growing up in the 1950's
Growing up in a time that “eating” was the most important thing in a family, soccer was more of an escape from the surroundings and a way to forget the harsh life around you.
one day i found out that i was alone on this path...
Nobody would believe that something you love the most is denied to you
Growing up is hard to do…
My family was not happy that I played soccer, and my father in particular used to spank me to discourage me from “wasting time.” He always said, “Pelé is the only one who makes money from soccer.” My Italian mom didn’t help much either, although in a strange way I think those beatings made me tougher as a player. In that sense, I was determined to follow my heart.
I used to ride my bike to games, which was a big deal because it was my father’s old bike—heavy, awkward, and way too big for me. I had to pedal through the metal triangle frame because my legs weren’t long enough to reach over it.
Moving away from your backyard…
Batata started his organized soccer career in a rich Italian community club called Juventus, suburban of Curitiba city, capital of Parana in Brazil. He was only 11 years old when he rode his old bike into Juventus tryouts and posed as a goal-keeper to then coach Tito who looking at the short goaltender said: go and play attacking midfielder for me. Surely a good way to get rid of another of many players attending his tryouts. Surprisingly, Batata or “little potato” scored two goals in less than five minutes or two times he touched the ball and immediately after his second play he was interrupted by Tito who waived to him out of the field. Tito looked at him and said: “You are no keeper and you cannot play at this level”. Your next practice is tomorrow with our u14 team at 15:00. His days as goalkeeper seemed to be numbered.
Teasing works both ways…
Nilton Batata was given his nickname of Batata or “little potato” in his early school years by one of his classmates who used to play soccer with him after school hours. “Nilton looks like a little potato rolling between his opponents as he dribbles them”, he teased Batata who thought that made no sense – a farmer’s analogy he guessed. What made sense was the fact that teasing nickname stayed with Nilton for the rest of his school years and eventually throughout his career. Because Batata was always younger and much smaller than his counterpart’s, people who watched him play were attracted by his quickness and skills but truly amused by his “little potato” nickname which was announced in the preliminary matches at professional games.
After two years and half with Juventus Nilton Batata decided to try out for Club Atletico Paranaense by his brother’s suggestion who knew the head coach. Nilton Batata arrived at “Baixada” stadium along with another one hundred players and waited for almost three hours to be called. The head coach put almost everybody in to play but he missed this little guy sitting against the fence without shirt. Embarrassed by his mistake he invited Nilton Batata to show up next day…
You are not like them…
Batata showed up the next day and immediately found himself in a very confusing situation. As he stepped onto the field for the tryout, he saw the reserves of the professional first team warming up alongside the U17 players, who had a game that weekend. Some of those players he already knew by reputation—names like Ademar Pantera and Djalma Santos, just to mention a few—were legends he had collected on trading cards. He used to bet those cards with his friends in the “Bafo” or figurinhas game.
Bafo was popular among kids who collected player cards. The name comes from the way you “hand slap” two cards—yours and your friend’s—creating a popping vacuum that flips them into the air. If the cards land face up, the slapper wins; if not, your favorite player is gone. Anyway, Batata asked the coach if he was in the right place. The coach laughed and said, “Don’t worry, you’re playing with the reserves against my U17 team.” I mean… I was only 13 years old, and those guys were grown men.
Playing with my dog was one of the good memories I still have. Relationships transcend species.
Juventus was my first Club ever before my 11th birthday. When I turned 13 years old I was a little guy playing with 16 years old players. There is no old or young but good or bad players in Brazil.
When even your friends don’t think you are good enough…
