"No other country I have seen what we are having here. I traveled around the world. I passed into many countries in Africa, like Mali, Egypt, Senegal and many, many countries, they know our players, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Romario, Roberto Carlos but not the passion we have seen here. People, children, women, men, everybody loves our football," said Brazilian journalist Clayton Conservani when queried if he had found any other country with more Brazil fans than Bangladesh.
Working for the largest Brazilian TV channel, Globo, and accompanied by producer Igor Tavares and cameraman Mikael Bento, Clayton arrived in Dhaka Friday. Since then, he has travelled to Chittagong, Manikganj and different places in Dhaka in order to cover what happens in Bangladesh during the World Cup.
The three journalists will leave the country Monday and their 15-minute documentation on Bangladesh will be on air on the first day of July, during the Sunday Morning TV show. Clayton expressed hope that more than 30m people in Latin America will watch the programme.
"I think we have big connection, the sports connection, that's why we are here," said Clayton before adding, "You know our players better than me, it's incredible how you love our football. It's incredible for us to know this connection. We are like 16, 000kms from where we live in Rio de Janeiro. While we were in Manikganj (Wednesday) I feel like home, like I was in a street in Rio, people celebrating, cheering with their face painted yellow and green. They were crazy with us. They want to express this love all the time.
“@faruque_ju: @joefooty
— Joe Morrison (@joefooty) June 12, 2014
One House in Bangladesh fully colored in Brazil color. #hexa pic.twitter.com/svgoYr6tUx”>Brilliant!!
"It's an experience that we want to bring and show. It's a very good story for our TV.
“We have big, big audience in our sports programme. I think more than 30m people will watch, they will see your country, kindness, hospitality and love for our biggest sport, that is football."
Clayton has been working for Globo for 22 years now.
Igor said, "We have traveled around the world, covering the most important events but what we have seen here is so special. I have been working at Globo TV for 15 years but I have never seen such warmth and passion for our country. Our mission here is to build a bridge to our audience of Brazilian people and Bangladesh."
The three journalists will travel to Brazil House at Fatullah in Narayanganj Friday to watch Brazil's next 2018 Fifa World Cup Group E game against Costa Rica.
