Carlos Alberto Parreira is a living, breathing monument to football whose
long, distinguished career is inextricably linked to the Fifa World Cup.
His is a lifetime of cherished football memories, but the 64-year-old
Brazilian is still looking to add a few more as he settles into his new
challenge of leading 2010 Fifa World Cup hosts South Africa in the tournament
on home soil.
Parreira's eyes drift off and his mind wanders to what seems miles away
when he is asked about the magical qualities of the Fifa World Cup.
"The Fifa World Cup nowadays is the biggest show and event in the
world. Nothing compares to it, not even the Olympic Games. The World Cup
deals with emotions, where you will see people laughing, crying, young
and old. It's an opportunity for countries to get together as a nation
and a chance to see the passion and love for football they have.
"It's a tournament with Davids and Goliaths, where sometimes the
little guys can beat the big ones. And the marvels of the big world of
television brings every moment to your home 24 hours a day," Parreira
says of football's holy grail.
Parreira's World Cup experience began in Mexico in 1970 when, at 26, he
was the fitness trainer of the legendary, victorious Brazil team featuring
the likes of Pele, Jairzinho, Tostao, Rivelino and Carlos Alberto - men
whose names are in the pantheon of the game's greats.
He coached the Selecao to their first World Cup trophy in 24 years at
USA 1994 and was also in charge when Brazil were knocked out in the quarterfinals
of Germany 2006.
In addition, he's taken Kuwait to their first World Cup in 1982, the United
Arab Emirates to the tournament in 1990, as well as Saudi Arabia in 1998.
Parreira's officially been in charge of Bafana Bafana for just four months
now, but he's already been bowled over by his adopted country's many charms.
"South Africa's a paradise. It's a wonderful place with facilities
which could compare to any in Europe. South Africans are very similar
to Brazilians in their behaviour, happiness and enjoyment of life. We
have the same climate and the same taste for dancing. I feel very comfortable
here, most at home. It's an amazing country. People don't realise how
beautiful it is.
"You have the bush, the mountain, the greenery, the sea and the wild
animals. Tourists will love it, there's lots to see and do," says
Parreira gushingly of his new home.
So, with the added lure of the World Cup being held in South Africa in
three years' time, it wasn't a difficult decision for Parreira to accept
the Bafana job.
"The key point was that it's the country that's going to promote
the World Cup who wanted a Brazilian coach. Any coach in the world would
be honoured to get this invitation," says Parreira, who, in his time
in South Africa has already visited a Zulu village, been to the famous
Soweto, had an audience with the iconic Nelson Mandela and collected many
of his beloved African arts and crafts.
Many sceptics have with little justification questioned South Africa's
abilities as 2010 hosts, but based in the country on a daily basis, Parreira
has a good vantage point from which to make an informed judgment.
"I will use the words of Danny Jordaan and say 'make no mistake,
the World Cup will be a success'. I'm living here and I know South Africa's
going to deliver. The country's doing well in the sense of infrastructure,
roads and building work. The World Cup has become so well organised and
administered by Fifa, which is doing wonderful work.
"For the World Cup you have perfect stadiums, facilities, transportation
and ticketing and in South Africa it will be an African World Cup, but
a good one. When I see the construction, the stadiums they are rebuilding
and the good ones that are already in place, I have no doubts," says
Parreira.
As for the young Bafana team he's been rebuilding after some lean years,
he's begun identifying young talent and moulding them with some of the
side's veterans like Blackburn Rovers' Aaron Mokoena, Arminia Bielefeld's
Sibusiso Zuma and Panathinaikos' Nasief Morris.
Games against world champions Italy, Scotland and the United States have
already been confirmed for this year and more top quality teams are being
targeted to give his team more experience.
While he's not willing to venture too much on his goals for the hosts
on the pitch during the 2010 Fifa World Cup, one thing he wants from his
players is "attitude".
"I'm looking for a team who will trust in their potential and who
will have a winning spirit. Playing in the World Cup at home, that winning
spirit will be so important," says Parreira.
