| Counting on Kaka |
 Injured but still a star – Kaka is a great sportsman and a great Christian, writes Stuart WeirREAL MADRID’S Kaka had a knee operation in August that was expected to stop him playing for up to four months. At a stroke, the club lost its mainstay. But Kaka has known lows as well as highs during his career. He was one of the many star players whose performance at the 2010 World Cup fell short of his usual high standards as Brazil were eliminated in the quarter finals. Moreover his first season in Spain was not an overwhelming success, with Real Madrid making an early exit from the Champions’ League and failing to wrest La Liga title from Barcelona. To be fair his World Cup was interrupted when he received two yellow cards in the game against Cote d’Ivoire. The incident was described by the BBC TV pundits as ‘the worst red card in history’. He was given a second booking when Kader Keita fell holding his face after an innocuous collision between the two. Kaká’s coach Dunga said, ‘It was a totally unjustified dismissal. He was fouled and yet he was punished.’ Even Kaká’s grandmother had something to say about it. The player told the press the following day, ‘I can’t repeat here what she said about the referee. She was happy with the way I played, but sad with the sending off. With all the respect that she has, she launched a bit of a tirade at the referee.’ Kaká was voted FIFA World Player of the Year in 2007. He played for AC Milan for six years, including winning the UEFA Champions’ League (2007) and Italian Serie A (2004). He also helped Brazil win the Confederations Cup – an eight-team tournament for the champions of each continent, played one year before the World Cup – in 2005 and 2009, and the Copa America in 2009. He has been less successful in the World Cup. He has in his collection a World Cup winner’s medal from 2002, when he was a squad player who played only 25 minutes of one pool game. In 2006 Brazil lost to France and in 2010 to Netherlands. In 2014 Brazil will be under enormous pressure as hosts. Failing to defend their World Cup title in 2006 was a big disappointment for Kaká. Defeat is hard to take. ‘I’ve had defeats which really marked my life,’ he says, ‘like the Champions League in 2005 when Milan were winning 3-0 but Liverpool tied the game and we ended up losing on penalties. The defeat in the World Cup 2006 against France was another that left a mark.’ He is very up-front about his Christian faith – sometimes wearing a T-shirt with the message, ‘I belong to Jesus.’ Christianity is sometimes seen as crutch for the weak. Surely the former World player of the year, who has won everything and is rich and famous, does not need religion? Kaká is in no doubt: ‘I need Jesus every day of my life. Jesus tells me, in the Bible, that without him, I can’t do anything. I really believe that without Jesus, we can’t do anything. The gift and ability I have today to play football is because God gave it to me. It is a gift from God that I try to improve on every day. That is why I need Jesus in my life every day.’  When you have achieved everything that Kaká has, what motivates you to keep going? Other Brazilian stars like Ronaldo and Ronaldinho seem to have reached the top and gone off the boil. Has Kaká still got unfulfilled ambitions? ‘In 2007, I received the FIFA prize of the Golden Ball. I want to win the FIFA prize of Best Player of the World again. My motivation is to continue winning matches, to continue winning trophies and to be the World’s best player once again. To win the World Cup is a another great dream. ‘I dream of winning trophies with my new club, Real Madrid, where I have just begun. In terms of trophies, I am beginning from zero with Real Madrid, but I want to have many successes. ‘I also dream of my son growing and healthy and that my wife and I will be able to share our values with him. We also dream of having more children. These are my dreams and God willing, I will see them come true.’ Real Madrid has a new manager this season in Jose Mourinho. There will be pressure on him – and Kaka – to break the stranglehold of Barcelona. Watch this space. |
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