Ronaldinho’s 60 long days
ASUNCION. — Ronaldinho admitted it has been “60 long days” as he remains on house arrest ahead of his trial.
The Brazilian football star spent 32 days behind bars after he was arrested for allegedly trying to enter Paraguay with a fake passport.
Ronaldinho is now staying at the four-star Hotel Palmaroga in the Paraguayan capital Asuncion.
During an interview with Mundo Deportivo, the 40-yearold lifted the lid on his life while under house arrest.
He said: “Here at the Palmaroga Hotel we have excellent treatment.
“We have everything well ordered, we are very calm and they do anything to pass time in the most pleasant way possible. “It has been sixty long days. “People in their homes must imagine what it must be like not being to do what you are used to.
“I think that is something will remain forever to all us after living this complicated experience.”
During his stint in jail,
Ronaldinho lost a doubles game of footvolley to a convicted murder and a robber.
He scored five goals and made six assists after being convinced to play in the prison futsal tournament.
And the 2002 World Cup winner admitted he can still have a kick about while on house arrest in Paraguay.
Ronaldinho said: “We do sports and academy almost every day.
“We have a gym where we can work and a room that has been adapted for us.”
The hotel that the 40-year-old is staying in is owned by the Barcelona group — and he remains very grateful to his former club.
He said: “Definitely Barcelona and I are united forever. It will always be my second city.
“It is the most incredible club and the fans live deep in my heart.”
When asked what he would say to everyone who has been watching over him, Ronaldinho said: “I thank you with all of my heart.” — The Sun. other words, have dominated the sports and celebrity culture that then was taking full bloom, all on his own.”
Ali won the heavyweight world title when he stopped Sonny Liston in 1964. But he had to relinquish it after refusing to be drafted into the US military forces. He was in boxing exile from April 1967 until October 26, 1970 when he stopped Jerry Quarry in the third round.
Frazier won the WBA title when he beat Jimmy Ellis, who had been installed as champion after winning a series of fights to find a successor to Ali.
Frazier and Ali clashed in March 1971 in what was called “The Fight of the Century”. Frazier won on a unanimous decision but lost to Foreman on January 22, 1971.
Ali regained the title on October 30, 1974 when he knocked out Foreman in the eighth round of the “Rumble in the Jungle” in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo).
The fight took place in Africa after President Joseph Mobutu Sese Seko, who had come into power in 1965, had put up US$9.6 million from the national coffers. The tournament was promoter Don King’s first big promotion.
Ali defended his crown three times before meeting Frazier for the third time. They fought in the “Thrilla in Manila” on October 1, 1975 after Ali had beaten Frazier in a bout for the North American Boxing Federation title in January 1974 when neither held a world title.— AFP.