April 2013. A ball is bouncing lost Paradise Beach in Vilanculos. Mozambique. A group of children and not so children playing a football game in the hours of low tide. The unemployment and swatted, much, too, almost to the beginning of the water. All the guys look at me carefully, in silence. “Epa, I'm Spanish, World Champion ", I answer you jokingly. They, With the shyness of the Mozambiqueños, callan. All but one who approaches and tells me: "I like messi". "That is not Spanish", the context. “Ah, I thought it was ", He tells me little as he leaves running to continue the game. A normal confusion of the new times and fashions of our football in this continent.
"I like messi". "That is not Spanish", the context
Almost three and a half years have passed since the 12 July 2010, At seven in the morning, in which a hostess aroused me with haste at Johannesburg airport. “Is Mr. Brandoli? We are calling you for megafonía ". “Sí, yes, forgive, I fell asleep", the challenged. I got up with a Spanish flag hanging on the back, A tracksuit jacket with the colors of Spain, a scarf with the colors of Spain and underneath, The Spanish National Team T -shirt. I got up almost inertia, After a long night of celebrations, with the most haughty gesture than the feet for belonging to the chosen: It was from the tribe of the world champions. Already, finally, It was from a recognizable group in the Africa that lived.
Those were months of euphoria, BARE BARDA just carry the red. I remember that in Ludeitz, Namibia, They put the then eternal Waka Waka in a disco to know that there was "World Champions", That is how they introduced us to the Spanish group. The track was filled with strangers with which to share glasses and hugs. En Lusaka, Zambia, I managed to accelerate a visa for Tanzania between dozens of jokes and admirations about the Tqui taca until everything goes to the gate when I clarify with enthusiasm that "I am a follower of Real Madrid". “Ohhhh, Real Madrid ... nooo must leave, They have stolen my favorite player, In Xabi. I am from Liverpool ". "Better to be silent", thought. In Zanzibar, A masai arrived at the tourist island to sell souvenirs I was beating every morning reminding me how good busquets were, Casillas, Villa and his bracelets, necklaces, corals…
En Lusaka, Zambia, I managed to accelerate a visa for Tanzania between dozens of jokes and admiration on the taca taca
Nothing remained of those times before the World Cup in which he made reports for this newspaper about our selection and only told me about Cesc and Torres. Behind them, English Premier League Star Players, There was nothing or almost nothing. "Don't Cesc or Torrres play?”, I was surprised by the White South African who sat next to me in Spain-Portugal of the Eighth Final in Cape Cabo. “No”, the context. “Are they injured?”. “No”, I answer again. "So? I don't understand", I was right just to replicate a man who supported Spain because he was a fan of Arsenal. Of the rest did not know anyone. He got very bored.
But, The “La Roja” brand moved shortly after a much more powerful, "The League", which was created by cable television offered by football throughout Africa and this, turn, moved by another who is able to paralyze everything: "The Derby." And it is that in this time of African life, Now I live in Mozambique, Spanish football has become a fashion that razes especially on two recognizable and irreconcilable fronts: Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Muchinho and his dialectical effusivity given by all African media had to see much
Everyone in this continent, I think this is almost universal, is merengue or culé. As something of yours, As something of your own. Muchinho and his dialectical effusivity given by all African media had to see much (The score of times Mourinho left in a newspaper regarding for example, Zapatero or Rajoy, Basketball marker digits with a box, yes, blank). And Barcelona and his dream game had to do, and Messi worshiped by all and Ronaldo to whom the others adore. And everything becomes a totum revolution without clear nationalities.
"You can put the Reall Madrid game", I ask last year to a guy in Cape Mc Clear, In Lake Malaui. “The Spaniards are very strong in football. I especially like Ronaldo and Mourinho ", says. It turns out that she was traveling with a Portuguese couple and she hastened to clarify: "Those are Portuguese". "Oh really? I think not, that are Spanish ", replica again. “No, in. The Spaniards already stayed with the Canary Islands, But Ronaldo and Mourinho are ours ". He is doubting and during the whole night he appeared there and asked "for the Spanish Cristiano Ronaldo". A common confusion between those who are not so fanatical of the ball and that they put in the sack of the famous league to everything that comes out in the silly box under its brand and with it, in the end, To Spain and its football.
Not, in. The Spaniards already stayed with the Canary Islands, But Ronaldo and Mourinho are ours
Last 25 October took a taxi that took me to Nairobi airport after a trip through Kenya. Of course, at once, The universal soccer issue came out if you say you are Spanish. "You are very good. I am a big fan of the forest ", The type of bocajarro tells me demonstrating detailed knowledge. “The bad is how they will supply Puyol, He was key in the midst of defense. There is no substitute. In addition Xavi is already less fresh, Although they are iniesta and bouquets, They are very good. I hope Villa also recovers and is again the one before ", It releases me almost speton. Who will win the World Cup?, He asked him. "Man, Spain wins everything, But Brazil is very strong and plays at home. Both will play the final ".
Then, After a silence the taxi driver tells me: "Tomorrow Real Madrid-Barcelona". Where will you see it?, asked. "Here we all meet in a bar to see it. People go crazy. There are more Barça followers (Something common in all countries), But there are more and more like me who like Real Madrid. What happens is that since Mourinho has left, "El Derby" is more boring. Before there were even fights, Although you already know that everything ends here well, Akuna Matata ". Is Spanish football here or only English? "Spanish looks a lot, The League is famous ", The nice driver concludes.
The next day I sat on the terrace of a famous downtown Maputo cafeteria that has a large screen that gives to the avenue 24 July. The whole sidewalk was full of people, There was no one out. Prake, street vendors, Walkers or people who live in the street. Some cannot sit and pay a simple beer. They spend two hours standing in front of that screen. There were some Real Madrid shirts, Barcelona, Even some from Spain. They shouted, They jumped, celebrated and desperate. It didn't matter if I was sitting and I could pay me that beer, They were me at times, From my recognizable tribe capable of losing two hours seeing Spanish football. The 19 November, today, Spain returns to the temple that baptized us all.
*A somewhat shorter version of this post was published last Saturday in the paper edition of the newspaper El Mundo.
