You Interview: Nunes
Read the first part of the interview, with the 'Decisions Gunner's' answers to internet users' questions
By From the team at Flamengo's official website - in
The journalism team of Flamengo's official website spoke on the afternoon of Friday, October 30, with João Batista Nunes de Oliveira, Nunes, better known as "the Goalscorer of Decisions." Born on May 20, 1954, in Feira de Santana, Nunes made history at Flamengo. With his decisive goals, the striker helped the club win consecutive titles: the 1980 Brazilian Championship, the 1981 State Championship, the Interclub World Cup (1981) and, months later, the 1982 Brazilian Championship.
Watch the first part of Nunes' answers to the questions selected in this new Fla Agency program, "You Interview." The questions were emailed to the official website and were then selected due to the volume of messages. Stay tuned for the second part of the recorded interview, here at Fla Agency.
Danilo Santos Villa Flor, 16, Student, Alagoinhas (BA) – What was it like to conquer the world with Flamengo?
Nunes: I only achieved this goal after becoming Rio de Janeiro champion, Brazilian champion, Libertadores champion, and then world champion. It was the fulfillment of a dream, of my goals. The biggest goal, when you're a player, is to be a world champion. And being a world champion with Flamengo is a beautiful, wonderful thing, something every soccer player would like to have, to win. But this title is part of the soccer player, of those who work at the club, and of the Red-Black Nation. So, you are a champion too.
Fabio Rodrigues Thiago, 23 years old, Physical Education Teacher, Niterói/Rj - What goal did you score wearing a Flamengo shirt that you consider to be the most important and what did you feel after scoring?
Nunes: Fabio, the goals I scored that decided the championships for Clube de Regatas do Flamengo were all important, but I'm sure you'll agree that one of the most important goals was against Atlético-MG because that's where it all began. We were crowned Brazilian champions for the first time. I was also aware that I was winning the title for the first time, and when I saw the ball go in and find the net, I could only think of your joy, of all the red-and-blacks.
Francismar Calefi Mudesto, 29, student, Pará de Minas/MG. Nunes, do you think that '81 World Cup final against Liverpool was easier than you expected?
Nunes: Francismar, the decision against Liverpool made us very happy; we were world champions. It was a very important feeling, not only for us, but for the entire Red-Black Nation, to be crowned world champions. And it also showed the English that Flamengo is not to be trifled with. Flamengo deserves respect. And we made them respect us by putting them 3-0 up in the first half. Because when we were warming up, they started laughing at us. And he who laughs last, laughs best.
Raphael Barbosa Medeiros, 28, lawyer, Cuiabá/MT: Who was the best coach you ever managed?
Nunes: Hi Raphael. It's Nunes. I know Cuiabá. It's a wonderful city, I'm always there, and one of the greatest coaches I played for was Claudio Coutinho. For me, he was the best coach I ever had. He was part of our wonderful group. He prepared us to be world champions. And you're a world champion too because, after all, you're a Flamengo fan.
João Dias Aires de Carvalho, 38, Typist, Natal/RN: Good morning Nunes, if you were Flamengo's coach, what would the team lineup be for Saturday's game if Pet can't play?
Nunes: Andrade, as we all know, is a wonderful person. He's gaining experience as a coach. You only get experience by being active. He's worked with several coaches, as an assistant, and now Flamengo has done the right thing by appointing him as coach and providing him with the necessary working conditions. I'm not a coach. Nor do I want to be, thank God. I do want to be a strong man at Flamengo, acting as a football director, a football manager, or perhaps, in the future, as president of Flamengo. That's my goal. But I'll give you my opinion. At home, Flamengo has to play 4-4-2, sometimes 4-3-3. Always instilling personality in the players, always with the awareness that they're playing at Maracanã, and at Maracanã, Flamengo is in charge.
Osmar Tinelli, 27, shipping inspector, Itajaí/SC. What was the secret or motivation that led you to score so many decisive goals and why didn't you go to the [World Cup for] the Brazilian national team?
Nunes: Osmar, it's Nunes, nice to talk to you. Unfortunately, I didn't play in a World Cup for the Brazilian national team because God didn't want me to. I was called up to two World Cups, but unfortunately, I was cut due to injury. But I was a starter for the national team in '78 and '82. But I consider myself fortunate because I played in a World Cup for Flamengo. So, I've already achieved my dream. Just being a World Cup champion with Flamengo doesn't mean I need to be a champion with the Brazilian national team, because Flamengo is already a Brazilian team. And you have to be lucky at a time like this. My motivation has always come from within myself: being a great professional, having a good relationship with my teammates within the club, having a good relationship with the fans, and here at Gávea, which has always been my home, having a good relationship with the members, with the employees, and I always trained hard. And a center forward who lives for goals, he always has to be improving in training. So, I practiced shooting, heading, movement, avoiding being marked, always being well-positioned, and always believing the goalkeeper would release the ball into the box. A center forward's presence in the box is crucial. And you have to be in good physical shape. So, I was always well prepared physically and overcame all obstacles. And I also had a wonderful group that helped me a lot. And that was a complete team, in every sense you can imagine.
Leandro Lorençatto, 36 years old, business administrator, Guaraniaçu (PR) - With that 1980/81/82 team, would Flamengo be the Brazilian leader if they played today?
Nunes: Definitely! Quite a leader.
Serghim Cabral, 46, sales clerk, Muriaé (MG)): Nunes, a big hug. What does it take for Flamengo to become World Champion again?
Nunes: We lack... a good bench, right. That's how we did it. A good bench so that when a player can't play, we don't miss him like we did now... Pet [in the game against Grêmio Barueri]. We need to have a player who's up to the task because that also gives the player who comes off more responsibility, so he doesn't get careless, right. Of course, Pet didn't leave due to indiscipline or injury. He simply picked up his third card, right. I'm in favor of the club having a capable group, capable of performing when one player leaves, the other comes in and performs. That's how we've won the competitions we've competed in.
