MIAMI, Florida — Brazil World Cup winner Kleberson says the growth of the game in small regions like the Caribbean speaks volumes for the programmes of the over-arching CONCACAF, which governs the game in North and Central America as well.

The 34-year-old, who was a member of Brazil’s Japan/South Korea 2002 FIFA World Cup winning team, also saluted the steady development of Jamaica’s football in particular.

“CONCACAF football is growing a lot and many players from the region are playing overseas in Europe and that can only help the football to grow.

“I believe that a lot of the small countries in football are getting better because of the emphasis on development by CONCACAF. Teams in the Caribbean, for example, are getting better and Jamaica is one of them. Jamaica did qualify for the World Cup (France 1998), plus they have a lot of players now playing in the USA and in Europe, and that to me, is an indication that their football is growing,” he told the Jamaica Observer at St Regis Hotel in Bal Harbor, Miami, on Thursday.

Kleberson, who was recognised by CONCACAF as a legend of the game along with seven others at the function to launch the Centennial Cup America, said nothing from a footballing perspective beats his experiences at the World Cup.

“It was amazing as the first one I was a world champion and I was very young at the time, but the second one I was more mature though I didn’t figure much.

“The two things that I carry with me as a treasured experience is playing in two World Cups,” said Kleberson, who is still active with North American Soccer League outfit Indy Eleven.

With Brazil hosting the World Cup this summer, the former Manchester United midfielder believes that the pressure to lift football’s most prized trophy goes up by multiples.

“There was a lot of pressure when we didn’t win the last one, so there’ll be a lot more pressure to win this one,” Kleberson said, breaking out into a smile.

Despite the test to come from other South American teams playing in their continental backyard and the perennial European threat, Brazil will be confident in the eyes of a man who has tasted World Cup glory, having played in five of seven matches in the successful 2002 campaign.

“Our chances are very good, and of course we are one of the favourites, and our players have been doing well as they have been playing a lot and in the best leagues of the world,” Kleberson noted.

Coach Felipe Scolari has teased those itching to know Brazil’s 23-man squad for their home conquest by naming David Luiz, Oscar, Ramires, Willian, Paulinho, Julio Cesar, Thiago Silva, Fred and Neymar as nine already confirmed. Of the lot, four are up for captain — Silva, Luiz, Cesar and Fred.

As a coach, Kleberson has likened Scolari a father figure, claiming if anybody can lead the five-time champions to a sixth title, the 65-year-old can. “He is kind of dad to his players. He looks to support his players and take the pressure off them. He enjoys joking around but he also knows when it is time to be serious,” Kleberson said.

Brazil has faced sweeping internal protests from its citizens with the multiple billions of dollars it’s spending on developing infrastructure for the hosting of Brazil’s first World Cup since 1950, even as the state has failed to address some fundamental welfare and social issues.

Kleberson, whose christened name is José Kleberson Pereira, argued that the need of the masses in Brazil is real and remains a obligation of the state, but he noted that the World Cup to Brazil in its contemporary form is also important for a wide range of reasons.

“I understand the concerns of the people as they are legitimate… but hosting the World Cup is very important for the country as well with the money it will bring and the legacy it will leave behind,” he said.

Kleberson, who has played in 32 internationals, made his debut at the senior level in a friendly against Bolivia in January 2002. He also marked that appearance by scoring Brazil’s fourth goal in a 6-0 win.

As he made his push to cement a spot in Luiz Felipe Scolari’s squad for Japan/South Korea, Kleberson also scored against Iceland in another friendly match in March of the same year.

He was subsequently selected by Scolari for what many thought was the wiry player’s tenacity in midfield.

In the final of the World Cup, Brazil defeated Germany 2-1 in the final, with Kleberson setting up one of the goals as the South Americans won for a record fifth time.