Why Brazil Played Tanzania and Zimbabwe?

By Yoosofo Farah
written on June 07, 2010

On the surface, Brazil's warm-up annihilation of Tanzania and Zimbabwe might well seem rather pointless.

After all, these are two national teams who most certainly will not be featuring in South Africa, and entertained a Brazil side 107 and 109 places above them respectively in the official FIFA World Rankings.

In the first match in Zimbabwe, the Samba Kings were in cruise control as they crushed their modest opponents 3-0.

That was followed up with a trip to the United Republic of Tanzania and the country's largest city (but not capital city), Dar-es Salaam, where Brazil thrashed their again modest opposition 5-1, with Jabir Aziz eeking out the slightest chink in the Brazilian armour with a consolation goal for the home team.

And whilst most will see these games as a bit of pointless fun from the Brazilians, the above matches were more than just a check on some African opposition (Brazil take on Ivory Coast in Group G).

They were the confidence boosters that any sporting team would need before heading into the most important and prestigious competition of their sport.

The aforementioned morale-lifters were matches to not only prove to the world that Brazil is football's most colossal superpower, but to prove the same point to the players themselves.

Most often in sport, and football especially, self-confidence and belief in one's own ability is of course paramount to success.

The likes of Robinho, Ramires, Kaka, Elano, Michel Bastos, etc, gave themselves vital, timely reminders that they are indeed among the much better players in the world, scoring the goals to give their team convincing victories.

One may argue that these players don't need reminding of just how great they are, but when coaches, technical staff and the players are always pressing ahead of the next game to achieve tactical and technical perfection, with weaknesses constantly identified and corrected, there isn't much time left at all to reflect and think, 'Hey, we really are a magnificent bunch of players'.

And so, to get around that potentially hazardous blow to team morale and players' self-efficacy, a demonstration of guaranteed football brilliance is what's needed to keep the team believing they are great, potentially world-conquering superstars.

In any case, it's not just Brazil who have latched onto this idea of making the players start to feel slightly omnipotent.

As has been well documented, Germany thought of this as well when they took on a local amateur team near their pre-World Cup training camp.

AFC Eppan were the unlucky team, getting thrashed 24-0 by the efficiently callous Germans.

It was a match in which five strikers got on the scoresheet, most of them more than once, giving them the convenient reminder they are potent finishers who can destroy opponents with ease.

North Korea will be the first ones to challenge Brazil in Group G, when they take on the Selecao in eight days time.

And the footballing stars from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea don't rank much better than Zimbabwe or Tanzania, with a current FIFA World Ranking of 105th.

Thus, with the knowledge the Brazilian players have in that they can beat lowly ranked opponents mercilessly without anything near maximum effort, against North Korea (or Korea DPR as they're officially referred to as) the watching world could well see a much greater, more spectacular annihilation than that of Tanzania or Zimbabwe.

And come June 15, we'll probably see why Brazil's decision to face such easy World Cup warm-up opponents will be well and truly vindicated.

Credit: 2010 FIFA World Cup: Why Brazil Played Tanzania and Zimbabwe | Bleacher Report

i wish that was the main reason to play us and zimbabwe but its not.they played us only because they got paid.

Arsene Wenger said:

i wish that was the main reason to play us and zimbabwe but its not.they played us only because they got paid.

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Thank you AW!....that is the ONLY REASON why Brazil made a decision to play those friendly matches with Zimbabwe and Tanzania.

Wenzetu hawafanyi kazi kwa kulipua,nimeona hata South Africa wametafuta mechi za majaribio na timu vibonde na kweli zimewasidia kurudisha kujiamini.Juzi nimesoma jinsi Ujerumani wanavyotumia wanafunzi wa vyuo vikuuu kuchunguza wachezaji wa nchi ambazo wako kundi moja

inaweza kuwa sababu moja wapo .................but pesa pia hapa ime play major factor. Nani atakae kataa kupewa mamilioni ya dola kwa faida yake mwenyewe?

Huyo mhariri asitudanganye hapa - Brazil were attracted by MONEY (fullstop). No one could have risked a giant team like Brazil to play in "hot" climate in Dar while they are going to face their opponents in a striking "winter" in SA. I strongly beleive Money binded them.

We knew they will win, what we did not is by how much.

Arsene Wenger said:

i wish that was the main reason to play us and zimbabwe but its not.they played us only because they got paid.

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unafikiri UJERUMANI wangewalipa kiasi hiki hiki cha pesa,na muda huu(5 days before WC) wangekubali kucheza?
JIBU LAKO litaonyesha kama kweli wamecheza kwa pesa au kwasababu ingine pia.

Naamini walikuja kutuburudisha na si vinginevyo.
Maana hii nafasi watani zetu wa jadi hapo waililia sana.

