Vasco Defender Léo Thanks Club for Historic Response: “Without Her, I Wouldn’t Be Here”

Defender Léo thanks Vasco for the Historic Response: “Without her, I wouldn’t be here”

Introduced to Vasco in January 2023, Léo was only able to visit the São Januário Experience Space – where the club keeps items such as trophies, shirts and other historical records – months later. It was Walmer Peres, Vasco’s historian, who showed the letter from José Augusto Prestes, president of the club in 1924, to Léo.

Vasco celebrates 100 years of the Historical Response, a milestone against discrimination in football

– I read the entire letter and came back to three words that were written there: worthy, fought, victories. Brother, did you realize that, without Vasco’s Historical Response, Pelé might not exist? Or Leônidas, Garrincha, Romário, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, wow… The list of black people from humble origins who made us what we are is endless – he told “The Players Tribune”, adding:

– Then, when I realized that I, Léo, wouldn’t exist either, or would only exist under the conditions that people have imposed on us for 500 years, damn!, it was a light. I felt such a powerful identification with Vasco that I held myself back from crying over that treasure right there in front of me. I felt my life was intertwined with Vasco’s story, as if they were one. I felt respected.

1 of 2 Léo scores for Vasco against Madureira — Photo: Leandro Amorim/Vasco da Gama Léo scores for Vasco against Madureira — Photo: Leandro Amorim/Vasco da Gama

Raised in São João de Meriti, in Baixada Fluminense, Léo also cited the pain of an episode of racism suffered in Santos’ youth categories, when he was prevented from entering a shopping mall by the establishment’s security guard. The Historical Response and the Black Shirts were examples of Léo when talking about resistance.

– Today I speak for myself, for my parents, for my brothers, for the Black Shirts, for the Historical Response. And there is no desire on my part to be better because of my skin, even though black people contribute so much to making the world more beautiful. Nelson Mandela, Michael Jordan, Lebron, Kobe, Jesse Owens, Hamilton, Muhammad Ali, Serena, Daiane dos Santos, Tais Araújo, Camila Pitanga… If you let me, I’ll stay here until the end of the year citing black people who have done and are doing extraordinary things. I feel tremendous pride in my color. But that doesn’t mean I want to be better than someone. I want to be the same, understand? It took me a while to understand all of this. And the way things happened, despite being painful, was important for me to stay on my feet – he added.

2 of 2 Léo kneels and thanks the heavens for Vasco’s stay — Photo: André Durão Léo kneels and thanks the heavens for Vasco’s stay — Photo: André Durão

– It seemed that, just like 100 years ago, everything was conspiring against our team. And we endured it. It lasted because it is Vasco, because one took care of the other, because this is the home of resistance, the altar of the Historical Response that no other club has to be proud of. Here are “Black Shirts that I keep in my memory. Glory, struggles, victories: this is my story.” Our story – he concluded.

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2024-04-07 15:10:42
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