Maracanã is a well-known football ground in Bissau which serves the communities of Luanda, Mpantcha, Lala Quema, Rossio and Djogoró in Africa. Coach Edmilson Alves Pereira, known as Mister Naná, believes that “children from all neighborhoods” try their luck there.
A mural, which serves as a rest area for young players in training, features the faces of Senegalese football “star” Sadio Mané and “King” Pelé, but the images of Ronaldo are a source of inspiration for children.
Coach Naná, who coordinates the Play4Change (player for change) academy, explains that from Monday to Friday he gives “enthusiastic” advice, in the morning and afternoon, to children of both sexes aged 7 at 19 years old.
The fresco bears in large letters a “thank you very much cristiano ronaldo“, phrase that Mr. Naná uses every time he gives a talk to the children of the Maracanã camp to explain to them the importance of concentration and dedication to football.
In pictures, Ronaldo’s career, from Clube de Futebol Andorinhas, in Madeira, via Sporting, Manchester United, Juventus and Al Nassr, in Saudi Arabia, is told.
“This drawing of Cristiano Ronaldo here is to encourage children, because Ronaldo is an inspiring player“, he said, pointing out that the Portuguese is an example for the work he has done to achieve his goals.
The children who try their luck to become footballers from the Maracana pitch are poor like Ronaldo when he was a child, says the coach, who uses this example to remind that with “a lot of work and concentration, it is possible to change” this reality.
“Ronaldo is a player who was born poor, like most of the children we have here, and we try to ensure that they take inspiration from Ronaldo’s image to achieve a better future.“, emphasizes coach Naná.
Another example the coach tries to pass on to the kids is that Ronaldo, “even if he is rich and at his age“, remains focused on football.
“Ronaldo respects his job“, says the coach of the children of Maracanã de Djogoró, in the suburbs of Bissau.
