There was a party and so much tears in the house of Dona Vera, located few blocks from the training centre of Palmeiras, when her son Gabriel Jesus debuted for the Brazilian senior side on Friday.
Dona Vera, alongside her children, Caíque, Felipe and Emanuele, son in law and grandchildren, watched Gabriel Jesus score twice for the national team in their 3-0 victory over Ecuador, in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Dona Vera raised four children alone with the money she earned as a maid. Today, she no longer works, and controls the wages of Gabriel. Caíque, the third of Dona’s four children, said: “Only we know that the whole family has been waiting for this day, so there was no way not to cry. Everyone here at home began working early. I’ve already done everything. Only Gabriel was spared because we always believe in his potential as a player. Gabriel was always more determined than us. And had the gift.”
Passionate about football, Dona Vera has been a sportsperson, and played basketball in her high school days. Caíque added: “Our mother is the worst defender that Gabriel Jesus may have ahead. Even in the game against Ecuador. Before the penalty and scoring the two goals, Gabriel had been offside three times. And he would hear a lot about it. Our mother tell him to pay attention to the last man.”
There was a party and so much tears in the house of Dona Vera, located few blocks from the training centre of Palmeiras, when her son Gabriel Jesus debuted for the Brazilian senior side on Friday.
Dona Vera, alongside her children, Caíque, Felipe and Emanuele, son in law and grandchildren, watched Gabriel Jesus score twice for the national team in their 3-0 victory over Ecuador, in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Dona Vera raised four children alone with the money she earned as a maid. Today, she no longer works, and controls the wages of Gabriel. Caíque, the third of Dona’s four children, said: “Only we know that the whole family has been waiting for this day, so there was no way not to cry. Everyone here at home began working early. I’ve already done everything. Only Gabriel was spared because we always believe in his potential as a player. Gabriel was always more determined than us. And had the gift.”
Passionate about football, Dona Vera has been a sportsperson, and played basketball in her high school days. Caíque added: “Our mother is the worst defender that Gabriel Jesus may have ahead. Even in the game against Ecuador. Before the penalty and scoring the two goals, Gabriel had been offside three times. And he would hear a lot about it. Our mother tell him to pay attention to the last man.”
