Soccer: Rejected player follows Brazil as fan

JOHANNESBURG - Alexandre Pato is following Brazil around South Africa as a fan after failing to make his country's World Cup squad.

Pato might have been expected to seek the comfort of family and friends at home after he was surprisingly left out by coach Dunga, along with his AC Milan teammate Ronaldinho.

The 20-year-old striker instead decided to make the trip to Africa anyway to support his countrymen and friends in their attempt to win a record sixth World Cup title.

Pato was part of the squad that won last year's Confederations Cup event in South Africa with a 3-2 final win over the United States but played just 28 minutes in the World Cup warmup event.

Still, it was enough for him to learn from local fans how best to support the team.

"For sure, I'm going to matches with my vuvuzela and I'm going to watch Brazil play and be world champion," Pato said.

Confederations Cup matches notable for the deafening noise of fans blowing on the plastic vuvuzela trumpets. Pato already has his to blow at Group G games against Portugal, Ivory Coast and North Korea.

"I'm sure Brazil is not going to lose," Pato said. "I'm here with my vuvuzela for Brazil and I'm sure Brazil is going to the final and is going to win it.

"It's almost the same team that played at the Confederations Cup and they know what they have to do to win."

Pato will get a reminder of the vuvuzela onslaught when he takes his seat at Friday's opening match between South Africa and Mexico at Johannesburg's Soccer City.

Despite his reputation and status as a two-time FIFA world player of the year, Ronaldinho's exclusion was not a total surprise following widespread reports that Dunga was unhappy at his fluctuating weight and attitude.

Pato was arguably more unlucky to miss out despite his relative inexperience.

But the striker is already putting his disappointment at missing out on selection in perspective.

He spent Wednesday playing with children from the Soweto township at a new football training center built by Nike, and said his eyes were opened to experiences far harder than missing out on a handful of matches.

"It's hard to know that kids here have to live with poverty and AIDS," Pato said. "We players have a chance to play and win for the national team. I am here as a fan to back the national team and I am happy to be here learning from kids."

Pato at least knows that, at 20, he could have another three World Cup tournaments ahead of him. And the 2014 edition will be held in Brazil.

"I'm sure that if I keep working hard with my club, I will be in the squad for 2014 and I'll see the fans in Brazil," Pato said.

- AP