Players overcame trauma to win show

Feb 19 2008 by Ben Schofield, Liverpool Daily Post

TALENTED Brazilian footballers who have suffered emotional trauma visited Merseyside during a tour of English clubs.

The trio were winners of a reality TV show that offered footballers whose form has been affected by personal issues a career boost.

They were based on Merseyside during their five day whistle-stop tour of the English game.

Their itinerary included training with Tranmere Rovers and Liverpool John Moores University first team, a private tour of Goodison Park and meeting Premiership and Championship agents.

Stefano Spinelli, 19, Paulo Pereira, 21, and Fabiano Perticarrari, 22, were three among thousands of hopefuls who jammed the phone lines of Football Grand Stars trying to get a place on the show.

It is a co-production between former MTV producer Kevin Swain and Brazilian Rosimiro Amancio. Along with demonstrating on-field talent, the footballers also had to prove they deserved a place on the scheme.

The three all play in the Sertaozinho squad, based near Sao Paulo, but have each overcome personal issues to continue with their careers.

Pereira was approached by a rich gay man who tried to bribe him with cash and a career boost in return for sex.

Mr Amancio told the Daily Post: “He comes from a poor family. He started getting depressed because of his own questions about what he should do.”

Pereira had decided to take the money but went round to the man’s home, panicked and stopped himself.

Spinelli is committed to furthering his career after his best friend and team mate ruined his career through drug abuse and fell into a coma. And, after Perticarrari’s father died, he started picking up cramps and injuries.

Mr Amancio said: “The problem was psychological, but it came out physically.”

Attorney Marcos de Carvahlo Pagliaro bankrolled the show.

He said: “In Brazil, there are good players but lots of them don’t work because of their problems.”

The story of the show will also be made into a movie called Unknown Stars.

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