The Root of the Game

For those who don't know me, I'm Luiz Antônio Belchior.

I arrived in São Paulo in the '70s.

There I saw the Várzea begin…

THE THRILL!

…when I was 17.

It was at Batatais' Agricultural Institute for Minors, a juvenile court,

that's where I played soccer.

And the education there was just like in the Várzea.

Because the Várzea is bare dirt.

It's where you stomp the ground.

Where a player learns to play for real.

The best players, Pepe, Pelé, Coutinho,

played on this field right here.

When you talk about soccer,

hope, and solidarity, you're talking about the favelas.

To me, it's a philosophy of life.

This brings joy to the people in the communities.

A kid who's got problems at home goes outside, grabs his ball,

starts kicking it around, trying to hit the crossbar,

because that's his therapy.

A single word can change someone's life. That's how it is in the favelas.

To make history in Várzea soccer, you've got to win.

Let's make history in Várzea!

Soccer gives you one shot.

We give our lives for the community, for our families.

I want to leave a legacy in the Várzea.

Várzea is soccer for glory.

The people's soccer.

THE ROOT OF THE GAME

EPISODE 3 THE CUP IS OURS

Family is everything.

It gives us a foundation to grow up strong.

And it's what drives me.

They give me strength when I need it.

When I'm having a bad day, they're there.

High five, pal!

Give him a kiss!

That's family.

Everyone in the family has one of these.

We made this shirt for him when he came back from Brasília

and started playing professionally.

We got the number 9 and had this written here…

Hey! Pass it to Guiba, and it's a goal

All right, gather around.

Come on.

My sister was my driving force.

She was the reason I kept going.

Because I was already exhausted from trying to make it as a pro.

Everyone. From the kids to the elders, and my dad.

I'm an elder?

When he joined Samambaense, where he started his professional career,

he wasn't getting paid.

We had to help him out financially so he could afford food.

If it weren't for her, I wouldn't be playing soccer.

I think I'd just be working somewhere.

Because we need money, you know?

Unfortunately, we can't live without it.

Due to his age,

it's very hard to find a club that believes in his potential

and that wants to have him on the team.

It could be any team. I believe he will still reach his goal.

ASA, eh-oh!

Go, ASA! Come on!

I'll break my knees, my feet, and my ankles if I have to.

But I won't lose to Anhanguera, no fucking way.

- We'll deal with the aftermath later! - Let's go!

Guiba, fuck, man. We gave our lives to be here.

If they don't like us, fuck them. But they'll respect us.

They will respect us!

They will! Because we're fucking here!

One, two, three, ASA!

Live from CDC Parque Doroteia

for the first game of the semifinals.

ASA and Anhanguera. Anhanguera and ASA.

The referee blows the whistle. The ball is rolling.

All eyes are on the striker Guiba.

Will Vila Prudente be celebrating today?

They're putting the pressure on us,

calling us the favorites and all,

but once we're on the field, if we don't run, we'll be left behind.

Why the fuck are you all just swarming the ball?

The ball is crossed into the box. There it is!

Offside. The flag is up.

Guibson was a little ahead, wasn't he?

You gotta be kidding me, man.

They're gonna give their all against us.

And I hope we give our all against them too. That's the idea.

This is the semifinals, for fuck's sake!

Come on! Show some fucking bite!

This is a joke, man!

They're playing for a draw.

We're going to the penalty shoot-out.

ASA, nil. Anhanguera, also nil.

Let's go! Heads up, damn it.

Everyone's responsible for their own shot. Don't leave it to the keeper.

Just put the damn ball in the net!

We're gonna fucking take this, all right?

Hey! We're getting to finals. Let's fucking go!

We're about to find out who's the first finalist

of Super Copa Pioneer.

Buzina is focused. There goes Moraes!

Buzina!

He makes the first save.

Helber is going first for ASA.

Goal for ASA!

Nice one, Helber!

If Buzina makes another save, Anhanguera will be in serious trouble.

Antônio Carlos gets ready and shoots!

- Buzina! - Go, motherfuckers!

For real, Buzina is the shit. Insane!

We're ASA, motherfuckers!

ASA's goalkeeper is saving everything!

It's over. I think it's over.

Anhanguera has missed all three shots so far.

Guibson is up. Right foot.

To secure ASA's spot in the final.

It's him against Bahia. Right foot!

Goal!

ASA is through to the big game at Allianz Park!

We're ASA, motherfuckers!

Today you see 17, 18-year-old players making it big in soccer,

but it doesn't mean that at 22, 23, 24 years old

you can't also have an opportunity and keep chasing a career in soccer.

We've made it to the final.

Look. We've made it.

God willing, we're gonna be champions.

Go ASA, Vila Prudente. Let's fucking go!

We're going after our goal with humility and keeping our feet on the ground.

We'll get there and win our trophy, our big-eared trophy.

Várzea's on fire today!

Hold on. We're going.

My family is made up of five people.

My wife's name is Vivian.

You know that… I can't explain it.

When we met, it was love at first sight.

Let's go.

Come on.

No, here.

The legacy I want to leave for my family is that of a good father,

a good man, who always fights for them.

Get down.

Come on.

Do you root for him?

I do.

Go.

LEVI - FORWARD RAÇA RUIM

In this one, I won Player of the Tournament,

Top Scorer, and Breakout Player.

Two medals, plus the Top Scorer trophy.

I leave a picture of my family here

because they were there at the final and brought me luck.

These two right here

are some of the most important ones I've won.

From the Super Copa Pioneer, which we're playing now.

One was against Vila Izabel, the other was against Ipanema.

MAN OF THE MATCH

I scored three goals in these two matches.

And I hope to win more.

I hope to add two more

and be among the most important names in soccer in São Paulo.

Where's Uncle?

Get in there, please.

Our next game is…

We see it as the final.

For us, the upcoming match against MEC is the final.

Come, slowly.

There's Grandpa.

Sit here.

- It's Grandpa! Come here, Grandpa! - Sit here.

- Do you think I'm a good player, Grandpa? - You're a great player.

They get 2,000 reais. They pay him 1,200 and keep 800.

What?

Yeah.

- Someone's talking today. - Dear Lord.

Yeah.

It's the toughest game. All the nerves and anxiety.

We have to manage that.

But we're focused.

We're confident in what we can do. And God willing, it'll work out.

Soccer gives you one shot.

Today's the day. We can't let it slip away!

Nobody beats us today! There's no black and red!

Today's grey and blue! It's Raça Ruim! All the way to the end!

Whatever you give, Guilherme, I'll give too!

If you sweat blood, I'll sweat blood with you!

If you sweat blood, Rafa, I'll sweat blood!

Motta, you've got this, brother! All right? You've got this!

And up front is on me! Let's go!

- One for all! - All for one!

Raça Ruim! Yeah!

The semifinal against MEC is tough.

They're a great team. They're the favorites.

I'm worried, but not scared.

COMMUNITY

On the other team, there's my friend Rafa,

Dinho, the coach and my friend, but during the game, there are no friends.

Here are the fans getting ready

for the most important game in our 30 years.

They're the ones I wanna see happy.

We want to win on Sunday to take these guys to the stadium.