Photo: Ari Gomes

Mengo meu dengo – part 11

Revitalize to rehabilitate

Text by Luiz Helio

REVITALIZE (to revitalize again; to invigorate; to breathe life back into) to REHABILITATE (to reacquire credit; to regenerate; to replenish an individual's health or work capacity). These are the two vital verbs that Flamengo urgently needs to conjugate to regain its power and live up to the greatness of its name and its nation.

After reading the articles on the official website by the immortal José Lins do Rego and former president Hélio Ferraz, which, despite their chronological distance, are unanimous on the topic: the construction of a stadium worthy of Flamengo and the consequent revitalization of the Gávea stadium, I realized this dream is a long-standing one. Then I remembered the frequent statements by the current president, Márcio Braga, in which he has demonstrated calmness when addressing a very delicate subject: the insolvency of the CRF (Brazilian Football Federation). "Flamengo is now a bankrupt entity," the president of the Most Beloved has already stated, having tirelessly fought for the approval and implementation of the Timemania lottery, which will enable the redemption not only of Flamengo, but of all major and mid-sized clubs in Brazil. Then I thought: how can such a popular club, with nearly 40 million passionate fans across all social segments of the country, including a large majority in power (as a recent survey demonstrated), fail to secure political backing to make its dream a reality and finally begin its financial restructuring? The answer seems difficult, but it isn't. The rainbows—represented by members of social organizations, as well as politicians, judges, and prosecutors—quite simply make up a large portion of those who root against it and will do everything they can to hinder Flamengo's growth.

But what can be done about this damaging obstacle? In my humble opinion, I believe that only through a broad pro-revitalization movement, roused by the Flamengo fan base of Rio de Janeiro, can peacefully and orderly take to the streets of Rio de Janeiro and demand that one of the greatest symbols of the marvelous city be given the right to rebuild. Perhaps through an extraordinary popular appeal, the "competent" authorities opposed to the project would begin to realize that it's not just the Flamengo leaders who are clamoring for this important undertaking. No. After all, this is also a cry from the people of Rio de Janeiro, and why not, from the Brazilian people. For the good of our soccer as a whole, as the giant could finally wake up and, with it, drag the other major clubs into a new era, with modern and profitable management, as is the case with the millionaire European clubs. We must remember that next year we will have municipal elections. And which club has the largest fan base and, naturally, the largest number of voters in Rio? I believe that a brotherhood between the common fan and the members of the organized groups Raça Fla, Jovem Fla, Urubuzada, Fla Manguaça, Paixão Rubro-Negra etc., plus the adhesion of a legion of red-and-black artists, the long-awaited and essential revitalization of Gávea would take on a gigantic dimension, forcing the locals who can only see problems, whether of a legal or urban nature, to rethink their backward conceptions about this valuable real estate project that will only bring benefits to that area.

It's clear that only revitalization will promote the club's rehabilitation in all areas, including the resurrection of the long-missed and distant national supremacy of Flamengo football. There's no point looking back now for blame; we must look to the horizon to lift Flamengo up. Therefore, the nation will play a fundamental role in this turnaround, packing the stadiums, specifically the Maracanã, and displaying banners with the words "Revitalization of Gávea Now" or "We Want Flamengo Arena." With the team mired in the relegation zone, we know it's difficult for fans to be motivated. However, we also know that it's no coincidence that the nation is known as the largest, most vibrant, and passionate of all fan bases. Simply because it's the only one that makes a difference and believes until the end. We don't wear the jersey only when our team is doing well. We don't celebrate a good finish in a championship that's only halfway through, as many rainbows do. There's only one truth. We're used to celebrating titles, lots of titles. After all, after the Golden Era, our team never went more than two years without a lap of honor, even facing a severe financial crisis that has dragged on for almost two decades. While other major clubs only manage to win titles when they're financially stable enough to sign superstars, Flamengo lifts trophies thanks to the tradition of the mystique of its sacred jersey and the immense magnetic force of its contagious spectacle, considered one of the greatest shows on earth.

The other big ones are only bigger because the giant is on his knees. It's time to get up.

Forward, Flamengo!

Remarkably, the second part of the article "The Nation's Flanatics and Their Magnificent Follies" will be published next week. SRN, and until then, God willing!