The boys of Urubu were part of a talented elite | New

They were boys. They had love for the shirt. The tragedy of Rio de Janeiro affected families in seven Brazilian states. The different origins of the players show that they were part of a talented elite, carefully mined. The distance traveled by each one reveals the importance of where they are located: only the best can live in the nest of Urubu.

In the early hours of the morning, the phone rang throughout the country. Athila's father replied: "I got to work and a colleague called me 'Damião, there was a fire where Áthila is.' At 14, Áthila Paixão had a bright future ahead of her. "It was nice to see him play.A little more than two months ago, when he was 14, I sent him to Rio de Janeiro.When he arrived he was went first.Thousands of children and only Áthila stayed, "says the father.

These were children who already had commitments and obligations to adults. So when he returned to his street in Volta Redonda, Rio, defenseman Arthur also returned in time to return to the childhood he lost.

"He would go up to his grandmother's house every time he went to his grandmother's house, I came to mess with everyone, and I had a cup of coffee." bald & # 39 ;. And he always played with the ball in his foot, still playing ball, still playing, in full health, "says Angelo da Silva, Arthur's neighbor.

Saturday (9), Arthur would be 15 years old. And this Friday (8), the street of Volta Redonda was unrecognizable. The grandmother had to be rescued by an ambulance and her aunt, supported by her neighbors.

This Friday, throughout the day, the boys' parents arrived in Rio de Janeiro. They are taken to a hotel where the families of all the players are. JN has spoken with Sergio, the father of Vítor Isaias, a 14-year-old striker who, according to his supporters, had everything to become a big Flamengo striker. He came from Santa Catarina.

On the phone, Seu Sérgio spoke of his son's generosity: "First of all, his financial help was paid to his grandmother to pay rent." He said: "Grandmother God willing, in two years you will not pay rent. "This made a great impression on us."

Thursday (7), Vítor sent a message to his father telling him that he Would lead for the first time this Friday in Maracanã. It was the realization of a dream: "It left nothing good, just joy and taught us a lot, many dreams, many things to live with, but did not give." .

This Friday (8), parents formed a team who lent themselves shoulder to face a pain that no one could bear alone.

Francisco Dyogo survived. The goalie has burned his hands, but sent to the cell phone the best message that a father can receive today: "Dad, so good."

Not even his family, in Ceará, has stopped joining the suffering of other parents. "Thank God that he is alive and ask God to comfort every little mother who is suffering for the child that she has lost," her mother said.

And for most athletes, the first coach is almost a second father. For Paulo Vicente, Pablo was almost a son. The coach always keeps the jersey worn by the boy while training in a field in Oliveira, inside Minas Gerais: "He was a good boy, aloof. He was a great player, he led his team to talk to their athletes, their teammates in the field, we are very touched, "said

Jorge Eduardo, 15, is left so early, but has already left the name inscribed in the story. And this Friday, Brazil bid farewell to names that seemed to occupy a prominent place in the hearts of the crowd in the not-too-distant future.

Goalkeeper Christian Esmério had already been called to be part of the Brazilian National Under-15 and Under-17 Team. Already distributed among the big names of our football. He seemed very comfortable with perhaps the future boss and, personally, he bowed to Queen Martha.

In a video, the cruelty of interrupted dreams appears fully. The Christian today sent a message to the Christian of the future: "Christian of the future, be wise, do not lose the essence you have, it is humility, simplicity, simplicity always. , do not change for anyone, that you will always be the guy. "

This Friday afternoon, a group went to the nest of Urubu to pay tribute to the victims of the fire. Fans from different clubs showed their solidarity.