São Paulo – Tunisia had a cheering crowd at the Soccer Museum, in Pacaembu stadium, in São Paulo, on Saturday (23) morning. Forty teenagers under the care of Lar Sírio Pró-Infância were invited by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce to watch the match between Tunisia and Belgium in the museum’s large screen and have breakfast. Despite the 5 to 2 score in favor of the Europeans, the teenagers said they enjoyed the experience, cheering with each Tunisian goal and until the end.
Giovanna Clemente Ferreira, 13 years old, has been going to Lar Sírio for two years now. Vinicius Kenji Ferreira, 14 years old, has been under the care of the organization for 6 years; both said their favorite classes are cuisine and percussion. “We already learned how to cook Arab recipes, it’s very cool,” said Giovanna. Both had already visited the Soccer Museum before and were glad to come this time.
Lar Sírio is a non-profit civil society organization that began to operate as a shelter 95 years ago. Currently, they take care of children and teenagers in a vulnerable situation, from daycare to 21 years old, and offer extra-curricular activities, such as dance, music, cuisine, arts and sports classes.
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“This type of action, combining sports and the Arab culture, is very important. This opportunity that the Arab Chamber offered to us was really great,” said William Adib Dib Jr., president of Lar Sírio and legal director of the Arab Chamber. The Arab Chamber’s president, Rubens Hannun, added that the integration that sports bring is very important, brings people closer to the cultures and, in this case, of the Arab culture. After the end of the game, the teenagers took a tour of the Soccer Museum.
In addition to the Lar Sírio children, three Tunisians came to the Soccer Museum to watch the game. Slim Fsili has been living in Brazil for over 11 years and said that it was always a dream of his to live in the country. In Tunisia, he used to work in the tourism and olfactory marketing sectors and, here, he opened a travel agency specialized in his home country and in the African continent, the Gold Experiences.
Meanwhile, Mustpha and Hana Zitouni, father and daughter from Tunisia, arrive here only five months ago and don’t speak Portuguese yet. With the help of Egyptian Ramy Mustafa, Arab Relations executive of the Arab Chamber, ANBA was able to talk with the family.
Mustpha is 64 years old and his 26-year-old daughter came to Brazil with her four kids, of six, three, one year and three months old. She’s married with a Syrian that lives in Saudi Arabia and that is waiting for his visa to come to São Paulo to meet his family. “Life in Tunisia is rough and here the system works better, we have been enjoying the country, especially the freedom and equality,” said Mustpha. The family said they lived for 22 years in Saudi Arabia before coming to Brazil.
After telling his history, ANBA asked him about the game. Mustpha smiled and said he was happy that Tunisia competed in the World Cup and that, despite the defeat, the team played well, that Belgium was the better team.
Tunisia’s national soccer team played against Belgium in the second round of the group stage of the 2018 Russia FIFA World Cup. The team played well, but in the end lost, 5 to 2. Dylan Bronn and Wahbi Khazri scored Tunisia’s goals. The Arab country from North Africa is in last place in Group G, but still has a chance to advance to the round 16. In the third round of the group stage, they face Panama, on Thursday (28), at 3 pm.
Translated by Sérgio Kakitani
