If you don’t feel the passion you will never understand…

[Karl]

PLANET BRAGA
http://snowballjoyrider.wordpress.com/2011/04/16/if-you-dont-feel-the-passion-you-will-never-understand/

It's been a long road. From the first weeks of Domingos's reign when the silly season began and certain fans were calling for his head after exiting European football before it had even begun properly. "Rua" they called but thise of little faith did not have any idea of what what coming next. From the get go the league was a blur of victories mixed with emotion never before seen in Braga. It's true that Jorge Jesus had brought a certain style to Braga and his European adventures to the likes of Milan and Paris had brought a certain international flavour to the fans but his manner of exit was probably one of the most underhand and disgusting episodes of a manager leaving teh club in the history of Sporting Clube de Braga. Jorge Jesus had to forgo bonuses of up to 700,000 plus the transfer of Cesar Peixoto(who lived a constant love hate relationship with the fans) which gave Braga compensation but did very little for their pre-season preparations. Getting knocked out of Europe so early was a blessing in disguise. Braga started the season and led from the first week with Ze Meyong scoring a late winner to ensure leadership of the new campaign as all the other seven games ended on level terms. Braga went on a ten game run winning eight, drawing the ninth and then came the famous day in which marked Braga's season and which was ultimately to leave the season forever known as the "Season of Tunnels". When Di Maria(now at Real Madrid) spat towards the bench and kicked the ball in force and the trainers and substitutes all hell broke lose.  Two players were red carded at half time and the second half was left with speculation of what happened in the tunnel at half time. Video was released of what happened. For the record the game finished 2-0 which included a spectacular goal from Hugo Viana.  Soon after false news was reported of Braga attempting to bribe Leixoes players which was later retracted and proved to be false. More speculation that Vandinho of Braga would be banned for up to nine months for aggression against the Benfica assistant manager. Three days before the January transfer ended the Disciplinary Commission sent by mail notice to Braga that Vandinho(Braga's best player of the first half of the season) was banned for three months fro "attempted agression". As ridiculous as it seems the video was released were no contact occured and alongside Vandinho two other Braga players were banned for 2 and 3 games respectively. Braga had no time to buy a suitable player who would only return for the final two games of the season. No Benfica player was charged or givena suspension. Whether it had a negative or positive effect we will never know but Andres Madrid came in and showed some of his old skills from 2005 to push Braga and the title race until the final day of the season. Nobody had ever thought after such a poor start to the season getting knocked out of Europe that we would finish runners in the league, Braga's highest ever position. In the reverse fixture Braga lost 1-0 against Benfica in an ill tempered game in which Marcio Mossoro had hs leg broken in a tackle from behind. Benfica's manager Jorge Jesus (labelled "The Special Two" by a rival manager Manuel Machado in one of his many moments of sarcasm) continued attempts at insulting Braga throughout the season were met with little or no response from Domingos Pacienca who preferred to let his football do the talking. Jorge Jesus who had brought Braga to the last 16 of the UEFA cup constantly stated that Domingos took over a team that he had built and that it was a team that did not need a manager. Domingos's response was simple. Jesus had failed to win more than two consecutive games the previous season whereas Pacienca had several times won numerous games in a row including an 8 straight winning run and a season in which he only dropped 2 points at home. Domingos broke several Braga record including most wins in a season(22), most points in a season(71), most consecutive wins in a season, least amount of defeats in a season(3) amongst others. Domingos proved beyond doubt that even if Jesus had given them a certain style that it was Domingos that had shown them how to be  a team.

At the end of the season SuperBraga.com arranged a dinner in honour of Domingos Pacienca along with his technical team and 330 crazy supporters. I had the huge privledge of being asked to speak(and in my distinctively Foreigner style Portuguese) in front of everybody. At this stage nobody knew if Domingos Pacienca would stay or go. He had still not signed a new contract and so amonst my unprepared speech I pleaded on behalf of the fans for him to continue his good work. Obviously my words(if he understood my mutterings) had no affect but he ended up signing again which made just about every Braga fan happy. the end of the season was a complete contrast from a few people demanding his head to a 100% backing of this great manager.

