communication - Official Club Website - in
This Saturday morning in Gávea was a celebration: the great red-and-black fans returned to the home where they are always welcome to play a match in honor of Maestro Júnior's 60th birthday. On the field, on Gávea's new turf, the Red Team was led by Júnior and the White Team was captained by Zico. The birthday boy's team came from behind to win 8-6. The White Team scored goals from Leonardo, Alcindo (3), Zico, and Jayme (own goal); for the Red Team, Romário (4), Bebeto (3), and Nunes scored.
Before the celebratory match, the Rocinha Music School's Children's and Youth Choir sang some of the fans' classics. The Charanga Rubro-Negra (Red-Black Charanga) was also present and entertained the stands with non-stop music throughout the match. When the players entered the field, the Children's Choir sang the Flamengo anthem and received applause from the stars. The kickoff was given by Ayer Andrade, a Flamengo employee for over 50 years and instrumental in the development of the club's golden generation, responsible for registering Zico as a professional player and preventing him from pursuing a career elsewhere. It's no surprise that Ayer is loved by several stars, including Galinho himself, who call him "Shorty."
President Eduardo Bandeira de Mello opened the festivities by recalling the first time Junior took to the field wearing the red and black shirt in a professional game. "I was at the Maracanã for the last game of the third round of the 1974 championship. That day, a young boy, a youth player, made his debut for Flamengo at right-back, a position no one had established at the time. This young man was Júnior, whom no one knew, and who scored a great goal. Zico scored another, we beat América 2-1 and went on to the decisive triangular with Vasco and América. The following Sunday, Flamengo vs. América again, 2-1 again, against the great team that América had, and another goal from our full-back Júnior. We went to the final with Vasco, drew, and were crowned Rio de Janeiro champions in 1974. That was how the story of our Maestro at Flamengo began. And I, who was in the stands back in 1974, behind the goal, could never have imagined that I would be here today as president of Flamengo celebrating the 60th birthday of the then-right-back who helped us win the championship. Thank you all so much for coming, and we are all very happy." happy to pay homage and reverence to our idol and Maestro Júnior", he said.
At the Viva Rio station, set up at the Club's headquarters to collect donations for the Warm Winter Campaign and for NGOs supported by Maestro, President Eduardo Bandeira de Mello also received the Champion of Life trophy. Bandeira received the award from Rubem César Fernandes, Viva Rio's executive director, and Cibele Dias, the organization's volunteer coordinator, after The Red-Black Nation has won by a landslide in blood donations from Hemorio's Torcida pela Vida campaignOf the four major Rio de Janeiro teams, the "Mais Querido" (Most Beloved) reached 39% with 400 donations. Since each donation saves three lives on average, 1200 lives were saved with red-and-black blood. Counting all participating fan groups, 3.075 lives will be saved with 1.025 donations.
The game
Even though decades have passed since they hung up their boots, the guests showcased the unique technique that made them famous as players. The paced game was marked by beautiful passes and dribbles as the stars paraded across the FIFA-standard turf of the Gávea Stadium. Júnior played for the Red Team wearing the number 5 jersey he immortalized at the Mais Querido. The score was opened six minutes into the first half: Paulinho Carioca dribbled, crossed, and passed to Leonardo to tap it into the back of the net. 1-0 to the White Team. While the Charanga remained in the stands, echoing through Gávea, echoing classics well-known to the nation, Leonardo passed to Alcindo, who controlled the ball and attempted a cross from the right. Paulinho Carioca struggled to score but was brought down. The referee awarded a penalty. Alcindo stepped up to take the kick and converted, giving goalkeeper Adriano no chance. The White Team's third goal came with a beautiful play by Alcindo. He dominated the midfield and turned with style, advancing into the six-yard box and shooting high. And if it seemed like 3-0 wasn't enough, Zico proved that his relationship with Gávea is truly eternal. Leonardo and Alcindo exchanged passes, allowing the Mais Querido's eternal number 10 to score. In the 28th minute, another goal for the White Team: Paulinho Carioca received the ball from Leonardo, dribbled past goalkeeper Adriano, and flicked it into the six-yard box. Jayme tried to clear it and ended up sending it into the net: 5-0. Before the end of the first half, Romário and Bebeto pulled one back for the Red Team, who went into halftime trailing 5-2.
In the second half, in the fourth minute, the attacking duo from Brazil's fourth World Cup title scored again, with a pass from Romário and a goal from Bebeto, leaving the Red Team two goals away from a 5-3 draw. In the sixth minute, it was the 1981 World Cup striker's turn to score: Nunes pounced on a Bebeto rebound and cemented the Red Team's comeback. In the eighth minute, another goal from Romário tied the Red Team: 5-5. In the 12th minute, goalkeeper Adriano grabbed Alcindo inside the box. He took the penalty kick himself, extending the lead for the Red Team: 6-5. But after that, it was all Red: with two more goals from Baixinho and one from Bebeto, the team captained by Junior won 8-6, coming from behind.
After the match, everyone sang happy birthday to the Maestro in the center of the field. Junior also received a painting as a gift, featuring images of historic moments in his career, presented by president Eduardo Bandeira de Mello and vice-president Walter D'Agostino.
The Junior 60 event is supported by Frescatto, Esportecom, Red-Black Space Stores, Lafarge, FlaCamp, Guaravita, Gatorade, Habib's, Greenday Juices, Portion, Parmesan, Vonder Tools, Eternit, Guanabara Supermarkets, Capemisa, Microcamp, Bioleve e AMBEV.
