Flamengo football club fire

"Everyone is born a Flamengo fan, but some degenerate along the way."

This local phrase does much to highlight the swagger and self-esteem of Brazil's most popular club, a huge institution whose history does much to illustrate that of the game in this giant country.

Formed in 1895 as a rowing club, Flamengo took up football a few years later and were in their early years an institution for the elite.

But in the 1930s Brazilian culture was changing - previously persecuted, the samba musicians were suddenly becoming national heroes.

Flamengo sensed the changing times and carried out a clever re-branding. They signed the leading three black players of the day and presented themselves as the club of the people.

It was a masterstroke.

At the time Rio de Janeiro was Brazil's capital. Radio carried Flamengo's games to the far-flung corners of the land - where millions identified with the team.

To this day Flamengo can still fill stadiums thousands of miles from Rio.
What happens at Flamengo resonates across the country, whether it is a big win, a frustrating elimination - or the heartbreaking tragedy of Friday morning, when fire took 10 young lives.

Legendary Brazil playmaker Zico spent the majority of his career at Flamengo, making over 200 appearances in two spells
Paqueta and Vinicius came through the ranks at Flamengo.

They know the scene of the tragedy, and probably knew some of those who have lost their lives.

Paqueta, for example, will never forget the bridge situated close to the dormitory. When he was a youngster his mother used to take him as far as that bridge. "I've brought you up to here," she used to tell him. "The rest is up to you."

But cruel destiny can also have its say.

There are no guarantees that those who died on Friday would have gone on to become stars of the game. The odds are against. Many fall by the wayside.

But 15-year-old goalkeeper Christian Esmerio was clearly on the right track. He had already been called up to represent Brazil at under-17 level, and was being watched by European scouts.