PETALING JAYA: For S Siddharta, Brazilian soccer is his staple diet, so to speak. From the age of 10, the former sales manager has been a diehard Brazil fan, travelling to watch the World Cup finals on the last six occasions.
Known as Sid Brazil, the 61-year-old is now in Qatar to watch his team play and hopefully, as he says, see them lifting the FIFA World Cup trophy for a record sixth time.
His “obsession” with Brazilian football was sparked off when he saw Pele play in the 1960s and 70s.
“Brazilian football is like a religion to me and, to an extent, my 82-year-old mother, too. Both of us went on a pilgrimage to the Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh, India, in 2002 to shave our heads after Brazil hoisted the World Cup,” he told FMT before leaving for Doha after casting his vote in the Nov 19 general election.
Many Hindus undertake pilgrimages to the Tirupati temple to shave their heads after fulfilling a vow or as a thanksgiving after achieving what they had prayed for.
Siddharta’s obsession is so intense that part of the hall in his house is painted in the Brazilian colours of yellow, green and blue. He also has a large collection of the jerseys the team used at the World Cup tournaments
“I have a huge collection of Brazilian football memorabilia that includes magazines, video tapes, flags, key chains and caps.
“I also collect clocks, balls, watches, mugs, T-shirts, ballpens, scarves, footwear and towels linked to Brazilian football. I even have a replica of the World Cup,” he said.
Since Siddharta began going for the World Cup in South Korea and Japan in 2002, he has a group of Brazilian friends who also go to the tournaments without fail. His obsession has also led him to Brazil to meet up with his friends and watch league matches there.
He said his connection with these supporters is inexplicable as they, too, are taken back with his passion for Brazilian football. “It is just in my blood. I intend to be there in future tournaments as long as Brazil qualify. Only if they don’t will I stop going.”
To Siddharta, football is like an art, and Brazilians have mastered the art, dancing the samba while they play. Seeing them play makes him go into a “trance”, he confessed, taking him into another dimension. “I guess it’s difficult for people to understand my passion and love for Brazilian football and their national team.”
This passionate Brazil fan said his friends had arranged in the past for him to personally meet the country’s soccer greats Zico, Socrates, Ronaldinho and Ronaldo, which he described as memories of a lifetime.
“I cherish those moments as they were special. Most fans here can only dream of such meetings,” he said.
Siddharta said he remains at the World Cup tournaments until Brazil are eliminated. “Once they are out, I feel it is pointless, so I return home.”
Back home, he often organises gatherings for Malaysian fans of Brazil in Kuala Lumpur. And each time they win, he hosts a major event for them.
“If Brazil win again in Qatar, a big celebration awaits the fans in Kuala Lumpur. I am confident they will lift the trophy again,” he said.
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Brazilian football is like religion to Siddharta | Free Malaysia Today – Free Malaysia Today
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