In this week's interview, we give credit to one of the most active players in Brazil. Daniel de Matos is also one of the most enthusiastic players in South America and a big promoter of the the beautiful game.
When did
you first started to play Subbuteo and what was the first team you got bought?
I first
played subbuteo when I was a 8 year old kid. Estrela (A Brazilian toymaker) had
launched Pelebol (subbuteo) in Brazil and it was fairly common in the early eighties.
Then my parents went to England and bought me and my brother a complete set. We
used it quite a lot, until nearly all of the players broke. Then, the subbuteo
trend disappeared here and we didn´t find teams to replace the ones we broke.
So, I went on to play Brazilian table football (played with buttons) for the
remainder of my childhood and my early twenties. After I graduated from
college, I stopped playing due to complete lack of time.
However, in late 2011, I got the news that the game was being brought back
again thanks to the effort of the Brazilian Table Football Confederation. So, I
got a used subbuteo set on eBay and went back to flicking.
First, I got a Brazil and Argentina on Zeugos, and shortly after, I got
Atletico de Madrid on iBase Storm
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| Daniel (second from the right side) with his Vasco de Gama shirt during the recent FISTF Grand Prix of Brazil |
How many years have you been playing and
what are the main titles you have collected at any level?
Right now,
it´s been almost two years since I have returned to the subbuteo table. The
only title I have gotten so far is the South American Club Championship with my
team (Vasco da Gama). But I am still working hard on the table to get better in
this department.
What is the best thing about this game and
why would you recommend it to someone?
First of
all, It is a game that requires a lot of mental strength, mental quickness,
hand-to-eye coordination and a lot of practice. You don´t get to be a better
flicker without practicing. You have to go to the pitch and try you best.
Second, it is a close-knit community. Most of the players I have spoken to or
exchanged messages on Facebook are as passionate as I am about subbuteo and
love to share their experiences. I usually get lots of tips from high-ranked
players like Dan Scheen, Trisha Baumeler or Carlos Flores. These guys are
really enthusiastic about the game and are willing to share their knowledge to
increase the awareness of the sport. I feel very fortunate to be able to learn
something from guys like them.
Your most memorable moments from this game
happy or even sad?
Ah, my most
memorable moment was winning the Club Championship with Vasco da Gama. Vasco da
Gama is the football club I support ever since I was a little kid. And we
Brazilians are very passionate about club football. It is part of the fabric of
our souls, we might say. I never was a great footballer myself, and I always
thought that I would never be an athlete for my childhood team. Well, I
actually accomplished my childhood dream on a smaller scale. So I feel very
honored to play for Vasco da Gama.
Who was your most difficult opponent to
beat and who is your favorite player and why?
Our most
difficult player to beat is Marcelo Lages Ramalhete. He´s a fierce defender. He
will put a lot of pressure on the midfield to try to cause mistakes. And if you
commit any mistakes on the defensive end, you can expect him to capitalize on them.
No wonder he´s Brazil #1 player.
I have two
favorite players. Carlos Flores, with his uptempo game and his nearly endless
arsenal of tricks and accurate shots.
And the other one is Dan Scheen. A fast player with amazing control of
the ball and deadly chip shots.
Is it a sport or a game ? What is your
opinion about this question that many people ask?
Well, even
according to the Brazilian Ministry of Sports, table football is a sport. It requires
mental strength, great conditioning. You play and you perspire. You walk and
jog around the table. Definitely a sport.
What improvements would you like to see in
the future and what would you suggest to improve things?
Since we
are far away from Europe, we try to learn as much as we can from videos from
our European and North American friends (Huge props to Serge Leroy, Wolfgang
Haas and Paul Eyes for their effort – and also Danny Lilley from ESA, for the
live streaming of ESA competitions). So, we would really like to see more games
from Europe. We would like to learn from our European friends as much as we
could. I even remember cancelling all my
appointments during last year´s World Cup just to watch the live streaming of
videos (Such a treat to watch).
Here in Brazil we are trying to bring people to the tables. To create awareness
to the game, and to bring new players. As FISTF President Alan Collins always
says, you can be bad in football, but you can come and try subbuteo and share
our passion and the love for the sport.
What would you recommend to someone who
starts the game now? What are the secrets for top performance.
First of
all, do not rush to buy a subbuteo team right away, if possible. Try different
bases and see which one fits your style better. And stick with this team for as
long as possible. Better results are achieved when you stick for a base type
for a longer time.
Second,
keep your cool. Being nervous on the subbuteo pitch is an ill-omen. It makes
you prone to mistakes and makes it more difficult to capitalize on your
opponent mistakes. If you start cursing, you can be sure that you won’t go far
with a negative attitude
Third:
Practice, practice and practice. If you don´t put effort, you’ll never be a
brilliant player. It takes a lot of time to be a great subbuteo player.
Danel's passport
Name:
Daniel de Matos
Age: 35
Nation:
Brazil
Club: Vasco
da Gama
Type of
figures/bases used: Extreme Works and Tchaaa Sniper
Profession:
Surgeon
Hobbies:
Running, Watching TV series and football, videogames and
Subbuteo
(Interview by Panos Panagiotides)
