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Silvia Marques, assisted by Daniel Baldacin - December / 2003  Full Name: Santo Baldacin Neto Birth Date: 5 / 28 / 1940 Birth Place: Conchas (São Paulo, Brazil) History: : Esporte Clube Pinheiros, Clube Internacional de Santos and Esporte Clube Santo André, also Esporte Clube Sírio (senior team) AH - How did you find out about handball and when did you start playing? Santo Baldacin - I found out about handball when I entered the School of Physical Education of USP (University of São Paulo), in 1962. I began playing around that time, at age 22. My first games were in public and college championships, representing my school. Following that, I was invited to join Pinheiros. AH - Tell us a little about your history and how was the handball played back then (concerning practice routine, structure and conditions to the athletes). Santo Baldacin - I had a short passing as a player, a little over ten years. The handball back then was mostly based on the individual skills of the players, since we only practiced twice a week, in an outdoor court measuring 50m x 25m. My teammates were mostly college students like myself, but I was majoring in P.E. and working part time as a mailman, so I was always well prepared physically, usually better than the others. My first official match representing Pinheiros was a field handball game, in 1963. Eventually, our team would become a five-time champion. Simultaneously, we played the Sao Paulo State Championship of court handball. Usually the matches took place on Sunday mornings, in outdoor courts. The structure for the sport back then was very poor, the clubs wouldn't give us sports material for practice or any benefit, so we played exclusively out of love for the sport. AH - Did you stand out on the teams you played? Were you a National Team player? Santo Baldacin - I was part of the Brazilian National Team and the São Paulo Team of College Handball. I was the top scorer of the College Games of Fortaleza, with 69 goals in 6 matches, and of the College Games of Belém, with 80 goals in 7 matches. I was considered the best Brazilian college athlete of 1972, and won, with the São Paulo Team, the College Handball Championship. After leaving college, in the adult category, I was state champion several times. Recently, I was elected one of the 1,000 biggest sportsmen of the 20th century, in poll ran by Isto É magazine. AH - At the time, all athletes played all positions? Santo Baldacin - We had only a few players, so the most skilled ones practiced in all positions, only about two or three had a steady position in court. AH - When did you quit playing? Why? Santo Baldacin - I officially ended my career as a player in 1974 because I started working mornings, afternoons and evenings, which left me no time for practice. AH - There are stories that your throw was so strong that you broke goalposts and also fractured one of the fingers of a goalkeeper. Are they true? Santo Baldacin - The story about breaking goalposts is true, because, as I said before, we played in outdoor courts and the posts were exposed to sun and rain, which made their resistance very low. My throw was in fact very strong and, attempting a defense, a goalkeeper had his hand stuck between the post and the ball, which unfortunately led to the fracture of one of his fingers. AH - Have you ever been invited by a foreign team? Santo Baldacin - No, I never received proposals from foreign teams because I started playing a little late, beyond the average age. AH - After quitting playing, did you continue directly involved with handball? Have you ever been a coach? Santo Baldacin - When I was still playing, I started an effort to insert and teach handball in primary, middle and high schools, and I managed to win the State School Division Championship, with the team of Alberto Conte Institute. After leaving the courts, I continued working with handball as a college professor at the Schools of Physical Educationf of Tatuí, Mogi das Cruzes, Santo André and São Caetano. I also traveled to Germany, France and Romania to attend a few courses and workshops. Having done that, I started to get invited to teach courses in just about every Brazilian state. I was the coach of Esporte Clube Corinthians Paulista between 1977 and 1978, of the São Paulo School Division and Adult Teams. I was also the supervisor of the Brazilian National Team in 1980 (Mexico Pan-American Games). Currently, I still give courses and workshops for the Branch of Sports and Tourism of São Paulo when I'm asked. I'm a retired professor, but I wish I could still teach. Unfortunately, colleges today require that professors have post graduate specializations, which I don't, and they value these diplomas more than experience. AH - Aren't you in any way involved with senior handball nowadays? Santo Baldacin - Not anymore. I tried to put together a Senior Handball Championship, but I couldn't make it happen, the São Paulo State Federation didn't mobilize to adjust the rules and regulations, and eventually I gave it up. AH - Were you a soccer coach in Palmeiras? How was that experience? Santo Baldacin - I was a physical trainer at the Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras from 1967 to 1971. There was only me to prepare the whole team, so I was responsible for the general training and the goalkeepers. My experience in soccer was very positive because Palmeiras conquered several titles during the period I was there. We won the Ramón Carranza Tournament, in Spain, in 1969, the Roberto Gomes Pedrosa Tournament; and we were vice-champions of the Libertadores de America Cup and the São Paulo State Championship. AH - The present coach of the Brazilian Handball Team, Alberto Rigolo, was your student, and your son, Daniel, is one of the players who won the Pan American Games. Who was it for you to see the historical victory at the Pan Am's? Santo Baldacin - Alberto was my student in São Caetano, and he was also my assistant. I was aware of his talent because when I had to travel out of town he would substitute me with a great deal of ability. Alberto was a great student and professor, and now he's a great coach. My son, Daniel, as a player of the Brazilian National Team and gold medal in Santo Domingo, makes me very proud, I fell honored by his success. I watched the second half and the extra time of the final of the Pan Am Games on TV and I cheered so much I thought I'd get inside the tv set!  