By TERRY MADDAFORD
He was born Carlos Caetano Bledron Verri; to the footballing world he was simply Dunga.
One of the greatest midfield players, he captained Brazil to World Cup glory in 1994 in the United States and led the team to a loss in the final four years later in
France.
His first World Cup experience was in Italy in 1990.
These days he is more likely to be found working with children from the Brazilian slums than rubbing shoulders with soccer's greats.
In Auckland to support Wynton Rufer's "Soccer for Life - Otara" campaign, Dunga, a couple of months short of his 40th birthday, tells of the hard times he faced in getting his start in a country where his sport is close to a national religion.
"We did not have footballs," he said.
"We rolled up 10 socks to make a ball. But like all children in Brazil, it was my dream to play professionally."
In his work with youngsters in a country in which slums and poverty are the norm rather than the exception, Dunga is not on the lookout for future greats.
His work with Brazilian youngsters is aimed more at promoting life skills.
He is more likely to teach these kids - many from broken homes - the importance of saying "please" and "thank you" and how to brush their teeth and wash themselves, than how to control and kick a football.
"First off, we have to get them to go to school," he said. "Unless they are doing that, we do not have them in our programme.
"My preoccupation is not with football. There is more to be achieved in teaching how to win and lose and in basic life skills."
In conjunction with Trust Manukau and alongside Rufer, Dunga will today help to relaunch "Soccer for Life - Otara."
He may also return to New Zealand soon to take part in a testimonial match for Rufer, which could feature many of the world's top players.
Organisers hope to complete the details within a month.
