RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazil soccer great Zico blasted organizers of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics on Sunday after carrying the torch for the Tokyo Games.
The Brazilian said he was ignored in 2016 when the torch relay took place at his home city and praised Japan for giving him the honor this time.
Zico, who is a club director at Kashima Antlers and a former Japan coach, carried the torch for about 200 meters in Kashima on Saturday.
“After my country and my city denied me this opportunity of carrying the Olympic torch, today I realized my dream of taking part in the Olympic Games,” the 68-year-old Zico wrote on Instagram. “I thank the Kashima Antlers, the city of Kashima and Japan for giving me this opportunity.”
Zico, who played for the Japanese team between 1991 and 1994, called it “an unforgettable day in my life.”
Kashima will host one of the semifinals of the men’s soccer Olympic tournament.
Zico, a former attacking midfielder, remains a hero to fans of Rio-based Flamengo, Brazil’s most popular club, and was also part of the much admired Brazil team at the 1982 World Cup which was eliminated by Italy.
That was not enough for Rio organizers to invite him to carry the torch.
Zico has previously recalled the time he failed to make the Brazil squad for the 1972 Munich Olympics.
“I almost stopped playing soccer after I was left out,” he said.
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