Flamengo’s eternal idol Zico took to social media to reassure the Flamengo fanbase after a strong earthquake struck southern Japan this week.
The football world and Flamengo fans experienced moments of apprehension on Tuesday (28) with news of a 7.1 magnitude earthquake in southern Japan. Amidst the geographical chaos caused by the phenomenon that left 13 dead and dozens injured in Kumamoto province, the biggest concern for the fanbase was the well-being of Galinho de Quintino, who has close ties to Japanese culture.
Fortunately, the eternal Flamengo idol used his official profile to comfort fans and clarify his location. Although the tremor hit a place called Kashima — a name that immediately brings to mind the number 10’s victorious career in the country — Zico was in a completely different and safe region at the time of the natural disaster.
Galinho’s Word
The idol made sure to record a video to debunk rumors and thank everyone for the messages of affection he received from around the world.
“I’m here to bring a little peace of mind to everyone. I wanted to thank you for your concern. Unfortunately, there was a major earthquake here in Japan. The city is also called Kashima, but it’s on the southern side of the country”, the star clarified.
The former player reinforced that he is in Hokkaido, in the far north, a considerable distance from the epicenter of the seismic event.
A Geographic Confusion
The fans’ concern was amplified by the coincidence of names. The legendary Zico is the biggest symbol of Kashima Antlers, the club where he helped popularize football in the country in the 90s. However, the city of Kashima mentioned in news reports about the earthquake is located on the island of Kyushu, in the south, a geographically different place from the club’s base where the star built his eternal legacy and where a statue stands in his honor.
Impact and Resilience
The earthquake caused severe damage, including the collapse of residences, the destruction of the Aeon Mall, and damage to historical sites. However, Zico highlighted the Japanese people’s capacity for rebuilding.
“Given Japan’s structure against this, everything will be recovered very soon. We are doing very well, calm, and without worries”, the idol added.
At 73 years old, Zico continues to divide his time between his duties at Flamengo and his commitments in Japan, keeping alive the historical connection between Rubro-Negro and the Asian country. The news brought relief to millions of fans who continue to follow the routine of the greatest idol in the history of ‘Mais Querido’, with reporting by the Equipe M360.
