Dunga Lashes out at Brazilian Media
If the national football coach of Brazil Dunga, is to be believed then it is the media of the South American powerhouse, that can cost the five time champions, world cup trophy for a record sixth time.
Dunga himself a world cup winner as a player lashed out at his country’s media entourage in South Africa in a tense news conference held in Johannesburg on Thursday.
The head coach and his assistant Jorginho laid into what the duo felt were some elements of the Brazilian media that even wanted to see Brazil fail in the tournament to prove they were correct in questioning Dunga's position.
"It's a common thing in football, it's not new. Life always revolves the same way, if you pick up the newspapers in the 70s, '82, '96, '94, it's always a repetition. You need to write, you need to say something, it's your work.
Don't think that I'm against you, each one has to do his own work, so you can ask any question you want and you won't like some answers, but it's your right to do it, and it's my right too because we are living in a democracy. Anyone can ask what he wants and you may hear what you don't want to hear," he said.
Dunga's reign as Brazil coach has always seen tense ties with the media, who enjoyed a more open squad during Luis Felipe Scolari's time as head coach.
But the current coach defended his restrictions on public access to training sessions in the build-up to the World Cup which kicks off on June 11.
The team is off to a seemingly good start as they brushed aside the lowly Zimbabweans in a friendly two day ago, yet Dunga feels that the team needs to be completely focused on the job at hand, and avoid contact with the public that can distract them and hurt their preparations.
"For me and for all the players, it would be great if we can always train in public, having the support of the fans and the joy near the Brazilian national team. But experience from the past, after what has been said and written, the contact (between team and fans) became counter-productive. So in order to avoid reflecting on errors and mistakes after the World Cup, we have to lose the joy and the warmth from the fans around the team," he said.
The football mad South African blacks would have an opportunity to take a close look at some of their “Footballing Gods” as the Brazilians limber up for another clash later today at the generally impoverished district of Soweto, dominated by the Black community.
Tens of thousands of fans are expected to turn up at the venue, and for some it would be the relaisation of a dream to see their stars in flesh.
Brazil who have set their eyes on another world title are hoping to first get past their tricky first round stage where they have been placed with some of the underdogs who have the potential to upset the might South Americans.
They have been drawn with Europeans Portugal, the Ivory Coast and North Korea and all three teams have the ability to cause a major worry to the Brazilians’ on their day.
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