Júnior Baiano: The Flamengo wall of China
sambafoot.com
At 35 years old, you’ve become captain of Flamengo this season. How do you feel physically and do you feel your playing well?
[photo=entjunior.JPG id=146 align=right]Júnior Baiano
Physically I feel very good. I think that after 30 we are more conscience of the things that we have to do off the field to keep in shape and I throughout my career I have taken care of myself.
sambafoot.com
You have played in Germany and China. What have these experiences added to your professional and personal life?
Júnior Baiano
When I played in Germany I was at the beginning of my career, only 24 years old. I had the opportunity of living some very good moments in that country, where I learnt many things. I learned to respect my fellow players and to show more discipline on the pitch. Playing in Europe is completely different from Brazil, because there you get much more free time. I liked this experience very much.
I was only in China for 3 months, but my experience was also very good. The people are very simple and very likeable. They were two very different places, but I enjoyed both very much.
sambafoot.com
What do you feel when you think about the 1998 World Cup?
Júnior Baiano
I am very sad, it was our World cup to win. But unfortunately the problem with Ronaldo happened and it affected everybody. It was the only World Cup that I played in and finished badly for us. When I remember this period, Brazil x France, France x Brazil, I remember with a little sadness.
sambafoot.com
Everybody questions what really happened with the Seleção that day, was it psychological problems, physical, if not was it something else that happened on the day of the game?
Júnior Baiano
The problem was what happened to Ronaldo. We were not used to witnessing that type of scene. The doctors say it was probably an epileptic fit or a convulsions. It was a very shocking scene that left everybody shaken. In my opinion, if this had not happened, the game would have been completely different. I do not know if Brazil would have won, but I know that the game would have been very different.
sambafoot.com
How do you rate the Seleção’s current centre backs and if necessary who would you choose to substitute them?
Júnior Baiano
Brazil has some very good centre backs; Roque, Lúcio and Juan. I think that Juan has to be in the World Cup team. I do not know who to drop Roque or Lúcio, but if it was me choosing, Juan would definitely be in.
sambafoot.com
How you analyze the current level of the Carioca teams? In your opinion, what differentiates the Carioca clubs from São Paulo clubs?
Júnior Baiano
Currently the Cariocas are performing well. The great difference between the Cariocas and the Paulista’s is that they train more for fitness. However the structure of the Carioca soccer, is currently inferior when compared with the structure of São Paulo soccer. This gives the São Paulo clubs an advantage.
sambafoot.com
You say that you feel your playing well in Rio right now, but if the opportunity arose would you leave Brazil again?
Júnior Baiano
I Would think about it, yes. Despite been 35 years old I would like to be able to go back to play in Europe again. I have children and would like so much that they learn another language. I know that it is difficult, almost impossible, but if another chance came my way, I would like to play abroad again.
Júnior Baiano left Flamengo in September 2005 and is reported to be in discussions with clubs in the United Arab Emirates.
Recommended links:
The Júnior Baiano card
All about Flamengo
The Flamengo oficial site
The special week of Flamengo in sambafoot.com:
Flamengo, the most popular club in Brazil
Maracanã, the largest stadium of the world
