Interview with Brasil Borges made in Honolulu - Hawai'i, on August 10,1998.

PB: Brasil, tell us how futevolei was invented.

BRASIL: Around the year of 1963, about 35 years ago, the futevolei appeared on the beach of Copacabana near the streets Constante Ramos, Bolivar and Miguel Lemos. In my time, we began to play the ball over bars of the goal of beach soccer, which turned it an amusement . Soon after that, we bought one volleyball net and began to pass the ball over it. At this point, futevolei became a game. Soon it turned into a habit, a tradition: we played every Saturday and Sunday morning , and the games finished around 1:00 pm. From the beach, the players and fans went together to drink cold and tasteful Brazilian light beer (chopp ) in the Ricão Gaucho Steak House, there on the same beach. It was there that the idea to call the game "futevolei" originated.

PB:Futevolei of that time was played as today?

BRASIL: No, it was not. We played with teams of five against five, as it is done in volleyball. To tell you the truth , I already have seen futevolei played with teams of four against four, and also played on the grass and indoors. By the way, indoors is a good option for rainy or cold days.

PB: Who were your fellow players in the beginning of futevolei?

BRASIL: At Bolivar street, the main incentivador was and still is Mr. Brandão. The first championships had been disputed between the players of Constant Ramos and Bolivar street. The beach was filled with fans, and the games were very exciting. Here is a list of the main players at that time: Claudinho, Sérgio Brito, Armando, Tião, Cadinho, Fabio, Paraíba, Fernando, Geraldo, Nandinho, Motorzinho, Gauchinho, Mauro Raimundo, and famous soccer players such as Dida ( Flamengo and Brazilian National Team), Doval( Flamengo), Carlinhos, and the great Almir. I would like to make special mention of Almir. Futevolei at that time had been influenced very much by Almir, in my opinion one of the best soccer center-fowards that Brazil ever had. He was many times the best striker for Rio de Janeiro's Flamengo F.R., Vasco da Gama F.R., and for São Paulo's Santos F.C . Although being temperamental in the Maracanã's soccer games, the "Pernambucano," was very dear among his colleagues, and he brought many spectators who filled Copacabana Beach trying to watch him play . For futevolei of that time, he was comparable to today's Romário, the best player . Futevolei owes much respect to Almir who was assassinated in the Alaska Gallery in Copacabana.

PB: I would like to know your opinion about Hawaii's futevolei.

BRASIL:In 1969, when I came here, I tried to introduce futevolei here, but there were not as many players as today. Today our players are good and the sport is now more popular. I hope that futevolei here reachs the same level as in Brazil. Hawaii is perfect for practicicing futevolei: climate and beaches match all expectations. I see that the Hawaiian futevolei comes together with Brazilian footvolley, and we cannot let the time and opportunities pass. We could bring champion teams from Brazil to play here, to make more championships, to make clinics,and also to diversify futevolei playing it on the grass and indoors .