With the World Cup 2006 now well underway in Germany, the tournament is beginning to switch its focus to the opening game for the reigning world champions Brazil, which takes place Tuesday 13th June.

|PIC1|With most of the major teams in the competition winning their opening game so far, Brazil will face the difficult task of taking on European opposition Croatia, in its first game.

As well as being the nation that has won the World Cup the most times in history, there are always certain qualities associated with Brazil’s successful football team; passion, skill, and elegance in their play, legendary players such as Pele, Socrates, Romário among scores of others. All of these go towards making the team one of the most popular footballing teams for the neutral fan to watch.

However, there is one thing at the core of the Brazilian national team that in undeniable; its devotion to giving all glory in their victories back to God.

Christianity is a faith centred around the teachings of Jesus Christ, telling all man to “love your neighbour”. However, sport rarely has this image, and the two often fit uncomfortably when placed together. But the Brazilian team is one that looks to keep its balance perfectly tuned.

Alex Ribeiro is the chaplain for the Brazil team, as he has been for the past 4 World Cups. He helps the team in their preparations and stays with them in the players’ training camp and hotel to provide spiritual support to the devout Christians within the Brazilian team.

|PIC2|Ribeiro has previously stated how he is convinced that the result of everything, including football matches, is in God’s divine hands.

In addition, where as most people tend to thank Ronaldo, who scored both goals in Brazil’s 2-0 victory against Germany in the 2002 World Cup Finals, Ribeiro is quick to thank God for the victory.

Ribeiro testified, “A German journalist asked me, 'Do you really think God helped Brazil to win the World Cup?'.

“I said yes. He said, 'How can he do it? Why choose Brazil and not Germany?

“I asked him if the German team got down to their knees to thank God, and praise him after the game. He said no. I said that was one reason.”

Former Zimbabwe footballer Bernie Bitter, who now works for Sports Outreach in South Africa, is a chaplain for elite athletes at major sporting events.

He described the important role of the team chaplain to Norman Brierley of 2K+, saying, “There’s two roles to a Chaplain...to be in the village and make yourself available for anybody who wants spiritual encouragement; to pray with them, and also looking for opportunities just to share the Gospel.”

He continued by revealing how some aspects of the Brazilian team were the perfect examples of faith in top-level sporting events: “I terms of the World Cup soccer, I know that if you take Brazil for example, Alex Ribeiro, is the chaplain for the Brazil team, and he has for the past 4 World Cups.”

|PIC3|He told how Ribeiro would be “having Bible Studies with some of the known Christians; guys like Lucio, Jorginho in the last World Cup, and Kaka. These guys have regular Bible Studies.”

Bitter continued, “We know there are key guys [in the Brazilian team] that regularly attend Bible Study, not only during the World Cup, but when they are back in Brazil with Alex. I know other countries will have their chaplains with them as well.”

The Brazilian team is known for celebrating by taking off their football shirts to reveal testimonies to God in vests underneath. When asked about this, Bitter replied, “I think there is a ruling though that during a game you can no longer lift your shirts. But if I am not mistaken, during the Confederation Cup in Germany, which Brazil recently won, then after the game which was officially finished, several of them...had shirts displaying their commitment to Jesus Christ; in different languages not only in English.”

Revealing the beautiful faith that Brazil has incorporated into the centre of its game, Bitter said, “So I am hoping that Brazil will win the World Cup. It is interesting that the prayer focus for Brazil team in the previous World Cup was not ‘God or Lord help us win the World Cup’, but their prayer was ‘Lord whichever team brings you the most glory, may they win the World Cup.’”

Bitter concluded: “I think there is a real desire from many of the players in the Brazil team to glorify God. Proclaiming that God has given them the gifts and talents to play the game. So it will be interesting to see what sort of Christian witness comes out in the tournament.”