Brazilian legend Juliano Belletti gives hope to suspended Kenya

“This trophy is meant to inspire and motivate Kenyans during this suspension period, to tell them that they can qualify for the World Cup in the future.

“Football is very inspiring. The significance of this cup is to make the Kenyan people happy despite the ongoing suspension, and bring them closer to this year’s  World Cup that will be held in Qatar,” he said.

The former Barcelona defender gave an anecdote on how he started his football career as a goalkeeper, then a midfielder before he found his niche in the defense line.

Belletti, who won two LaLiga titles with Barcelona, is mostly remembered for scoring the winner in the 2006 Champions League final against Arsenal.

“As a goalkeeper, it was so hard to dream about scoring goals but I did not give up, somehow things worked out and I scored one of the best and most memorable goals in the UEFA Champions League finals,” he said underscored.

“If I managed to transition from goalkeeping to playing and scoring goals inside the pitch, then that is enough motivation to tell Kenyans and the players that all is possible under the sun.

“Football is about joy, and this can be achieved with great teamwork, determination, discipline, firm belief, and constant practices.”

Belletti, who also featured for English Premier League side Chelsea and Villarreal in Spain, believes Kenya as well as the rest of the African teams have the potential to win the coveted Fifa World Cup, but he was quick to warn that it really takes sweat and blood to accomplish the feat.

“To be honest, it’s not an easy thing, but Africa has potential. One day it will be possible. That’s the reason I’m here with the trophy to tell Kenya and the rest of the continent that there is hope in this game,” he reiterated.

But how does it feel to lift the World Cup?

Belletti says that his best moments on a pitch still remain in 2002 when he lifted the Fifa World Cup trophy with Brazil. The global contest was co-hosted by South Korea and Japan.

“It was sensational, it was a most special moment for me, I felt on top of the world. When I see the world cup trophy I vividly see our crunch tie against Turkey in the semis, it was an emotional and epic match that we managed to win 1-0,” he recalled.

“We then proceeded to the final and the script was almost somehow the same against Germany in the first half before we managed to sail through with two goals in the second half that earned us the trophy.”

But does he see Brazil winning this year’s (Nov 21-Dec 18) World Cup in Qatar?

Well, Belletti says it will not be a walk in the park for his country in Doha. He is predicting that most squads will be having young and quality players who will make the championship interesting.