Read more
Fans get emotional with their idols at #Junior60
Past stars pay tribute to Junior60
Before the celebratory match, the Rocinha Music School's Children's and Youth Choir sang some of the fans' classics. The Charanga Rubro-Negra (Red-Black Charanga) was also present and entertained the stands with non-stop music throughout the match. When the players entered the field, the Children's Choir sang the Flamengo anthem and received applause from the stars. The kickoff was given by Ayer Andrade, a Flamengo employee for over 50 years and instrumental in the development of the club's golden generation, responsible for registering Zico as a professional player and preventing him from pursuing a career elsewhere. It's no surprise that Ayer is loved by several stars, including Galinho himself, who call him "Shorty."
President Eduardo Bandeira de Mello opened the festivities by recalling the first time Junior took to the field wearing the red and black shirt in a professional game. "I was at the Maracanã for the last game of the third round of the 1974 championship. That day, a young boy, a youth player, made his debut for Flamengo at right-back, a position no one had established at the time. This young man was Júnior, whom no one knew, and who scored a great goal. Zico scored another, we beat América 2-1 and went on to the decisive triangular with Vasco and América. The following Sunday, Flamengo vs. América again, 2-1 again, against the great team that América had, and another goal from our full-back Júnior. We went to the final with Vasco, drew, and were crowned Rio de Janeiro champions in 1974. That was how the story of our Maestro at Flamengo began. And I, who was in the stands back in 1974, behind the goal, could never have imagined that I would be here today as president of Flamengo celebrating the 60th birthday of the then-right-back who helped us win the championship. Thank you all so much for coming, and we are all very happy." happy to pay homage and reverence to our idol and Maestro Júnior", he said.
At the Viva Rio station, set up at the Club's headquarters to collect donations for the Warm Winter Campaign and for NGOs supported by Maestro, President Eduardo Bandeira de Mello also received the Champion of Life trophy. Bandeira received the award from Rubem César Fernandes, Viva Rio's executive director, and Cibele Dias, the organization's volunteer coordinator, after The Red-Black Nation has won by a landslide in blood donations from Hemorio's Torcida pela Vida campaignOf the four major Rio de Janeiro teams, the "Mais Querido" (Most Beloved) reached 39% with 400 donations. Since each donation saves three lives on average, 1200 lives were saved with red-and-black blood. Counting all participating fan groups, 3.075 lives will be saved with 1.025 donations.
The game
Even though decades have passed since they hung up their boots, the guests showcased the unique technique that made them famous as players. The paced game was marked by beautiful passes and dribbles as the stars paraded across the FIFA-standard turf of the Gávea Stadium. Júnior played for the Red Team wearing the number 5 jersey he immortalized at the Mais Querido. The score was opened six minutes into the first half: Paulinho Carioca dribbled, crossed, and passed to Leonardo to tap it into the back of the net. 1-0 to the White Team. While the Charanga remained in the stands, echoing through Gávea, echoing classics well-known to the nation, Leonardo passed to Alcindo, who controlled the ball and attempted a cross from the right. Paulinho Carioca struggled to score but was brought down. The referee awarded a penalty. Alcindo stepped up to take the kick and converted, giving goalkeeper Adriano no chance. The White Team's third goal came with a beautiful play by Alcindo. He dominated the midfield and turned with style, advancing into the six-yard box and shooting high. And if it seemed like 3-0 wasn't enough, Zico proved that his relationship with Gávea is truly eternal. Leonardo and Alcindo exchanged passes, allowing the Mais Querido's eternal number 10 to score. In the 28th minute, another goal for the White Team: Paulinho Carioca received the ball from Leonardo, dribbled past goalkeeper Adriano, and flicked it into the six-yard box. Jayme tried to clear it and ended up sending it into the net: 5-0. Before the end of the first half, Romário and Bebeto pulled one back for the Red Team, who went into halftime trailing 5-2.
In the second half, in the fourth minute, the attacking duo from Brazil's fourth World Cup title scored again, with a pass from Romário and a goal from Bebeto, leaving the Red Team two goals away from a 5-3 draw. In the sixth minute, it was the 1981 World Cup striker's turn to score: Nunes pounced on a Bebeto rebound and cemented the Red Team's comeback. In the eighth minute, another goal from Romário tied the Red Team: 5-5. In the 12th minute, goalkeeper Adriano grabbed Alcindo inside the box. He took the penalty kick himself, extending the lead for the Red Team: 6-5. But after that, it was all Red: with two more goals from Baixinho and one from Bebeto, the team captained by Junior won 8-6, coming from behind.
After the match, everyone sang happy birthday to the Maestro in the center of the field. Junior also received a painting as a gift, featuring images of historic moments in his career, presented by president Eduardo Bandeira de Mello and vice-president Walter D'Agostino.
The Junior 60 event is supported by Frescatto, Esportecom, Red-Black Space Stores, Lafarge, FlaCamp, Guaravita, Gatorade, Habib's, Greenday Juices, Portion, Parmesan, Vonder Tools, Eternit, Guanabara Supermarkets, Capemisa, Microcamp, Bioleve e AMBEV.
Read more
Fans get emotional with their idols at #Junior60
Past stars pay tribute to Junior60