Brazili wanacheza na deal ya mass mobilization ya 'will power' collection toka bara Afrika kuwasaidia kushinda. Hizi ndizo zile dili kama za Vodooism, kama wafanyavyo matajiri wa Kidosi, kina Dewji, Manji etc na hata kina Mengi, kufanya wema unaonekana kwa kundi la watu, ili maltitude of people wakushukuru, with genuine intention ya kukuombea mema, ile will power yao, inanyoosha njia yako, ni hivi ndivyo wafanyavyo hata kina Kakobe na wahubiri kibao,kufanikiwa by playing with people minds in giving out their will powers for your advantage.

Wahindi wanavyodhamini timu, wanapoteza mamilioni what for. Manji anapata nini Yanga?, watu hawakijui, lakini Manji anajua na Mengi pia anajua ndio maana Mengi alitaka na yeye kupenyeza mguu wake huko, wale wazee wa Yanga, wakaishia kumlia hela yake na kuendelea kumuabudu Manji, kwani sumu aliyowamwagia, imeshawalewesha kabisa, na juzi ndio imemshukia Madega!.

Kwenye mwili wa binadamu, hakuna kitu chenye nguvu kama 'will power', hii will power iko ndani ya kila mtu, ila wengine inajionyesha zaidi, hivyo kujiita wachungaji, waganga, wachawi, wanajimu, viongozi, au watu wenye vipaji maalum. Wengine haijionyeshi wazi sana, lakini wengi wanayo katika maeneo tofauti wekiwemo wengi wetu humu JF, atashuhudia sio tuu uwezo wao kwenye kukata issue, bali convincing power ya hali ya juu ambapo hata karatasi jeusi, unaliona kwa macho yako mwenyewe kuwa ni jeusi, akikuambia ni jeupe, utaliangalia na hatimaye kuliona kuwa ni jeupe, kumbe wapi!.

Brazili inakusanya will power za Waafrika to rally on its behind kupata ushindi. Kucheza na Zimbabwe wameiteka Southern African region kwa vile wanajua wazi Bafana Bafana ni wasindikizaji ambao sala zote za Bara la Afrika ziko nao. Amini usiamini, baada ya Brazili kukipiga na Zimba, sala zote za Zimba ni kwao na sio Bafana tena. Baada ya kukipiga na sisi, sala zote za nchi za Jumuiya ya Africa Mashariki ni zao, watu wanashangilia zaidi the teams they are close with, hivyo Brazili imejimuvuzisha kuwa close na African Continents kuvuna " will power" zetu kwenye kuitakia ushindi.

Namalizia kwa kuwaambia wana JF wote kuwa kombe hili, linakwenda Brazili, ni Samba Samba mtindo mmoja toka Brazili mpaka Afrika, anayebisha abishe tuu, siku ya siku, wale mnaosoma hapa mtakumbuka.

Nyie watu mnachemka kwelikweli. Mnafikiri kuwapa Brazil dola milioni 2 ni pesa nyingi? Wengi wao wanapata hizo hela kwenye timu zao na ni yeye peke yake. Sasa hizo pesa ukagawanya kwa sijui 30 unapata 67,000$ ambayo ni pesa ya wiki kwa wachezaji.

Mnasahau kuwa ni nchi nyingi saaana huwa zinalilia kuwachukua hawa jamaa. Nimepata habari za kuaminika kuwa Tunisia walishatoa hela NENE zaidi kwa ajili ya kuwaleta Brazil na kutangaza soko lao la UTALII na hawakupata kitu. Ili hawa jamaa uwalete, kwanza lazima ukubaliwe na NIKE maana kila mechi ni NIKE anaamua na yeye ni mdhamini mkubwa wa Brazil na analipa donge nono sana. Pia uje ukubalike na uongozi wa timu na nafikiri pia kwa mbaaali nchi.

Hapa nafikiri kilichotokea ni FIFA kuzisaidia nchi zilizochini sana kimpira na zenyewe zipato mwamko. Rais wa FIFA kwa kweli anatupigia sana kampeni ili World Cup ya mwaka huu iingie kwenye historia. Sijawahi kuona Brazil ikicheza na nchi dhaifu kimpira, siku chache kabla ya kuanza mashindano ya WC. Hii mechi kwangu mie ilikuwa ni ya kisiasa zaidi (KWA FIFA) zaidi ya hizo pesa. FIFA walikuwa wametusahau sana sisi Wa Africa na sasa ni kama kutupa na sisi tule kidogo na tufurahi baada ya kuliwa tangu tujiunge kucheza WC.

Hamna pesa ya kuwalipa Brazil. Tufurahie tu kuwa walikuja. Walikuwa karibu na hawakuwa na cha maana cha kufanya. Pia kwao ni kama walikuja kufanya mazoezi. Ila hata hivyo, bado wangeliweza kucheza na nchi za maana na si kupoteza muda na Tanzania. Kama pesa, ninaamini kuwa kuna timu zingelipa zaidi na mechi iwe hata Tanzania na bado Brazil wakalipwa zaidi. Ona hata mechi yenyewe ya jana. Ni kama walitubeba tu. Wangelitaka, wangelituchezesha hadi mabeki wakapata kizunguzungu. Pia tusingelifunga hata goli moja.

KWELI, JANA ILIKUWA MECHI YA KIRAFIKI.

