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Young Brazilian players Pato and Anderson (right) admit that training and playing alongside the seasoned Ronaldinho (left) will help to settle any nerves they might have on the Olympic stage. -- PHOTO: JOSEPH NAIR FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES
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If Brazil win the Olympic football title next month, Singapore can take a little credit.
Samba stars Alexandre Pato and Anderson took time out yesterday to praise the Republic for a job well done.
They said their training stint here will go a long way towards ending Brazil's Olympic jinx.
Said AC Milan's Pato: 'For sure, we can have an idea of how the games will be like.
'We can see that the humidity is really high, so it gives us an idea of how it will be really like in China.'
Manchester United's Anderson said that it was the 'right choice' to come to Singapore ahead of the Beijing Games.
Like many tourists, the 20-year-old midfielder was impressed by the country's cleanliness and hospitality.
More importantly, he believes Singapore has been the perfect launchpad for his team's Olympic campaign.
'We are being very well treated, and well done to everyone,' he said.
'I think it's really important to be together because some of the other players were not training in the off-season. It also helps for us to get used to the climate.'
One of the youngest players in Brazil's star-studded squad is the 18-year-old Pato, who has been hailed as Milan's bright new hope.
Playing alongside the likes of Ronaldinho, he said, will help to settle any nerves he might have on the Olympic stage.
'I am glad to be in a team that consists of more experienced players who can help and support me on the field,' he said.
'It also calms me and helps me to try and do my best on the field.'
Brazil, the five-time World Cup winners, have never won the Olympic soccer gold.
Anderson, who already has the Premier League and Champions League titles under his belt, is eager to rewrite that statistic.
He said: 'I am playing for my country and this is really important for me.
'Every player wants to win in Europe, but I can't deny how important it is to win the only medal that Brazil haven't won.'
Coach Dunga and his 18-man squad are focused on their Beijing quest.
The Brazilians have seen little of Singapore, apart from their trips to the National Stadium for training and to Raffles Place for fitness training.
Said assistant coach Jorginho: 'For us, it has been the hotel and training, and back to the hotel.'
Dunga is said to have imposed an 8pm curfew on his players, who are not allowed to leave the Mandarin Oriental hotel after that time.
Even notorious party animals like Ronaldinho and Anderson appear to have been reined in.
Sources say they have not seen any player step out at night.
Only Diego and Hernanes were spotted leaving the confines of their hotel.
Even then, all they did was to get a haircut at the nearby Marina Square mall on Friday.
Brazil's young stars take on a Singapore selection tomorrow at the National Stadium.
The 2,000 tickets priced at $15 for students aged below 16 have been sold out.
Gallery tickets at $60 and grandstand tickets at $120 are still available at all Sistic outlets. Tickets will also be sold at the stadium tomorrow.
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