Daniel Baldacin, Alberto Rigolo and Santo Baldacin (Photo: FPH) AH - Back when you were a player, did you ever imagine that Brazil would someday become number one of the Americas and be qualified for the Olympic Games? Santo Baldacin - I've always belied in the Brazilian handball, such that I dedicated myself to it for 40 years, hoping that someday we'd qualify for the Olympics, but I never thought that my son and my best assistant would be in the winning team. AH - With all your experience, as you watch you son play, do your try and advise him, give opinions, or do you prefer not to interfere? Santo Baldacin - When Daniel was beginning his career, I'd assist him during practice, try to correct some movements and would also come along to the games. When he was first drafted to the School Division Team, some people said that it was only because of my influence, and from that moment I thought it would be best for me to step back a little. I continued to give him orientation, but I'd keep some distance. Daniel got where he is today through his own skills, through his personality, persistence and determination to win. AH - How do you describe the evolution of the Brazilian handball throughout all these years? Do you believe it's possible for Brazil to measure up to European teams anytime soon? Santo Baldacin - The Brazilian handball began to develop in the 70's, when it was included in he Brazilian School and College Games. Also around that time, teachers and professors started to attend courses overseas and put their learnings into practice in their teams. Besides that, the players worked hard to let the public know about the sport, we'd go to radio and TV stations and invite people to our games. Today, Brazil needs more investment in bringing experience to the players and spreading the publicity around the sport throughout the country if it wants to dream about measuring up to European teams. Currently, the Brazilian Federation is sponsored by The Olympic Committee and by the oil company Petrobrás, so it has enough resources to bring European teams for friendly games. In the early 70's, without any money or a federation, we managed to bring important teams from Europe to dispute tournaments against local teams. In 1972, we brought the Gummersbach, European Champion in 1967, 1970 and 1971, for two friendly games against Pinheiros. We went to the old Gazeta TV Station and managed to bring 20 thousand people to The Ibirapuera Stadium! In 1975, we brought the Grün Weiß Ferdinandshof. It would be excellent if top teams, from countries such as Spain or Sweeden, came for tours in Brazil, because our players won't learn anything until they get used to playing against strong opponents. Sending our team to play overseas is good, but bringing important teams here would be even better because it would get the attention of the media and the public to handball. The Brazilian handball still has a long way to go, it needs 30 strong teams in competition. AH - Although Brazil is the current Pan American Champion, it still has serious faults concerning organization and schedule. Which measures should be taken, in your opinion, to amend these problems? Santo Baldacin - The sport is more organized, has more resources and sponsors these days, our schedules have been improved, but there's still a lot to be done, and there's way too much politics involved in these decisions. Our Federation headquarters is in the northeast and most teams are in the south and southeast, that itself comes from this politics. Besides, athletes should have a regular support, not only when they're representing the country in international competitions. I'm not saying that because my son plays for the National Team, but because it's true, they need daily practice to stay fit and for that matter they aren't able to work another job, so the Brazilian Federation should provide them with a salary, medical insurance, sponsorship and so on, give them conditions to practice tranquilly. Nowadays, athletes that represent Brazil abroad still depend solely on the income from their teams, which is not fair. They end up going through financial difficulties in order to accomplish their goals. AH - Are you favorable of the adjustment of our season to the European, which means starting the season in August and finishing in May? Santo Baldacin - Yes, I believe it would be positive to the development of the sport. It would even make it easier to do exchange programs and tournaments with European teams, because it's exactly between seasons the ideal time to do such things. If we're in the middle of a championship when they're on vacation it's a lot harder to schedule games. If we think about it, we don't have a severe weather in Brazil, it wouldn't be so bad to go on vacation in July. If you want to get away from the winter, all you have to do is travel up north, where its warm all year. AH - Could you talk a little about the veteran players of the Brazilian handball that, along with you, were the pioneers of this sport in the country? Santo Baldacin - Many people worked very hard for the development of handball in the 50's, 60's and 70's, and ended up being forgotten by the State and Country Federations. They are excellent teachers, professors and players that dedicated themselves to handball when it didn't have any publicity at all. They practiced at night, in cement outdoor courts and weren't paid a dime for it, they did it purely out of love for the sport. Among many, I can highlight Professor Antonio Boaventura, who brought knowledge from France and put it into practice here, and the Hungarian Paulo Nagi, who came to Brazil and dedicated his entire life to handball. When I started playing, in the early 60's, he already worked with all categories and was never paid for it. Brazil has to acknowledge the work and effort of the handball veterans, because if it weren't for them we would never be the Pan American Champions and have the talented generation we have today. AH - You were and continue to be an idol and inspiration to many young players. Would you leave a message for them and for those who are beginning to play? Santo Baldacin - I'm thankful for the love given me by the young athletes who consider me an idol and inspiration. For the ones who are giving their first steps in handball, I'd like to advise that always put a great deal of love in what they do, respect their teammates and opponents, play with happiness in their hearts and be good friends for the good and bad times. AH - Thank you for the interview, and we'd like to take this opportunity to show you our appreciation for your contribution to the growth of the Brazilian handball! * Translated from the original Portuguese version by Silvia Marques |