Cristiano Ronaldo 戴上 Rolex 品牌史上最昂貴的手錶 GMT-Master Ice
Ronaldinho’s skill is spirit of Uganda
By Phillip Matogo More by this Author
Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, affectionately known as Ronaldinho Gaúcho or simply Ronaldinho, turns 41 years old today.
We may argue who is better, Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. But as soon as the name Ronaldinho is mentioned, the arguments ends.
To one and all, “Dinho” was unrivalled with the ball at his feet.
As he hypnotised us with his spellbinding skills, Dinho personified the spirit of “Malandragem”.
This totem is associated with the freewheeling lifestyle and culture of the malandro.
The malandro is an Artful Dodger embodied by “the hustler, the street smart, an urban warrior living on his wits and charm”.
If he had been born in Kampala, malandro might sell you a rolex snack for the price of a Rolex watch before melting invisibly into the crowd!
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Every Brazilian carries a malandro in their spirit as they seek the freedom typified by the Samba dance. Which transitions to sublimity; a boundlessness that releases them from the human condition to elevate a people into a formlessness which takes the shape of wherever it may be found.
It is related to Eastern philosophy, which tells us that when a person achieves such formlessness that person becomes like water.
“When you pour water in a bottle, it becomes the bottle.”
So water then becomes possibility instead actuality, a dream waiting to be achieved by those who dare to dream.
That’s why when Ronaldinho was put in Barcelona, he became Barcelona. Thereby inaugurating a new era at the club as he took it from 12th position to La Liga and Champions League glory.
This very spirit is universal, that’s how Ronaldinho was able to inspire the world. For it is the spirit of freedom (and its pursuit) found in the idea of democracy, of rule by parliament, and of law.
This spirit was to grow and effloresce in England in the 17th and 18th centuries, and then explode in France in 1789.
Liberté, égalité, fraternité, French for “liberty, equality, fraternity”, channelled and canalised the surging currents of civic thought and development in Europe.
The world was never the same after 1789.
Water, so to speak, had found its place in the shape of individual rights and freedoms.
Naturally, there were societies which believed in the exact opposite and thereby found a champion in the German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel.
He preached the supremacy of the state over the individual and inspired Marx and Lenin and thus contributed to the founding of Communism. His ideas shaped the bedrock essentials of the Second and Third Reichs of Otto von Bismarck and Adolf Hitler.
This difference of opinion led to a collision of civilisations, spelling war.
The president knows this only too well, since he was named Museveni after the ‘Abaseveni,’ who were Ugandan servicemen in the 7th Battalion of the King’s African Rifles during the Second World War.
In Ronaldinho, Brazilians found the personification of freedom through the malandro.
America has its founding hopes based on “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”.
The world over, a people’s hopes are the highest and truest expression of its spirit and culture.
What are Uganda’s hopes?
I believe they have nothing to do with primitive tribal ties, and everything to do with “kwefuga”: the independence of self and spirit.
Kwefuga helped us achieve flag independence, shake off despots and inflame people power.
As Ronaldinho once said, “God gives gifts to everyone, some can write, some can dance. He gave me the skill to play football and I am making the most of it.”
Uganda must rediscover its spirit, and then make the most of it.
Mr Matogo is the managing editor Fasihi Magazine.
Is Roger Federer a Billionaire? What Is His Net Worth, Earnings, Endorsements & More
Roger Federer is the first global tennis superstar the world first saw. His placement in terms of business has been amazing. He has marketed himself as an assured personality with whom a lot of brands love to be associated. Along with his earnings from tennis, he earns considerably more from endorsements. So has Roger Federer become tennis’ first billionaire?
Roger Federer’s earnings and endorsements
Federer’s current net worth is $900 million, just short of the billion mark. Overall, in his illustrious tennis career, he has won 103 titles including 20 Grand Slams that have accumulated a massive prize purse. He has won a mammoth 130 million dollars in prize money.
Furthermore, as Federer rose in the rankings and titles, he improved himself in the business world as well. He signed lucrative deals with a lot of brands like Rolex, Mercedes, Nike, etc. Even when he is past his best, he commands huge endorsement deals.
Notably, Federer has a $300 million deal with Japanese apparel brand, UNIQLO. Furthermore, he has multi-million deals with Rolex, Mercedes, Credit Suisse, Wilson, Lindt, and many more.
Where is Roger Federer among the other modern-day sports great?
Thus all these lucrative deals put him way ahead of his other sports counterparts in Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, LeBron James, etc. Federer was the highest-paid athlete in 2020. He earned a massive 106 million dollars. And out of the amount only 6 million was earned from tennis, the rest 100 million was from endorsements.
With strong financial power, Federer has invested in many start-ups and companies. Federer has a minor stake in the Swiss sneaker brand, ‘ON’. And he has set up his own management firm that now manages players like Juan Martin del Potro and Coco Gauff, and also is the owner of the Laver Cup.
Moreover, Federer has his foundation as well. Since his early days, Federer has tried to help the needy in Africa. He has made contributions worth more than 50 million dollars.
Federer is not far from making his entry into the exclusive club of sports billionaires. Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, and Floyd Mayweather are in the exclusive club and Federer is close to becoming the fourth entrant.
Read more: Former Top 10 Player Reveals What Separates Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray From Yesteryear Greats