Stay tuned for the second part of the interview. Coming soon. Only here at Agência Fla.
Watch the first part of Nunes' answers to the questions selected in this new Fla Agency program, "You Interview." The questions were emailed to the official website and were then selected due to the volume of messages. Stay tuned for the second part of the recorded interview, here at Fla Agency.
Danilo Santos Villa Flor, 16, Student, Alagoinhas (BA) – What was it like to conquer the world with Flamengo?
Nunes: I only achieved this goal after becoming Rio de Janeiro champion, Brazilian champion, Libertadores champion, and then world champion. It was the fulfillment of a dream, of my goals. The biggest goal, when you're a player, is to be a world champion. And being a world champion with Flamengo is a beautiful, wonderful thing, something every soccer player would like to have, to win. But this title is part of the soccer player, of those who work at the club, and of the Red-Black Nation. So, you are a champion too.
Fabio Rodrigues Thiago, 23 years old, Physical Education Teacher, Niterói/Rj - What goal did you score wearing a Flamengo shirt that you consider to be the most important and what did you feel after scoring?
Nunes: Fabio, the goals I scored that decided the championships for Clube de Regatas do Flamengo were all important, but I'm sure you'll agree that one of the most important goals was against Atlético-MG because that's where it all began. We were crowned Brazilian champions for the first time. I was also aware that I was winning the title for the first time, and when I saw the ball go in and find the net, I could only think of your joy, of all the red-and-blacks.
Francismar Calefi Mudesto, 29, student, Pará de Minas/MG. Nunes, do you think that '81 World Cup final against Liverpool was easier than you expected?
Nunes: Francismar, the decision against Liverpool made us very happy; we were world champions. It was a very important feeling, not only for us, but for the entire Red-Black Nation, to be crowned world champions. And it also showed the English that Flamengo is not to be trifled with. Flamengo deserves respect. And we made them respect us by putting them 3-0 up in the first half. Because when we were warming up, they started laughing at us. And he who laughs last, laughs best.
Raphael Barbosa Medeiros, 28, lawyer, Cuiabá/MT: Who was the best coach you ever managed?
Nunes: Hi Raphael. It's Nunes. I know Cuiabá. It's a wonderful city, I'm always there, and one of the greatest coaches I played for was Claudio Coutinho. For me, he was the best coach I ever had. He was part of our wonderful group. He prepared us to be world champions. And you're a world champion too because, after all, you're a Flamengo fan.
João Dias Aires de Carvalho, 38, Typist, Natal/RN: Good morning Nunes, if you were Flamengo's coach, what would the team lineup be for Saturday's game if Pet can't play?
Nunes: Andrade, as we all know, is a wonderful person. He's gaining experience as a coach. You only get experience by being active. He's worked with several coaches, as an assistant, and now Flamengo has done the right thing by appointing him as coach and providing him with the necessary working conditions. I'm not a coach. Nor do I want to be, thank God. I do want to be a strong man at Flamengo, acting as a football director, a football manager, or perhaps, in the future, as president of Flamengo. That's my goal. But I'll give you my opinion. At home, Flamengo has to play 4-4-2, sometimes 4-3-3. Always instilling personality in the players, always with the awareness that they're playing at Maracanã, and at Maracanã, Flamengo is in charge.
Osmar Tinelli, 27, shipping inspector, Itajaí/SC. What was the secret or motivation that led you to score so many decisive goals and why didn't you go to the [World Cup for] the Brazilian national team?
Nunes: Osmar, it's Nunes, nice to talk to you. Unfortunately, I didn't play in a World Cup for the Brazilian national team because God didn't want me to. I was called up to two World Cups, but unfortunately, I was cut due to injury. But I was a starter for the national team in '78 and '82. But I consider myself fortunate because I played in a World Cup for Flamengo. So, I've already achieved my dream. Just being a World Cup champion with Flamengo doesn't mean I need to be a champion with the Brazilian national team, because Flamengo is already a Brazilian team. And you have to be lucky at a time like this. My motivation has always come from within myself: being a great professional, having a good relationship with my teammates within the club, having a good relationship with the fans, and here at Gávea, which has always been my home, having a good relationship with the members, with the employees, and I always trained hard. And a center forward who lives for goals, he always has to be improving in training. So, I practiced shooting, heading, movement, avoiding being marked, always being well-positioned, and always believing the goalkeeper would release the ball into the box. A center forward's presence in the box is crucial. And you have to be in good physical shape. So, I was always well prepared physically and overcame all obstacles. And I also had a wonderful group that helped me a lot. And that was a complete team, in every sense you can imagine.
Leandro Lorençatto, 36 years old, business administrator, Guaraniaçu (PR) - With that 1980/81/82 team, would Flamengo be the Brazilian leader if they played today?
Nunes: Definitely! Quite a leader.
Serghim Cabral, 46, sales clerk, Muriaé (MG)): Nunes, a big hug. What does it take for Flamengo to become World Champion again?
Nunes: We lack... a good bench, right. That's how we did it. A good bench so that when a player can't play, we don't miss him like we did now... Pet [in the game against Grêmio Barueri]. We need to have a player who's up to the task because that also gives the player who comes off more responsibility, so he doesn't get careless, right. Of course, Pet didn't leave due to indiscipline or injury. He simply picked up his third card, right. I'm in favor of the club having a capable group, capable of performing when one player leaves, the other comes in and performs. That's how we've won the competitions we've competed in.
Stay tuned for the second part of the interview. Coming soon. Only here at Agência Fla.