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 In a remote corner of the Brazilian Northeast, 51,000 people are not only going to cheer for Brazil in the World Cup in Germany, but they are also going to cheer for Tunisia. Believe it. They are the inhabitants of the city of Zé Doca, in the interior of the northeastern Brazilian state of Maranhão, 350 km away from state capital São Luís.
It was there that Francileudo dos Santos Silva, better known as "Santos", the greatest star of the Tunisian national team, was born. At the age of 27, and at his first World Cup, the football player from northeastern Brazil, who plays for Toulouse, in France, is not only the idol of the Tunisian team, he is also one of the idols of young dreamers of Zé Doca. "This place is full of future Francileudos, the problem is that they are all from such poor families that they can hardly even try to go and try out their luck in state capital São Luís," lamented the president of the City Council, João Andreza Filho. Francileudo himself was one of these boys. The third of seven sons of Rosimar dos Santos Silva, the boy was the only one in the family who managed to make his dream into a profession. "The others played football, but just for fun," stated Rosimar, aged 53, formerly a farmer. Still young, at the age of 17, he went to play for team Sampaio Corrêa, from the city of São Luís. From there he went straight to Belgium, where he played for Standard Liége. But it was in Tunisia that Francileudo could show all his football, especially when he scored 32 goals in two seasons for team Étoile du Sahel. After that, he returned to playing for a French team before becoming a Toulouse player. In 2003, he naturalized himself Tunisian and in 2004 he was already on the country's national team. Francileudo's mother did not really understand what the change meant. "I found it strange. But then he came here and explained it all to the family. He said that he is greatly loved there and has the support of all. And what is best for our son is also best for us," stated Rosimar. Living outside Brazil for ten years, the player comes to visit his relatives once or twice a year. Rosimar has not yet managed to travel to France as when she could go, it was very cold there and she couldn't pluck up the courage. But she hopes to go in the near future. The woman proudly says that she is now supported by her seven sons, mainly, of course, by the football player. Zé Doca The small Zé Doca is run by the second youngest mayoress of Brazil. Natália Mendonça is just 22 years old. In the City Council there are ten aldermen. The city lives mainly off family farming, mainly flour and rice. In Francileudo's city, his supporters have been following the Tunisian games since the World Cup qualifying period. The problem, according to the president of the City Council, João Andreza, is that there are many people who do not have satellite dishes. Apart from that, some open channels cannot be tuned in the city. However, the City Hall and the owners of bars that have satellite dishes will do all they can for the inhabitants of the city to be able to watch the first Brazilian World Cup game on Tuesday, 13, and the first Tunisian game, on Wednesday, 14. The greatest star from the city has even been honored by his countrymen. According to Andreza, green and yellow shirts with Francileudo's face on them are being sold throughout the city. This is a way of honoring the Brazilian team and the player who is an idol in the city. Rosimar's dream was that her son play for Brazil, of course. "But it is no longer possible, is it? He is not even Brazilian anymore," says the mother of the Tunisian team's striker, in a humorous tone. Tunisia is in Group H of the World Cup. The country's first game is against Saudi Arabia, on June 14, at 1 pm, Brazilian time. On the 19th, at 4 pm, the team will play against Spain. Apart from Francileudo, another four Brazilian players are going to play the world cup for other countries, having changed their nationalities. Anba - www.anba.com.br
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