Brazilian footballers are battling to play for tiny Welsh team
Llanfairpwll FC after the team's name caught the imagination of the
football-crazy nation.
Brazil has a well-earned reputation for exporting world-class
talents to European superpowers like Barcelona, Manchester United
and AC Milan, but for some of the country's less illustrious
amateur players, it is Llanfairpwll which is suddenly the
destination of choice.
The bizarre story started when a Portuguese newspaper wrote an
article about Llanfairpwll because its full name is believed to be
the longest in club football.
Llanfair PG, or
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch to give
its full name, is a village on the island of Anglesey in Wales.
It is in the Guinness Book of Records for being the place with the
longest name in Britain.
A television channel in Brazil then picked up the story and ever
since then Llanfairpwll have been flooded with emails and calls
from South Americans wanting to play for the club.
While the image of players more used to honing their skills of the
sun-baked beaches of Rio suddenly turning up for a game in a
wind-swept village in Wales is an unlikely one, Llanfairpwll player
Steve Smith said they have had contact from Brazil and Chile among
other countries.
With so many visiting the club website it now gives information in
Portuguese.
"I've had a few people from Brazil saying they want to come over
but they want us to pay their airfare," Smith told the BBC. "I
don't think that is going to happen."
The Brazilian infatuation with Llanfairpwll shows no sign of fading
and a television crew from the country is said to be planning a New
Year visit to the team, who are currently top of the Welsh Alliance
League Division 2.
Llanfairpwll player Brendon Hogan said: "It's quite unbelievable.
"I think everyone is getting to know us. We are doing well this
season.
"Hopefully we can get better next season and get a wider fan
base."
"They are more than welcome to come - as long as they don't take my
position."