We should have known better!
Some time in June 1982, my then-boss at the Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC), the late Edward Lowassa and I had an important professional meeting on international congress tourism in that exotic Brazilian city, Rio de Janeiro.
To cut costs and reduce flight time, we decided to fly from Nairobi via Johannesburg and then onwards to Rio. In Nairobi, we took the Israeli El Al flight to Johannesburg and then connected with Brazilian Airlines to Rio.
We began to feel apprehensive when we were told to report a whole five hours before boarding our 1 a.m. flight. We later understood why.
You see, before reaching the departure lounge, there were three security gates. There, one was not only searched by the airline’s Israeli lady security agents, dressed in flowing long white shirts, but also had to answer several personal questions, including giving a brief account of one’s life history and explaining why one had chosen that particular airline, among other things.
At the third gate, I became irritated by the procedure and complained about it. The lady security agent calmly responded, “It is the policy of our airline not only to ferry our passengers comfortably but also to ensure that they reach their destinations in one piece.”
We indeed reached Johannesburg in one piece. From there, I slept for eight or so long hours until we reached Rio.
In Rio, we checked into one of the hundreds of hotels along the famous and picturesque Copacabana Beach, facing the Atlantic Ocean.
The 16-kilometre-long beach, with its inviting golden sands, is indeed a beehive of activity. Thousands of Cariocas, as the locals call themselves and tourists are busy, 24 hours a day, swimming in the turquoise-blue waters, sunbathing or enjoying drinks from the many kiosks dotting the beach. Many are also busy playing their national sports, football and volleyball, along the length of the beach.
We tried joining them, but soon found that we looked like aliens from outer space in our long trousers. We learnt fast and were soon back in our colourful shorts and Hawaiian shirts.
Our conference went well. However, when we informed our hosts about our scheduled and confirmed departure date, they became very concerned. Those were the dates when more than 200,000 Brazilians would also be flying out to watch the FIFA World Cup, which was being hosted by Spain that year.
Indeed, on our date of departure, we were shocked to find that the airport had literally been invaded by tens of thousands of “crazy” Brazilian football fans, all wanting to fly out to Spain. It was, truly, a Brazilian football carnival!
In the two days we were there, we could not even reach the airline check-in counters. We were exasperated and even worse, running out of cash.
It was only on the third day that an airport employee came to our rescue. But he also asked for USD 20 to help us. My boss tried to protest but I softened him up.
A few hours later, we were inside a crowded plane with hundreds of Brazilian flags draped over the seats and football-crazy Brazilians loudly singing their patriotic songs.
This time around, however, we had to travel through New York, London and Addis Ababa. It took us four days to reach Arusha.
Such is the Brazilian commitment to their national game. No wonder Brazil is the only country to have played in every FIFA World Cup tournament, held every four years, since 1930. It has also won the tournament five times. No other country matches this record.
Therefore, I can assure you that tens of thousands of Brazilians will, this year, be fanatically following and rooting for their World Cup team in stadiums across the three jointly hosting countries: Mexico, the USA and Canada.
It is estimated that about six billion viewers will follow the tournament, which began last week and will end on July 19 this year, when the winner, from among the 48 teams taking part, will lift the FIFA World Cup trophy.
May the best team win!
