Every Brazilian LOVES soccer!

At a very early age every Brazilian has to make a huge decision that is supposed to last for the rest of their lives: to choose the soccer team that he or she will support forever.

And when I say forever, it really means following that team for better or worse until the end of one´s life. In my family is not different. I was born into a Figueirense family.

On this island you can either be Figueirense or Avai, and whichever you choose you have to hate each other on the field. Figueira and Avai´s rivalry has been going on for over a century. And believe me, it is the healthiest rivalry that I´ve heard of.

Well, but lets leave Figueira and Avai aside because that´s not the case for this evening. Last Saturday, my father took us to a Figueira game against Juventus, from Jaragua do Sul, a city north of Florianopolis.

Most of us (my dad, Mike, Ana, Vitor and I) have been to a stadium to watch soccer games many times before. Actually, my dad does not miss a Figueira game on the island.

But for Rodrigo (my nephew who was visiting from Blumenau), Marcia and Carol (both from Floripa), it was the first time ever that they went to a live game.
Check out their enthusiasm...

It doesn´t matter how small or how weak the competitor is... it is nerve racking right at the beggining!

There is an old Brazilian saying: "Soccer is a box of surprises," meaning anything can happen!

Going to a soccer game is much nicer now than when I was a kid. Back then the stadium was a place for "machos" and definately not a "family activity."

But now parents and grandparents are very comfortable to bring their kids to experience this amazing and loud event.

These ladies sitting in front of us even created their own Figueira support team - just for women- whose uniform is pink.

Today soccer brings all ages and people together to the stands in Brazil!

The fun part is to "push" the team! It works!

A very common scene in stadiums: the little radio glued to the ear, playing the local radio station´s announcer narrating every move of the game.

Normally the person who brings the little radio shares information with people around him, since there are no replays when soccer is watched live!

If Figueira wins today, it will be the leader of the State´s championship for now.

The kids follow it with lots of attention.

Finally the most anticipated moment: the gooooooaaaaaaallllllllllllllll!!!!!

Figueirense 1 x 0 Juventus

And again...

Figueirense 2 x 0 Juventus

By this point, the supporters are going crazy!!!

And before the first half ends, another goooooaaaaaalllllll!!!!!!!!!!!!

Figueirense 3 x 0 Juventus

More celebration!

It is the second half and the kids have another reason to jump up and down and yell:

Goooooaaaaalllllllllll!!!!!!!!

Figueirense 4 x 0 Juventus

This is Wilson, our goalkeeper.

He is the hero of the evening because Figueira gets a shutout and just before the game was over he makes us jump with excitement one more time.

Wilson scored the last goal and the kids had one of the best evenings of their lives!

End of the game:

Figueirense 5 x 0 Juventus

The fantastic result calls for a celebration.

Doto Ney (my dad) is so happy to see such an spectacle that he is buying "churrasquinho de gato" (shish kekab) for everyone!!!!

Figueeeeeeiiiiiiraaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!

We all got home very tired and fell asleep right away.

Figueira has a long way to go to become the State champion again.

Marcia and Carol (remember they´ve never been to a stadiun before this) can´t wait to see Figueira´s next match!