Many of us remember growing up during Black History Month and seeing classroom decorations that included an alphabet wall hanging with notable Black heroes. Often, the letter “P” would include an illustration of Pele, the famous Afro-Brazilian soccer player.
I’ve always found this a little odd, but we just accepted it for what it was. He must have been the man if he was only a few letters down from Martin Luther King.
It’s pure irony to find out later in life that Pele would often make it very clear, following in the tradition of another baller, Orenthal James Simpson — when asked about race replied — “I’m not Black, I am Pele…” He didn’t say that exactly, but basically he did.
Nevertheless, King Pele’s achievements and impact on sports cannot be erased.
In our series on race in Brazilian soccer, we ask Brazilian professor of sports history, Henrique Sena about the Black history of soccer. Sena is an assistant professor at the Federal Univeristy of Reconcovao. He works in the area of contemporary history, the history of sports, as well as the history of the Brazilian press.
We asked Professor Sena about some of the lesser-known Black Brazilian soccer players who influenced the game.
Sena first mentions Menteiga (which is the word for butter in Portuguese), the name of one of the earliest Black players in professional Brazilian soccer. His real name seems to be lost even to the historians. What they do note is that he was a sailor before being asked to play for one of the early dominant teams, Club America from Rio. He gained the nickname “Butter” because that was the way his teammates described his passing skills.
Although most people were not happy about the introduction of Black players to the sport, they eventually got over it when it became that Black players were elevating the game with their skills. Butter was also skilled in the martial art of capoeira. It is believed that this may have also influenced his distinct style of play.
The second player Sena notes is Apolinário “Popo the terrible” Santana. Popó began his career at the age of 14, playing in all positions (even goalie). He became so popular that he earned the nickname “the people’s star” due to his popularity among Bahians. He also earned another nickname: “The Terrible”.
Santana played for eleven clubs in Salvador, including the legendary team, Ypiranga. He was Bahia’s greatest sports star in the 1920s and 1930s. He won two state championships playing for Ypiranga. Still, the main achievement of this humble superstar was becoming the leader of the revolutionary Ypiranga team, the first to overcome the racist attitudes that marked the beginning of soccer in the country.
Other high-ranking clubs followed the example of the Bahians. Although Popo rose to be a star during this critical era of soccer, less than 50 years after the abolition of slavery in Brazil, he ended his career poor and begging on the street in front of the Fonte Nova stadium.
Next week, we finally get Dr. Sena’s take on the origin of dribbling.
