FIFA's Valcke "impressed" by Recife's progress on latest visit to Brazil

By David Gold

June 28 – FIFA general secretary Jérôme Valcke has visited Recife in Brazil as he conducts a three-day trip to the 2014 World Cup hosts and has said he is confident that the north eastern city will be ready for the 2013 Confederations Cup.

Valcke (pictured above, third left) was joined by Bebeto (pictured above, far right) and Ronaldo (pictured above, third right), members of Brazil 2014, as they visited the Arena Pernambuco, along with Luis Fernandes (pictured above, second left), the executive secretary of the Brazilian Sports Ministry.

The stadium, which is in located in Recife’s metropolitan area, was just 40 per cent complete when a technical inspection by FIFA and Brazil 2014 visited in April this year.

However, work is now on schedule at the 46,000 seater venue, and this was recognised recently when along with Salvador, the city was confirmed as a host venue of next year’s Confederations Cup.

That tournament is a dry run for the following year’s World Cup, and Brasília, Belo Horizonte, Fortaleza and Rio de Janeiro will also host games during the event, although it is still possible for Recife to lose matches if work falls behind schedule.

The Arena Pernambuco will stage four group stage matches during the World Cup, as well as a quarterfinal game.

Recife is also one of the cities which hosted games during the 1950 World Cup, the only other time Brazil has staged the global football showpiece.

Brazil will be hoping in 2014 to avenge the ghosts of 1950, when they lost in the final at home to Uruguay, a defeat which left a scar on the nation’s football psyche.

Off the pitch, the country has taken its time with developing infrastructure and building new stadiums.

A number of stadiums were delayed in the start of renovation works, meaning Brazil is now playing catch up.

The pace of work led to Valcke falling out with Brazil after saying it needed a “kick up the backside” to get work moving in March.

The Frenchman, the man at FIFA ultimately responsible for the organisation of the World Cup, returned to the country for the first time at the start of the month to launch the tournament’s official slogan – fittingly ‘all in one rhythm’.

Progress seems to be running smoother since Ricardo Teixeira, the controversial long-term Brazilian football chief who was head of Brazil 2014 and the country’s Football Confederation (CBF), stepped down from both roles in March.

Valcke sounded a positive note this time, saying: “We were very impressed by the 4,000 workers at the stadium in Pernambuco and the passion and commitment they are showing in making sure that Recife will host the FIFA Confederations Cup.

“Thanks to the deputy governor’s guarantees and that passion and commitment, we are confident that Recife will be ready for the Confederations Cup.

“The decision to stick with the city was based on reports drafted by the technical teams.”

João Lyra Neto, the deputy governor of Pernambuco, welcomed the group, which also included artist Romero Britto – a Recife local who was also involved in an art campaign for the South Africa 2010 World Cup.

He played in a typically Brazilian impromptu football match in the middle of the construction site with workers during the visit.

“I was nervous about taking a shot in front of idols like Ronaldo and Bebeto, but it was great,” Britto said.

“It was a very special for me to come back to my homeland with this delegation.

“We are going to host a fantastic FIFA Confederations Cup and FIFA World Cup and showcase our wonderful culture.”

Fernandes echoed Britto’s sentiments and insisted that work to get the Arena Pernambuco ready for 2013 is on track.

Bebeto added his faith in their construction efforts, saying: “Judging by the desire of the workers, I do not have the slightest doubt that the FIFA Confederations Cup will be here.”

Both Bebeto and Ronaldo, part of the same 1994 World Cup winning team, have fond playing memories of Recife.

For Bebeto (pictured below), he scored twice in a crucial 6-0 win over Bolivia in qualifiers for the 1994 World Cup, which ensured Brazil kept their record as the only team never to have failed to qualify for the tournament’s final stages.

“This city made a big mark on us,” he said.

“We walked out on the pitch hand in hand and the team came together.”

For Ronaldo, he made his debut for the Seleção earlier in 1994 in Recife, in a friendly match against Argentina.

“I only got five minutes though, because Bebeto was so greedy I could not get on,” Ronaldo joked, before praising the workers.

“The enthusiasm of the workers has impressed me more than anything.

“Today we’ve seen yet more proof that the stadium will be ready on time.

“I hope I’ll be back here soon to have a kick-around with all of them.”

Following the Recife visit the delegation headed north to Natal, for the next stop on their visit to Brazil.

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