Braga had Qualified for the Champions league for the first time ever and would be taking a path that had never been travelled. There was some confusion over the draw amongst Braga fans with some people suggesting we could face Tottenham Hotspurs. In the end we ended up getting the top ranked club in the opposite group to us which would be the world reknowned Glasgow Celtic Football Club  which had been founded in 1888 and had previously won the European Cup in 1967. It was expected by the press that Braga would struggle against Celtic and would be the underdog. The days before the game we passed the evening strolling through the town and joining some of the fans that had arrived for a few drinks and to enjoy the athmosphere. The game was on a beautiful summers day and I spent most of the pre match warm up(drinking beer and taking photo) outside Cafe Viana with the Celtic fans. One of the fans "Gonso" l from Spain,will always be remebered and as we brought him into Misericordia for a last beer before the game. On the final walk down to the bar Gonso broke out in a huge rendition of SLB ***** SLB which brought the crowd down and instantly made him a hit with the local fans. For those of you that dont know the bar in Misericordia also doubles as a "Posto de Medico"(Medical Centre) which is helpful if you ever have a few too many beers. *(I'm not sure if it's still a Medical Centre but the sign is still there!)   History was on the side of Celtic and Braga although they had an amzing season beside them were expected to step aside and let the Scottish club through to the final qualifying round. But history as always is meant to be broken and as Matheus's piledriver sailed into the net the Braga fans erupted for the third time and Celtic fans heart were broken as Braga ran out easy 3-0 winners. The return leg was almost impossible to watch but I was one of the lucky people to see the game thanks to iragigoals.net which we linked up to a big screen. Paulo Cesar's first half goal killed off the game but Celtic kept up their never say die attitude and won the game 2-1 but losing the tie 4-2 on aggregate. After 80 minutes of the game, over-officious UEFA officials ordered the stewards to remove my Irish flag. Why they waited 80 minutes will never be known but the flag was nowhere to be seen at the end of the game and its disappearance had been a mystery to me as I did not know at the time what had happened. Some eagle eyed Braga supporters from SuperBraga.com had recorded the game and taken frames from the recording showing the stewards removing the flag. Other people at the game had said it was due to the UEFA officials that it had been removed. PLATINI 1 KARL 0

Sevilha FC were next up with the prize being a place in the Group Stages of the Champions League.

to be continued......

[RibeiroSCB]

what a fantastic work!

[Karl]

Thanks for the comment Zeus!



Braga v Sevilha – 1th August 2010

Once again we were the underdog. This time there was no doubts. Sevilha were a team full of class and had wonthe UEFA cup twice in recent history. No supporter had doubts about the uphill task that we faced. For now we had to be content that we had got past Celtic and one step closer to the Champions League group stages. On another beautiful day a couple of  beer were had in front of  Cafe Brasileira to ease the tension. It was going to be a great game and Braga fans were really up for it. The game started lively witht he first chance going to Sevilha after only 4 minutes when Luis Fabiano hit the post from a header and the match was set for a tense battle between two teams chasing the millions of euros on offer for qualification to the group stages.  Sevilha dominated possession but could not break down a resolute Braga who ran their guts out to close them down. Braga however did not lie down and after Alan had put in a wonderfuul cross in which the keeper failed to clear properly, Salino blasted the ball over the bar. Moments later Kanoute put the ball inthe back of the Braga net but it was correctly judged to be offside. Sevilha had an amazing 66% of possession in the first half  but it didnt stop Braga fighting and after 44 minutes Miguel Gargia put Matheus though on goal in a one on one but the ball was somthered by Paulop. After about 15 minutes of the second half the Sevilha team started to get frustrated and after Paulo Cesar's header from a Salino cross was superby stopped by Palop, Matheus was on hand and in the right place at the right moment to score his second Champions League goal of the season. SEvilha started to shake a little and Braga had several chance to make it 2-0. First up was Alans 20 yard curling shot which Palop brlliantly saved. Then Palopo cmae to the rescue again after Salino put Lima though on goal only to have his shot palmed away. On 90 minutes a Lima rocket hit Sevilha's crossbar and Fabiano had a final shot which sailed into the arms of Felipe.


A tight 1-0 win with a decider set up in Sevilha seven days later. The dream was continuing but the tasks that appeared ahead were greater and greater. Superbraga.com organised a bus to Sevilha. Sandwiches were made and an overnight trip to the south of Spain was days away. The belief in the club and the pure joy of being so close to the giants of European football could be felt everywhere you went. Monday night outside the stadium we got the call. The flag had been found and was going to go on the trip to Sevilha! A member of 2045 delivered the flag minutes before the bus was due to leave. There were people from everywhere on the bus. Ricardo had flown over from Coventry in England, Stuart from Oldham in England(was going onhis first European trip with Braga) and also the Coasts's from Guimaraes who are dedicated Braga fans. We also had Rui(who has written for this blog before) self labelled "unluckiest Braga traveller" who wereever he goes seems to encounter a broken down bus or car! The athmosphere on the bus was quiet to begin. Some beer and wine and food was eaten and drank to calm the nerves and to get us all throught he night. I myself barely slept at all. The excitement was too much. Arriving in Sevilha on a glorious morning we parked the bus (after a few laps of the city) in the city parking area for buses. Braga had previously been here in 2007 and had lost 2-0. A similar result would send Braga to the Europa League and they would also lose out on the huge payout for qualifying from UEFA.

More tomorrow...

[FIDELIS]

Pure "Braguismo"

Just Emotion, just passion

Fidelis Bracara
Braga e Basta

Good Work