October 11, 2003

Thai Football Gets a Touch of the Brazilian Samba Beat

After a 14-year absence from Thailand, Brazilian Carlos Roberto Cavalho is back with a mission - to lead the country to its first World Cup final in 2006.

Dubbed "the beautiful moustache" by the local media, the Brazilian firmly believes this football-crazed nation has what it takes to become a major player in the international arena.

"With support from all parties, including players, fans and the Football Association Thailand (FAT), we can become a competitive team within six months," he said.

"Today the standard of football is the same throughout the world," added Thailand's head coach. "It's all about paying attention to the vital details that can determine the outcome of a game."

With 40 years of football experience - 19 years as a player and 21 years as a coach - the Brazilian lives each and every minute of his life studying details of the sport.

His passion for football borders on the fanatical. His library includes books and coaching videos about football from all over the world.

As a Brazilian, football is second nature to him.

Born of Portuguese and Italian parents, Carlos, like every other Brazilian, dreamed of wearing the yellow shirt of the Brazilian national team.

He started playing football competitively at the age of 15 and two years later was hand-picked by Mario Zagallo to play in the professional team for the Botafogo Football Club. Soon after he joined the Brazil national team and played alongside his childhood idol Pele. Unfortunately, he suffered a knee injury and had to be dropped from the World Cup team that was going to Mexico in 1970.

To become a footballer requires much dedication and sacrifice.

"I was born in a country where football is religion," said Carlos. "People there live, eat, sleep and dream football."

So much so that his critics fear the players would not be able to adapt to the sudden shift to the Brazilian style of play. "Not Brazilian, not British," declares the head coach. "But I will introduce a Thai style of play that will be a combination of short passes and long balls.

"Thai players are more technically skilled and have no disadvantage over players from other countries."

Carlos believes Thais and Brazilians have many similarities in terms of physical stature as well culture and lifestyle, and that is why he has no problem adjusting to life in Thailand. The only difference, he says, is the language. However, that does not seem to be a barrier for this 55-year-old. He loves Thai food and can order his favourite dishes like "khao pad poo" in fluent Thai and is a huge fan of Thai music, his favourite singers being Bird and Jintara.

A devout Christian, Carlos also has an affinity for animals and has 10 cats and one dog in his house in Rio. His wife describes him as kind hearted, strong willed and dedicated.

Krisda Sachdev

THE NATION