Cafu: hard work, vitality, happiness and success (Exclusive Interview for Ole Ole)

*** The original version of this interview in PORTUGUESE is available on the video section CLICK HERE TO WATCH ***  

It's been more than 18 years now as a profesional footballer since his debut at São Paulo FC in 1989. During all this time, Marcos Evangelista de Moraes, a.k.a. Cafu,  has been a role model.

He appeared for football exactly when Brazil was lacking good right-back wing and since then he became an icon.

The highligh of his careeer was when he lift Brazil's 5th World Cup in 2002.

Cafu is a "broda" as one could call his closest friends. And that was how our conversation happened right after Milan's training session in Yokohama where the team prepared itself to face Urawa Reds for the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup.

Cafu, after so many years playing footbal are you still the same, I mean, after all the success, are you still the same peerson? No doubt about it. I don't why one should change. I'm the same Cafu from 30 years ago. I've always been the same happy, easy going Cafu and always winning titles which is the most important, right? 

 Sure... that's very important... You already won so meny titles, you were Intercontinental Champion with São Paulo as part of that wonderful Telê Santana squad and now you have the opportunity to win another world title with Milan. Does it still feel the same when you win a championship? Of course it does. Winning championships is always very pleasant. It means that the work we've being doing is paying off. I've been receiving what I've planted a long time ago. I think that winning is simply awesome. And it's good to mention that this is gonna be my 4th opportunity to win a Club World Championship, I got to win 2 with São Paulo, then we (Milan) lost in 2003 and now I got the chance to win this one with Milan with God's help.

That's true. Cafu, you're already past the 30 years old  so are many other players on the squad. What is the secret to ... I mean, I've seen you running up and down, crossing you still look like the same Cafu from São Paulo... what is the secret to stay fit? I'm already 32 and I cannot do all that.  Hard work man. A lot of hard work, dedication, strong will, this is all important, right? And also the passion to play football. I believe that as long as I still have this passion I'll be running just like you saw there. When I feel the passion fading then I'll understand it's time to hang my boots. But I still feel great and if it's God's will and I have no injury I think I can still paly for a long time. 

What does "a long time" mean Cafu? Do you have any plans for retirement?   You see... I don't know. Only God knows, only time will tell, right? If I stay fit the way I am today I still have condition to play for a long time but everything will be decided in june. I'm gonna wait till june and then make a decision.  

And one last question now before you go (to the locker rooms). Before you sign with Milan, right after you left Roma, there was a contract offer from Yokohama Marinos to play here in Japan. The deal didn't go through and you ended up going to Milan estlashing a successful career there. Do you still have any plans of coming to play here in Japan?  Man, I don't know. I tried no to plan things anymore since what happen with this whole Milan-Japan thing. By the way, I'd like to take a moment to thank Yokohama. They were all very nice to me. They understood my situation at that moment when I ended up choosing to go to Milan. But plans for the future I have none yet. Let's way until june and only then make a decision.