Born on October 28th
Discover the story of two fans who came into the world on 'Flamengo Fan Day'
By From the team at Flamengo's official website - in
They are Flamengo fans even on their ID cards. Camila Pinheiro Batista, 21, a student from Porto Velho (RO), and Roberto Fernandes da Silva, 41, an accountant in Curitiba (PR), were born on October 28, the day of Saint Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of Flamengo, "Flamengo Fan's Day," according to a law passed in 2007 by Rio's City Hall.
Learn a little more about these red-blacks from reports sent especially to Flamengo's official website:
Camila Pinheiro Batista, 21 years old, Student, Porto Velho (RO) - The day dawned completely red and black for me. October 28th is not only a day dedicated to the fans of the team I love, but also my birthday, which makes it even more special. It's a day marked by expectations and a feeling of love and glory, as I have the honor of belonging to the greatest and most beautiful football nation in the world! Being a FLAMENGO fan brings me great joy and pride. And may another national title come, so that the club and this wonderful NATION may be even greater than they already are! FLAMENGO until I die!
Roberto Fernandes da Silva, 41 years old, Curitiba (PR) - "I was born on October 28, 10. I've been a Flamengo fan since 1968, when we had that great team. At that time, when I was nine years old, I lived in an orphanage in the neighboring city of São José dos Pinhais (I'm an orphan). Since at the time the most televised games were from Rio teams, and at the orphanage the two biggest fan bases were Flamengo and Vasco, I ended up choosing Mengão.
Little did I know at the time that October 28th was the feast day of Saint Jude Thaddeus and that this saint was the patron saint of Flamengo. At the orphanage, the rivalry between the two fan bases was fun. It's worth noting that the rivalry was very healthy. On Children's Day, a couple, upon learning of my upcoming birthday, asked what I wanted as a gift.
I didn't hesitate: I asked for Zico's number 10 jersey. But I thought it was just a silly question, since the groups came and went, and we just stayed there. To my surprise, on my birthday, the couple arrived and sent for me. Seeing them, I was overjoyed: with the naiveté of an orphanage child, I imagined I'd get some candy... I spent the day with them, and late in the afternoon, the big surprise: I got the red-and-black number 10 jersey... it was the best gift I'd received in nine years at the orphanage. I wore it with pride, because it was an official jersey and no one else had one. The others were all fake. It was the best: Sundays were inevitable—the jersey on your body and at Mengão games, then, was sacred... the Sacred Mantle.
Time passed, I left the orphanage at 18, but the passion only grew.
Today, I'm turning 41 and I have a 7-year-old son. What team does he support? FLAMENGO. He talks with his mouth full and watches the games with me. My wife doesn't like soccer, but because of us, she calls herself a Flamengo fan.
I only had the opportunity to go to Rio de Janeiro once, but Flamengo played away. I follow FlaParaná [Flamengo's official embassy] and will still fulfill my dream of watching a Mengão game at Maracanã. I'm sure this is the biggest dream of Flamengo fans who don't live in Rio. Watching on TV is exciting, but the pleasure of being among the fans must be incredible. If here in Curitiba, when Mengão comes to play, we go crazy, imagine at Maracanã?
Here in Curitiba, we have a parish (I'm Catholic) devoted to Saint Jude Thaddeus, where they hold a Mass at 15 p.m. I'll go there wearing the Holy Mantle to attend the Mass. My wish? For Mengão to beat Barueri and, with the combined results of today and tomorrow, take the lead and top the table until the final match against Grêmio and win the sixth title... Is that too much to ask? No, for us, Flamengo fans with great pride and love... let's cheer."
Learn a little more about these red-blacks from reports sent especially to Flamengo's official website:
Camila Pinheiro Batista, 21 years old, Student, Porto Velho (RO) - The day dawned completely red and black for me. October 28th is not only a day dedicated to the fans of the team I love, but also my birthday, which makes it even more special. It's a day marked by expectations and a feeling of love and glory, as I have the honor of belonging to the greatest and most beautiful football nation in the world! Being a FLAMENGO fan brings me great joy and pride. And may another national title come, so that the club and this wonderful NATION may be even greater than they already are! FLAMENGO until I die!
Roberto Fernandes da Silva, 41 years old, Curitiba (PR) - "I was born on October 28, 10. I've been a Flamengo fan since 1968, when we had that great team. At that time, when I was nine years old, I lived in an orphanage in the neighboring city of São José dos Pinhais (I'm an orphan). Since at the time the most televised games were from Rio teams, and at the orphanage the two biggest fan bases were Flamengo and Vasco, I ended up choosing Mengão.
Little did I know at the time that October 28th was the feast day of Saint Jude Thaddeus and that this saint was the patron saint of Flamengo. At the orphanage, the rivalry between the two fan bases was fun. It's worth noting that the rivalry was very healthy. On Children's Day, a couple, upon learning of my upcoming birthday, asked what I wanted as a gift.
I didn't hesitate: I asked for Zico's number 10 jersey. But I thought it was just a silly question, since the groups came and went, and we just stayed there. To my surprise, on my birthday, the couple arrived and sent for me. Seeing them, I was overjoyed: with the naiveté of an orphanage child, I imagined I'd get some candy... I spent the day with them, and late in the afternoon, the big surprise: I got the red-and-black number 10 jersey... it was the best gift I'd received in nine years at the orphanage. I wore it with pride, because it was an official jersey and no one else had one. The others were all fake. It was the best: Sundays were inevitable—the jersey on your body and at Mengão games, then, was sacred... the Sacred Mantle.
Time passed, I left the orphanage at 18, but the passion only grew.
Today, I'm turning 41 and I have a 7-year-old son. What team does he support? FLAMENGO. He talks with his mouth full and watches the games with me. My wife doesn't like soccer, but because of us, she calls herself a Flamengo fan.
I only had the opportunity to go to Rio de Janeiro once, but Flamengo played away. I follow FlaParaná [Flamengo's official embassy] and will still fulfill my dream of watching a Mengão game at Maracanã. I'm sure this is the biggest dream of Flamengo fans who don't live in Rio. Watching on TV is exciting, but the pleasure of being among the fans must be incredible. If here in Curitiba, when Mengão comes to play, we go crazy, imagine at Maracanã?
Here in Curitiba, we have a parish (I'm Catholic) devoted to Saint Jude Thaddeus, where they hold a Mass at 15 p.m. I'll go there wearing the Holy Mantle to attend the Mass. My wish? For Mengão to beat Barueri and, with the combined results of today and tomorrow, take the lead and top the table until the final match against Grêmio and win the sixth title... Is that too much to ask? No, for us, Flamengo fans with great pride and love... let's cheer."