Soccer is like a religion in Brazil and the 2014 World Cup is offering inmates in the South American host nation a shot at redemption.
“My life has changed direction,” said sun-beaten Thiago Ferreira, a 26-year-old convicted drug trafficker who is helping renovate the Belo Horizonte soccer stadium, which will host a number of World Cup games.
Ferreira, who joined a state reintegration program, said he regretted his drug-dealing days and regarded his new job — he looks after the tools on the site — as “a great second chance” to rebuild his life.
Photo: AFP
Under an agreement between the Brazilian government and local authorities in the 12 cities hosting 2014 World Cup games, at least 5 percent of the workers building or renovating the stadiums must be prisoners.
The inmates are selected after a rigorous evaluation process by a group of social workers, lawyers and psychologists.
In Belo Horizonte, capital of the southeastern state of Minas Gerais, Ferreira is one of 16 inmates from a local prison selected to work on the stadium alongside almost 1,500 other workers.
Photo: AFP
Every morning, he wakes up at 4am to help complete the renovation of the the 67,000-seat Mineirao stadium by the deadline late this year.
Once finished, the stadium will host the FIFA Confederations Cup next year and the World Cup the following year.
For three days of work, each inmate earns one day off his sentence.
“For us who are in the semi-open prison regime, this is a great opportunity that we must seize because a life of crime has only two possible outcomes: the wheelchair or six feet under,” Ferreira said.
After two years and five months in jail, he cannot wait to walk free next month and continue working at the Mineirao arena, where he is paid about 250 euros (US$320) a month, slightly above the minimum wage.
With that pay, he can support his wife, his one-month-old son and his mother.
“I hope to show my son all that I went through so that he does not make the same mistakes, and to give him all the things I did not have in my life,” said Ferreira, who was entitled to conjugal visits, proudly showing pictures of his baby boy on his cellphone.
At 11am workers leave the rubble of the Mineirao and drop their tools in the shed run by Ferreira, turning the area into a makeshift cafeteria.
Francisco das Chagas Queiroz, who spent 17 years in jail for a bank robbery, is one of this month’s model employees and has been rewarded for his efficiency and devotion to duty by being put in charge of logistics.
The 52-year-old Queiroz sees the recognition from his supervisors as “a great honor” and hopes to continue working on the site when he completes his sentence.
“It is clear I came here to make a difference. And with God’s help, I succeeded and they appreciate my work. I was promoted after 12 days to help coordinate things,” Queiroz said. “Work on the [stadium] reconstruction is an honor. To be valued in a big company is something that makes you feel good.”
Queiroz expressed no remorse over his past crimes, saying: “I am what I am because of the difficulties I went through.”
The former shopkeeper has a punishing daily schedule, starting work at the stadium at 5am, going to nursing school at 6pm, before returning to his cell close to midnight.
Reminiscing about his past, he said he began stealing in the 1980s when he was battling the military dictatorship, which held power from 1964 to 1985.
He said that in 1977 to 1978, he knew Dilma Rousseff, then a Marxist guerrilla and now Brazil’s first woman president.
“She was awesome,” Queiroz said admiringly. “She risked her life for others.”
After letting another big lead slip with an error-strewn performance at the French Open on Wednesday, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka felt like getting as far away from the courts as possible. “Just want to quit tennis right now,” Sabalenka said after wasting a lead of a set and two breaks in a 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 loss to Diana Shnaider in the women’s singles quarter-finals. “We’ll see in few days. Hopefully I’ll get back on track mentally.” Sabalenka’s wait for a first French Open title continues despite the four-time major winner leading 4-1 in the second set and being two points from victory while
BIG NAMES GONE: Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title, reaching semi-finals for the fifth time in six years and finishing second on three occasions Alexander Zverev on Tuesday breezed past Rafael Jodar to stay on course for an elusive Grand Slam title at the French Open, while Jakub Mensik halted Joao Fonseca’s scintillating run in the quarter-finals. Zverev, the highest-ranked player left in the men’s draw, put an end to Spanish teenager Jodar’s impressive Roland Garros debut, easing into the semi-finals with a 7-6, (7/3), 6-1, 6-3 win. The 29-year-old Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title. He has finished runner-up on three occasions, including at the 2024 French Open. “I want to win the matches that are ahead of
Liverpool are in advanced talks with former AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola as they seek a replacement for Arne Slot, reports said on Tuesday. Iraola has emerged as Liverpool’s top target to replace Slot, who was sacked on Saturday last week after a turbulent second season in charge. Liverpool have reportedly agreed a deal in principle to bring the Spaniard, who left Bournemouth at the end of this season, to Anfield. Sporting director Richard Hughes was heavily involved in hiring Iraola during his time at Bournemouth and is again spearheading the recruitment of the highly rated coach. The Reds are
KNICKS TAKE LEAD: San Antonio put on a 9-0 run to be up 95-94 with just over 2 minutes to play, but the rest of the game belonged to the New York Knicks It was past five minutes through the third quarter of Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday and the New York Knicks’ 11-game winning streak was in major jeopardy. The Knicks missed nine of their first 10 shots in the early part of the period and trailed the San Antonio Spurs by 14 points. They were floundering. Then something crazy happened. The Knicks found new life from an unlikely source: The Spurs. New York rallied to tie the game by the end of the period, gave up the lead briefly late in the fourth quarter, and pulled away late for a 105-95
RSS