Maria Boreth de Souza, alias ZICA, stands at the entrance of their house in the District of Olaria Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Monday, April 28, 2014. All interior and exterior Maria Boreth de Souza farmhouse in the lower-middle class neighborhood Rio de Janeiro Olaria screams most popular football team Flamengo Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (AP Photo/Leo Correa). ASSOCIATED PRESS
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - all interior and exterior Maria Boreth de Souza small home in the lower middle-class district of Rio de Janeiro Olaria screams Flamengo Rio de Janeiro Brazil's most popular soccer team.
The concrete houses is in the Club colours of red and black lacquer. The living room and bedroom are decorated with Flamengo Rio de Janeiro jerseys, flags, beer mugs and other team memorabilia. Even a curtain before their kitchen is a plastic Flamengo Rio de Janeiro flag.
The 63-year-old Souza, who is one of the most die-hard fans of the legendary team, has become a symbol in her own right over the years.
She is equally fanatical about Brazil's national team. "I pray that they win the World Cup," she said of the tournament, which begins in Brazil on December 12.
"Loses the tournament, which packs the statue of Christ of the Redeemer Brazil his bag and leave the town forever," she said.
Dressed in a Flamengo Rio de Janeiro uniform or with a team flag Zenica is draped over her shoulders, a well-known sight in their neighborhood and in the Maracana Stadium.
"I go into every game playing Flamengo Rio de Janeiro at the Maracana, where I always with open arms by players and fans of Flamengo am applauds you Rio de Janeiro and the teams, where to play against." They all hug me and ask for my autograph, "she said, adding that Flamengo of Rio de Janeiro became an honorary member in 2010.
She said that at the age of seven, that she her home escaped, because it mistreated their parents. "I lived on the road for ten years to beg for food and money, here and there odd jobs and selling candy. I have never stolen or with drugs to do."
Things started changing Souza, prefers to invoke ZICA, she gave the nickname even in honor of former Brazilian football great Zico was wandering aimlessly through the streets of Rio at the age of 17.
"It was Christmas and it was my birthday. I got tired and sat down to rest on the pavement. Suddenly a lady patted me on the back, asked me if I was all right and invited me to his home for dinner."
The wife was mother Zico. And her son, a rising star in Flamengo was at the dinner.
From that day on Zenica says, their loyalty to Flamengo Rio de Janeiro has never wavered.
For the next 12 years, she says parents, she lived in the houses of Zico and Zico House work "small such as watering the plants and taking care of children. I was never like a girl, but as a member of the family treated."
When she was 29, Zico persuaded parents you back home, to care for their sick parents. "they died shortly after my return and I inherited her house."
Roughly at the same time that she met and married her husband, Calitoel. They met at a game in Flamengo of Rio de Janeiro.
They have a daughter, Vanessa, and three grandchildren. Her son, Thiago, died in a motorcycle accident a few years ago.
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