You got clearance clarence

IAIN PEARCE watches on as Clarence Seedorf adapts to life in Brazil

WHEN Clarence Seedorf made his unexpected move from AC Milan to Brazil last summer eyebrows were raised, in surprise in Europe, in excitement in South America. However, with his Botafogo team being crowned winners in the first stage of the Rio State Championships, the Dutchman’s decision-making away from the pitch looks to have been every bit as accurate as on it.

Based in the state of Espirito Santo, which borders Rio de Janeiro state’s north-eastern corner, the unofficial uniform for local men, most of whom are coffee farmers, is knock-down football shirts and, ordinarily, they are Flamengo ones. But red and black hoops were gradually replaced by white and black trims of Botafogo and Vasco de Gama in anticipation of the Guanabara Trophy final.

At 36, Seedorf’s contract is said to be the most lucrative ever signed by a foreigner in Brazil, and at the end of his first six months the jury remained out as to the success of his arrival. Fogão finished the Brazilian Championship in seventh position, outside of the qualification spots for the Copa Libertadores.

Knee-jerk winter media reports suggested that the four-time Champions League winner was unhappy in Brazil, with even a shock return to Milan rumoured. Seedorf, for his part, refuted the speculation and this year he has started to silence even the fiercest of doubters.

Put simply, you can now see that Seedorf is a fit for Brazil. His wife Luviana is from the country, he speaks fluent Portuguese (the man must have a Babel fish, he’s never lived in England yet his English put Alan Shearer’s to shame on the pundit sofa) and a hat-trick against Macaé in his first start of the new year showed clearly that he still wants to be around.

And there’s no doubting the opinion of the Botafogo supporters. In the home end at the club’s Engenhão stadium only Garrincha’s image can rival that of their current hero – company even a player as decorated as Clarance Seedorf must feel honoured to keep.

Brazilians are notoriously flexible with their time keeping and kick-offs tend to take place around five or ten minutes later than billed. My town’s public square had plenty of empty chairs facing the big screen as the big match eventually got underway.

Perhaps only the hardcore fans can actually make it out for a first half, but having been five min- utes late for the semi final with Flamengo the previous weekend – I had been waiting for some Brazilian friends – I missed the opening goal of Botafogo’s 2-0 victory and I wasn’t going to make the same mistake again for the final.

Oswaldo de Oliveira, Fogão’s coach, commented before the game that he believed Seedorf to be still adapting to the Brazilian game and improving with each appearance. The first period was largely lifeless, but as the second half wore on all manner of things were finally starting to look up. Botafogo were well on top, Seedorf was becoming ever more influential and even the once-empty chairs in my square were now filled.

However, with 10 minutes to go the game was still without goals. Thankfully that was soon to change and there was no doubting that Botafogo’s talisman would play a part in it. His days as a boxto-box midfielder are in the past, but what impresses is that his shortfall in pace is made up for in nous and guile. Receiving the ball wide left, a step over and cut inside moves the defenders out of position. His backheel back down the wing he has recently vacated allows for a cross to be swung in that is eventually swept in by Lucas, making a Cafuesque charge into the box to join the attack.

Now in front, Fogão have their goalkeeper Jefferson and a Vasco goal generously disallowed for offside to thank for maintaining their lead to the end, but their triumph, though slender, is fully deserved. Botafogo will now play the winners of the Rio Trophy to determine this year’s Rio State Champion.

Within moments of the final whistle the town square is buzzing, vibrating to the sound of bootopened cars circling and pumping out their Botafogo anthems, still to be heard hours later despite an evening thunderstorm. Flags flap from car windows and larger ones are draped from surrounding balconies. The town has succumbed to a wave of black and white stripes, the Vasco white sashes having faded back indoors as quickly as the stripes emerged.

The year has started well, but time will ultimately be the judge of how successful Clarence Seedorf’s time in Brazil was. However, regardless of what comes to pass it’s easy to see why he made the decision to come here, and how fortunate Brazil has been that he made it. iainandtheear.wordpress.com