‘World Cup Wallace’: Meet Brazilian football’s unofficial drummer | World Cup News

Doha, Qatar -Since 1986, nothing has stopped Brazil’s World Cup drummer Wallace Leite from taking part in the world’s biggest games.

Age, injuries, family sacrifices, nothing has kept Brazil and its drum from the World Cup.

The 60-year-old from Sao Paulo has been at the last 10 world cups, carrying and playing the Surdao (Brazilian drum) in every match with Canarinha – the “little title” in which the Brazilian team is known for their brilliance. yellow team jersey.

“It’s a natural lift,” Leite said of the drumming and the World Cup. “It’s like I’ve found a spring of joy,” he told Al Jazeera, wearing the same outfit, with shades of the Brazilian national flag, that he wore throughout his team’s games at the tournament in Qatar.

She prays that the garment will bring her good luck.

For Leite, it’s all about the “good responses” he gets from the groups of fans who gather around him when he plays Surdao, where he calls them a “good place”.

“There are no problems, no politics, everyone is just supporting Brazil,” he said.

His instrument of choice is the Surdao, a 7kg (15lb) Brazilian drum that he has played at every World Cup since the 1990 tournament in Italy. In the past, Leite said that he used a small drum set to play even though the sound was “too high” for his liking.

Surdao helps “keep music together”.

“I feel that I can move and attract more people [the Surdao],” he adds.

Cutting a slim figure at 79kg (174lb) and 177cm (five metres, nine inches) tall, he admits that pounding the big drum during the month-long international competition takes its toll on the body.

“I’ve had a number of injuries including arm, shoulder, and neck injuries. I’ll massage them after a race or other treatment,” said Leite, who works in the United States, where she lives, as a computer technician. And I say yes, it is difficult, but the satisfaction is great.

“It’s amazing,” he adds wistfully as he recalls the times he’s played to huge stadium crowds over the past few decades.

‘Feeling so special’

Leite, who is also known as Wallace Das Copa (World Cup Wallace) by his fans, said that people always approach him for photos, interviews and even autographs at competitions.

“It’s not like I’m famous, but it makes me feel very special.”

Residents of the countries hosting the World Cup often invite him to their homes for dinner or to take him on sightseeing trips, such as Kruger Park on a Safari in South Africa, to the Kremlin in Moscow, and camel riding in Qatar. .

“I have made many friends around the world, I have learned a lot about different cultures and traditions, not everyone has the opportunity to do this. It’s a blessing,” said the 60-year-old proudly.

When asked which country he loved the most, he diplomatically replied: “All of them”.

“Every country has a lot to offer with kind people, beautiful places to visit.” it’s hard to choose,” he said.

His best memories of the World Cup are, “probably Mexico”.

According to Leite, Mexicans “fell in love” with the Brazilian soccer team in 1970 when the World Cup was held there. The team featured football legends such as Pele, and Mexican fans were enthralled by the team’s performance. Brazil would go on to win the tournament in Mexico, beating Italy 4-1 in the final, with Pele scoring four goals in the tournament.

When he arrived in Mexico for his first World Cup in 1986, he said the Mexican people “embraced” him as if he were one of their own.

“I felt at ease in Mexico. Oh, the people were so nice. I didn’t spend money. People pay for everything,” he said.

“When I go to a restaurant where they play mariachi music and they say ‘let’s stop mariachi, we want to hear Brazilian samba’. In the streets people were dancing and singing all day long. The interaction I had with people, it was interesting.”

Can Brazil bring back a sixth World Cup?

Leite said “I really believe” this will be the year that the most coveted tournament in soccer returns to South America.

Angry, he said: “It’s been 20 years since we won.” Brazil lifted the World Cup for the last time – fifth – in 2002 in Japan.

For the first few games, Leite said his wife Carmen, who works in the fashion industry and is from Sao Paulo, will accompany him to all games. He said: “They used to sing with me, dance in the streets.

However, as time went on, the drummer said that Carmen stopped coming as often.

“It wasn’t his thing … like it is for me. It became a habit for him.” Leite, who said she prepares for weeks before the competition, fixing her clothes and creating new songs, Carmen encourages her to spend more time with her and her two older daughters.

“When it’s time (for the World Cup) they think I focus so much… that I go crazy,” he said. “But overall, he supports me.”

When asked how long he could see himself playing his drums at the World Cup, he said he didn’t have “time”.

“Only God knows,” he adds. “As long as I can move, stay healthy, shout, and play my instrument, I will continue to do that.”