Could Tip BONG DA uy tin overweight Walter become Brazil’s next cult striker?

“Football is a democratic sport and you have all kinds of players around, including the ones who are above the ideal weight. When Ronaldo came back to Brazil a few years ago he managed to fit because of his technique. Sure, Walter needs to drop some weight, but it is important to understand how he Tip Bong Da ticks,” Moreira said. 

Moreira then submitted him to a diet where the control of food intake was just part of the equation. He tried as much as he could to spare Walter from the boredom of the gym while trying to tame the player’s love for cookies and soft drinks — legend in Brazil says Walter can drink a 2-litre bottle of soda as if chugging a complimentary mini-can from an airplane trolley. Indulgences were conditioned to his performance on the pitch: He would get treats in exchange for goals and team victories.

While his BMI is still a sign that work needs to be done, Walter at least looks happy, regardless of all of the stick he still receives thanks to his unconventional physique. Ca Cuoc Opposing fans resorted to cyberbullying last year, and even Fluminense manager Renato Gaucho joked openly about the striker’s weight last week. “Walter scored against Flamengo and ran towards me. I feared he could try to jump on me,” Gaúcho said.

Walter is far from comfortable discussing his plight. He has abandoned interviews after disliking the tone of the questioning about his weight. “Even my son had to hear jokes at school about his father being fat. This is bullying. Everybody who tries to lose weight and enjoys eating knows how difficult it is. I am trying hard to get in shape because my career will only benefit from that,” says Walter.

After all, it’s easy to accuse the striker of lacking willpower and professionally. Harder to understand is that Walter found another way to cope with grief and above all, the change of pace football brought to his life. Despite the amazing coastline and premium tourist spots, Recife couldn’t be a better example of the disparities concerning Brazil. It is one of the poorest and most violent cities in Brazil, and its outskirts are no land for old men. At 6 years old, Walter saw one of his brothers fatally gunned down in a gang fight.

Growing up in Recife, Nhan Dinh he would talk his way onto his boyhood team Sport Recife’s ground by convincing adults to pretend he was related to them. Privation would soon be replaced by the comforts of the life of a professional athlete when Walter finally started making a living with football.

“Imagine a kid who didn’t have enough to eat when he was growing up and all of a sudden he can chew as much as he wants. That’s Walter,” explains Robson Gomes, Goias’ fitness trainer. And he does love chewing: Internacional teammates remember him leaving training and immediately hitting the nearby burger and hot dog stands around the ground.