“The legacy is also to make us more critical”
Right back of the Brazilian team that won the World Cup in 1994 and current coach of Al Wasl, from the United Arab Emirates, former football player Jorginho is the godfather of the campaign 'It's not fun, it's sexual exploitation against children and teenagers'. Launched by the Promundo Institute with funding from the OAK Foundation in the cities that lead the ranking of the practice of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents (ESCCA) in Brazil, the campaign carries an educational message, helping to deconstruct some myths and taboos about the practice.
Jorginho, who was raised in Guadalupe, North Zone of Rio, where he founded the NGO Bola pra Frente, talks about the importance of embracing the cause and reveals what he considers to be the World Cup's greatest legacy for Brazil.
1) The practice of sexual tourism involving young people and children increases at major sporting events, given the increase in the volume of foreigners. But this reality is not exclusive to major championships. Have you ever witnessed a situation like this during your experience in other countries?
I played in Germany between 89 and 94 and I remember that there were many flights from Frankfurt and Munich to Recife, where sexual exploitation of children and teenagers was common. Many reports came out at the time, even accusing the travel agencies involved. And the image that, for example, Germans and Europeans have of Brazilian women is very much in that direction, unfortunately. On the one hand, we managed to export some really cool things from Brazil, like our samba and carnival. But, on the other hand, there are tourists who come here believing that all women will be half-naked, at any time of the year. So, we need to be very careful, because this is the image that many people have of Brazil.
2) Does the scene of parties and excesses in the players' lives contribute in any way to this image?
Players have a habit of going out, going to parties, going to nights out and, often, they don't even know if there are underage girls involved there. What happens is that the athlete is much more exposed. But this happens in any layer of society, in any job market. We know about absurd things, but the athlete appears in the media because he is a public person.
3) Are the 'Marias Chuteiras' still a reality in football?
It's regrettable, but this is still very present in the world of football, even due to the reality where we come from, in general, from a very poor family, without conditions. The guy wants to look for a relationship or a sexual relationship, but he can't find a pretty girl. And with fame that changes. The big problem is that the player is not prepared to face this situation, and falls headlong.
4) We know that technologies, such as the internet, have brought new forms of sexual exploitation of children and adolescents. You, who have a twelve-year-old teenage daughter, how do you monitor her internet access?
We try to establish some limits on internet use. We usually block visits to some websites, for example dating sites or those with pornographic content. We limit computer use a little. But of course, nowadays, there is the smartphone. That's why we have to have a conversation, a very frank dialogue, always showing the importance of being careful, since not everyone is really who they say they are. A lot of people arrive as if they were a twelve-year-old child, a pre-teen there, but they are an adult.
5) What led you to participate in the 'It's not enjoyment, it's exploration' campaign?
It is absurd for someone to abuse a child and I feel grateful to have my image contributing to this campaign.
6) What legacy do you believe the World Cup will bring to Brazil?
We always had the streets decorated during previous World Cups. But we are now experiencing a World Cup here and seeing how investments are being applied. We in sport already have a legacy: wonderful stadiums, hotels and better roads. But we also need the FIFA standard in other important areas, such as FIFA standard security, FIFA standard education, FIFA standard health… The legacy is also to become more critical. As incredible as it may seem, only an event as big as this was able to bring people back to the streets. When was the last time we took to the streets? In our generation? Only during Collor's time. Whoever is protesting is not a vandal.
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