England stars in Brazil outreach

RIO DE JANEIRO: England’s World Cup stars on Monday reached out to local people in Brazi l as they welcomed schoolchildren to a training session before visiting Rio’s biggest slum.

The contrast between their luxury hotel and poorer areas of their host city is stark, with the hotel overlooking the picturesque Sao Conrado beach but also Rocinha, Rio’s biggest favela.

England, who arrived Sunday, were keen to engage with local residents and welcomed more than 100 children, young people and local residents to their training base in the eastern Urca district.

Children from sports charity project Bola Pra Frente renewed a previous acquaintance with England manager Roy Hodgson, whom they had met last year before a friendly against Brazil at the Maracana.

The Football Association is helping to finance the construction of a new community and training centre in the city.

Also present were the winners of the girls title at the Street Child World Cup held in Rio earlier this year.

“Having last year witnessed fi rst-hand the incredible impact sport, and in particular football, has on the lives of so many people in Rio’s local communities, we were delighted to be able to welcome so many children and inspiring individuals to our training session today,” Hodgson said.

“Throughout our stay in Brazil we will look to engage with the communities we visit and develop a deeper understanding of this wonderful country,” said Hodgson, adding he hoped England’s stars could inspire the children.

In Rocinha, the players saw for themselves the wide gul f between the haves and have-nots in Rio, a city where ostentatious wealth is fl aunted in well-heeled districts just a stone’s throw from impoverished, crime-ridden slums.

Arsenal midf ielder Jack Wi lshere said the visit to Rocinha’s sports complex, a haven for youngsters with its family clinic as well as sports tuition for a range of sports from football to boxing and judo, was an eye- opener.

“The visit to the Rocinha Sports Complex provided an incredible insight into the unique and powerful role sport plays in this country.” — AFP