Vinicius Jr, Neymar, Endrick: Brazilian soccer stars mobilized to help the victims of the serious floods in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, whose big teams, Gremio and Internacional, were affected with their flooded facilities.
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) created a platform to make donations to the affected people, a campaign in which, in addition to the aforementioned players, Danilo and the coach, Dorival Junior, participate, encouraging the population to collaborate on their social networks.
Stars born in Rio Grande dos Sul or who made history in Brazilian football, such as Ronaldinho Gaúcho, Dunga, Paulo Roberto Falcao and Tinga also participated in the calls.
The historic rise of the Guaíba River, in Porto Alegre, the regional capital, united for a moment the players of the two largest teams in the state, whose rivalry is considered the greatest in Brazil.
The Gremio and Inter stadiums, as well as their training centers, are covered by water.
“Everyone on the same side”
Ecuadorian striker Enner Valencia and Uruguayan goalkeeper Sergio Rochet, both from Inter, bought basic baskets and cleaning kits and delivered them to a social center that houses socially vulnerable people. The Uruguayan goalkeeper also served food to the people in the shelter.
«There is no country, religion, t-shirt, nothing. We are all on the same side. This is our objective,” Rochet declared to Radio Gaúcha.
Another of Inter’s figures, Thiago Maia, also delivered basic baskets to those most affected, while Argentines Gabriel Mercado and Lucas Alario were seen helping flood victims.
In archrival Gremio, goalkeeper Caíque got personally involved, going with his jet ski to rescue people who had been isolated by the rise of the Guaíba River.
Veteran striker Diego Costa donated four jet skis to help rescue people isolated by the floods, while coach and idol Renato Gaúcho recorded a video on social networks encouraging the entire population to collaborate.
The union technician had to be rescued from the hotel where he resides due to flooding.
The catastrophe caused the CBF to postpone the weekend matches of the 11 gaúcho teams that compete in national competitions: Gremio and Inter de Porto Alegre and Juventude de Caxias in the men’s Serie A, two in the women’s Serie A (Gremio and Inter ), three in Series C and another three in Series D.
This Monday, Inter, Gremio and Juventude asked the CBF, through the Gaúcha Football Federation, to suspend the matches that the Rio Grande do Sul clubs must play during the next 20 days, whether home or away.
Likewise, and despite being reluctant to postpone matches in continental tournaments, Conmebol finally accepted that Gremio’s game for the Copa Libertadores in Chile against Huachipato, scheduled for this Wednesday, and Inter’s game for the Copa Sudamericana in Bolivia against Real Tomayapo, this Tuesday, will not be played this week.
The entry Brazilian football, affected and mobilized by the floods in the south, was first published in EL NACIONAL.