Pasco,

Kama ingelikuwa hivyo, basi Maradona ndiyo angelifanya hilo. Kumbuka kuwa hili halijawahi kutokea kabisa kwenye kombe la dunia. Yaani timu bora duniani ikacheza na timu hafifu za bara hilo. Brazil wanapendwa na wanafahamu hilo na sidhani kama wanahitaji kutafuta mashabiki wa nchi masikini ambao wengi wao hata WC hawataiangalia au wataangalia kwenye katundu kwenye ukuta wa nyumba ya TV show.

Nafahamu hilo unalotaka kusema. Maradona alilitumia wakati wa WC Italy mwaka 1986 kama sikosei.
Wakati huo alikuwa akichezea Napoli na Napoli ina sifa mbaya kabisa kwa Italy kama mji wa ovyo. Huwa wanachekwa saana watu wa mji huo na wao hujiona kama Italy B. Maradona alikuja na kuchezea hiyo timu na ikashinda kuwa club bingwa ya Italy. Wakampenda saana. Siku moja kabla ya mechi ya Italy vs Argentina, alienda kwenye TV na kuwaambia watu wa Napoli kuwa anaomba MSAADA wao. Kesho wamshangilie kama kawaida kwani yeye ni mmoja wao. Anatumia muda mwingi kwa mwaka kuishi hapo Napoli kuzidi hata Argentina na anajiona na yeye ni mmoja wao. Siku iliyofuata, Napoli nzima ilimiminika kumshangilia MARADONA. Waitaly walitibuka saana ila ndiyo wakaishia kufungwa na Napoli wakashangilia ushindi wa Argentina.

Nafikiri unaelewa sasa kuwa, Maradona analifahamu hilo na hapa halijatumika. Kwangu mie naamini ni Rais wa FIFA kawaomba Brazil wafanye SHOW kabla ya WC ili kuwafurahisha baadhi ya nchi zilizo chini saaana kimpira wa miguu. Zimbabwe, inaweza kuwa hata KISIASA.

Nina wasiwasi kuwa mwaka huu, Argentina wanachukua kombe la dunia. Wana wafungaji wawili bora duniani yaani Diego Milito na Mungu mtu Leonel Messi. Pia kuwa vichaa wengine huko nyuma kuwasaidia. Kuwashika hawa jamaa kwa kweli itakuwa kasheshe. Na ninawasiwasi kuwa kwa makusudi kabisa huwa wanaharibu matokeo yao ili mtu asifahamu ni wazuri kiasi gani. Hii ni mbinu ya siku nyingi ya Maradona. Unakumbuka 86 walivyoanza? Unakumbuka 90 walivyoanza kwa kufungwa na Cameroon na wakaja kupigana hadi Final? Na kama si refa kutoa kadi nyekundu kitoto, basi Argentina wangelishinda tena. Ila hii naamini ilipangwa maana ni kweli kuwa kila kombe la dunia linalofanyika Ulaya, ni timu za Ulaya hushinda (kasoro mara moja tu, Sweden mwaka 1968 huko Sweden enzi Pele ni kitoto). Nyingine zote wameshinda wao na timu za Ulaya, milele hazijawahi kushinda nje ya Ulaya. Mwaka huu naamini, ni Argentina nampa 90%. Brazil nampa 80% kwa imani hiyohiyo ya UMAFIA wa FIFA.

Pasco said:

Namalizia kwa kuwaambia wana JF wote kuwa kombe hili, linakwenda Brazili, ni Samba Samba mtindo mmoja toka Brazili mpaka Afrika, anayebisha abishe tuu, siku ya siku, wale mnaosoma hapa mtakumbuka.

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Umejenga hoja vizuri kutetea unachoamini.....hakuna cha zaidi tumewalipa hawa!

Germans wamecheza na kitimu chenye wachezaji wa vyuo vikuu na kuifunga 24-0! England wamecheza na Platinum stars....timu dhaifu zote hizi.....wala si kutafuta "will Power"

JF huwa tuna kumbu kumbu.....nitakukumbusha Kombe likiwa linakwenda Argentina.

Arsene Wenger said:

i wish that was the main reason to play us and zimbabwe but its not.they played us only because they got paid.

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They played because we asked to pay them!

Masanilo said:

Umejenga hoja vizuri kutetea unachoamini.....hakuna cha zaidi tumewalipa hawa!

Germans wamecheza na kitimu chenye wachezaji wa vyuo vikuu na kuifunga 24-0! England wamecheza na Platinum stars....timu dhaifu zote hizi.....wala si kutafuta "will Power"

JF huwa tuna kumbu kumbu.....nitakukumbusha Kombe likiwa linakwenda Argentina.

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As far as Argentina is under Maradonna, hawawezi kuchukua WC, FIFA hawawezi kuruhusu hilo kwa maana wanamjua jamaa ni fyatu hakawiii kuwaita Waandishi wa Habari na kumwambia Blatter na Pelle " Suck it and Keep on Sucking it"

To FIFA Diego is number one enemy to Football hata kwa Maradonna FIFA ni adui wa Soka