São Paulo – Saudi Arabia may not have the same tradition in football as Brazil, but it does have the passion for the sport. During a visit to Museu do Futebol (Museum of Football), at the Pacaembu stadium, in São Paulo, the youths attending the Saudi-Brazilian Youth Forum, which kicked last Monday (27th) and will continue until the 5th of July, were enchanted with the history of the sport in the country.
“The museum shows the entire process of how football evolved in Brazil,“ says Yousuf Albassan, a 21-year old Marketing student. “Football is a challenging game that boosts your self-esteem and builds group spirit,” claims the young man. “In Brazil, the spirit of football is everywhere you look,” he finishes off.
The Saudi youths explain that as in Brazil, there are those who like to play and others who would rather just root for their teams. Badr Abdulghani, a Geometry student aged 22, says that he plays football in Saudi Arabia. “I play for fun with my friends and I think Brazilian football is amazing,” he says. “It is incredible that they have created a museum solely for football. It is very interesting for the children and also for the foreigners,” he claims.
The attractions that caught the youths’ attention the most include the films that tell the story of the World Cups and the 3D photographs of Brazilian football stars such as Pelé and others who made the country a household name in the sport.
Even in Saudi Arabia, football is not a sport that appeals only to men. Waad Aldossary, a 17-year old secondary school student and the youngest in the group, is a fan of Al Hilal, one of the country’s most popular teams. “It is great to learn the stories of famous players such as Ronaldo,” she says. “The museum also mixes the stories of older and younger players, which is great,” she asserts.
“It is impressive to witness how the museum preserves football culture,” says International Relations student Arwa Almunajjed, aged 23. “In Saudi Arabia, women enjoy not only football, they love sports in general,” she reveals. On Wednesday (29th), the forum’s schedule will continue in Manaus, in the state of Amazonas.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
