Find out who Santa Cruz is, the Hairy One of the General
Following Flamengo for 35 years, fan thanks God for supporting Flamengo
By Communication - Official Club Website - in
A visit to Maracanã on a Flamengo match day is an excellent opportunity to meet die-hard fans with stories to tell. They are the most diverse types of people who consider cheering for the Most Beloved team their greatest joy in life. Some of these fans have become symbols of Flamengo precisely because of this devotion to the Red-Blacks. Antônio Ramos Brandão Pinto is one such example.
Índio, Roberto Carlos, Carranca, and Cabeludo are some of this fan's nicknames. Known for his long hair and for always being accompanied by his radio, Santa Cruz, as he prefers to be called, has been watching Flamengo at stadiums for 35 years.
Born in Belém, Pará, Santa Cruz moved to Rio de Janeiro in 1979, right at the time of the club's rise, culminating in the 1981 Interclub World Cup victory. A resident of the Santa Cruz neighborhood—where his nickname comes from—Antônio makes no secret of his humble origins, nor his passion for the club. "I'm a Flamengo fan at heart, almost intuitively, there's no real reason. My house is humble, I rent, but everything there is Flamengo. Thank God, I'm Flamengo! Our club isn't a team, it's a nation, and it seems this nation has gained more followers with the new German fans," he said.
A general services professional, Santa Cruz describes himself as an ordinary fan and completely rejects the label of a fan figure. "I feel like a fan like any other, there's no such thing as a character. I'm a Flamengo fan. I've always been a Flamengo fan. When I think of Fio Maravilha, Nunes, Cantarele, Ubirajara, and others, I realize I'm a Flamengo fan because they've all always brought me so much joy."
The fan was also remembered for his constant presence in the general public. Always surrounded by other regulars, Antônio became accustomed to seeing the Mais Querido's victories right next to the pitch. Even with the absence of the general public at the new Maracanã, Cabeludo didn't stop celebrating. "For me, there are three unforgettable moments I experienced at the Biggest in the World: Petkovic's winning goal, last year's Copa do Brasil title, and the final game of the 2009 Brazilian Championship. Another game I'll never forget is a match I watched on television, back in Pará, in 1978. The Rio de Janeiro title that year, with a goal from Rondinelli, really touched me," he said.
Antônio also says he hasn't cut his hair in five years and that he carries a fig with him to important matches for good luck. When asked how his family reacts to this intense relationship with the Red-Blacks, he explains: "People accept it because there's no other way. Being a Red-Black fan is a passion," he concluded.
Read more:
Fans gather in England to watch Flamengo
Índio, Roberto Carlos, Carranca, and Cabeludo are some of this fan's nicknames. Known for his long hair and for always being accompanied by his radio, Santa Cruz, as he prefers to be called, has been watching Flamengo at stadiums for 35 years.
Born in Belém, Pará, Santa Cruz moved to Rio de Janeiro in 1979, right at the time of the club's rise, culminating in the 1981 Interclub World Cup victory. A resident of the Santa Cruz neighborhood—where his nickname comes from—Antônio makes no secret of his humble origins, nor his passion for the club. "I'm a Flamengo fan at heart, almost intuitively, there's no real reason. My house is humble, I rent, but everything there is Flamengo. Thank God, I'm Flamengo! Our club isn't a team, it's a nation, and it seems this nation has gained more followers with the new German fans," he said.
A general services professional, Santa Cruz describes himself as an ordinary fan and completely rejects the label of a fan figure. "I feel like a fan like any other, there's no such thing as a character. I'm a Flamengo fan. I've always been a Flamengo fan. When I think of Fio Maravilha, Nunes, Cantarele, Ubirajara, and others, I realize I'm a Flamengo fan because they've all always brought me so much joy."
The fan was also remembered for his constant presence in the general public. Always surrounded by other regulars, Antônio became accustomed to seeing the Mais Querido's victories right next to the pitch. Even with the absence of the general public at the new Maracanã, Cabeludo didn't stop celebrating. "For me, there are three unforgettable moments I experienced at the Biggest in the World: Petkovic's winning goal, last year's Copa do Brasil title, and the final game of the 2009 Brazilian Championship. Another game I'll never forget is a match I watched on television, back in Pará, in 1978. The Rio de Janeiro title that year, with a goal from Rondinelli, really touched me," he said.
Antônio also says he hasn't cut his hair in five years and that he carries a fig with him to important matches for good luck. When asked how his family reacts to this intense relationship with the Red-Blacks, he explains: "People accept it because there's no other way. Being a Red-Black fan is a passion," he concluded.
Read more:
Fans gather in England to watch Flamengo