Busy backs Brazil… again
THOSE in football and music circles know Clive “Busy” Campbell is an unapologetic Brazil supporter.
“I was born in Rio de Jeneiro, living in Sao Paulo and now I’m just vacationing in Jamaica,” he jokes.
Brazil has lifted the World Cup five times, more than any nation — 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002.
“We should have won it in ’82 with Zico, Sócrates and Falcão; we lost to France in ’86; and in 1990. After outplaying Argentina we lost to them (in the round of 16),” he recalled.
Campbell, a former Railway FC player, is confident the team from the ‘Land of Samba’ can do it again.
“Brazil’s current side is great. I think we can pull it off. What I saw on Sunday against Austria is encouraging. Neymar has the talent to carry the team, he just has to be careful,” he told the Jamaica Observer.
Neymar is Brazil’s striker Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior. He was instrumental in the country’s 3-0 win over Austria on Sunday at Ernst Happel Stadion in Leopoldstadt and scored an impressive goal.
Brazil is coached by Adenor Leonardo Bacchi, more popularly called Tite.
“The coach hasn’t lost a game since 2016. That’s impressive,” said Campbell.
Brazil open their World Cup campaign against Switzerland on June 17, and also face Costa Rica and Serbia in Group E.
Campbell has visited the South American nation once and learnt two instructive lessons.
“I visited in 1992 as a tourist… Football is an industry in Brazil, just like how tourism is for Jamaica. That’s why they can export so many players. Secondly, their system of playing: If they have the ball, the opponents can’t score,” he said.
The Franklyn Town-born Campbell laced up his boots for Division One team Railway from 1966 to 1968 as a midfielder. He moved to Santos in 1968.
“At Santos we won the Division One and Senior Knockout in 1968 and 1969. I played with Billy Perkins, Johnny Cool, David Largie and Alan “Skill” Cole. In 1970 I was injured and was replaced by Milverton Brooks… I was playing centre-half. We, however, lost to Boys’ Town in the final. Jackie Bell was the coach and Winston Chung Fah, the club’s founder, had just handed over to him. That same year, I got called to the Jamaica team by George “George T” Thompson … Milverton Brooks and Owen ”Ital Stew” Stewart were also called that year. I cherish that scall as up this day I still have my ID,” he said.
Campbell’s talents were not confined to football. He is credited as producer for songs by Sugar Minott ( Leave Outta Babylon), Barrington Levy (S weet Reggae Music, Looking My Love) and Carlton Livingston’s Don’t Follow Rumours.
For 37 years, he has organised One Love Football matches between celebrities and entertainers. The event also honours entertainers who have contributed to Jamaica’s music.