Our Temple is Back

Our greatest stadium has reopened! Maracanã has been under reform and now it is again the main stage for our state championship. It will be the stage for the national championship as well when the time comes. You can smell history within its walls.

Once considered as “the biggest stadium on earth” Maracanã still have the charm of the old school football. The first leg of our state championship was decided yesterday between two very traditional teams. Botafogo is one of the four “big teams” of Rio de Janeiro. Legendary Garrincha played there. The other finalist was América, a small team with great tradition. Romario’s father is a notorious supporter of the team. Botafogo won yesterday, but the real celebration goes to our football temple Maracanã, stage of many beautiful stories and dreadful moments.

In 1950 we were the hosts of the World Cup. We could tie at the final with Uruguay and still be champions (old rules, thank God) but the players thought that it would be a natural consequence of their existence to win that game… silently Brazilians watched Uruguay win the game. Imagine what a blow to Brazilians it was to lose a World Cup in their greatest stadium in front of 170 thousand people. That loss was very important to us, to keep us humble. Glory is the result of real hard work and nobody is worthy unless it is conquered on the green field, in spite of what some people may think.

The Maracanã stadium is functional again, but I really believe it could be a lot nicer for the fans. People are too far away from the field! Some people say that it should be destroyed and rebuilt but that would kill its “mojo”. Wembley stadium is a good example of what I’m saying.

About Maracanã? The field is greener than ever and the rain is not a problem anymore. Here in Rio we have a nickname for the stadium too: Maraca. Long live the Maraca!