"Young lad, take care of your conditions" - Vava

Manama: That was a piece of advice which former Brazilian footballer, Vava (nickname), now 68, gave to his son, Vagner Luis, when he was about to turn professional at the age of 16.

It was one which Luis, 33, now with Bahrain's Al Busaiteen has been following religiously until today.

Vagner Luis: No serious injury or operation to date

Vava was then donning Brazil's Sampaio Correa B's jersey while Luis was about to join his first club, Nacae Esporte  Serie C in his home country.

Non-smoker Luis, who is now is good shape and never had a serious injury or an operation yet, believes he will have no problem playing until he is 40, before retiring from professional football.

It may sound old-fashioned but he singles out his dad's advice as a vital secret for current and aspiring footballers.

"Otherwise it will be easier for me to get injured,"he told Bola Pantai Timur here recently. Luis, who was used to training twice a day (morning and evening)  in Brazil, Indonesia and Malaysia, still trains twice a day in Bahrain even though normally the clubs here train once a day. 

He added, " Young players who want to be professional should also follow what I have been able to
do as advised by my dad."


Tips for young players

• Don't leave football academy
• Eat good food
• Have enough sleep (6-7 hours)
• Don't go to disco/ night club
• Don't smoke
• Winning and give my best shot attitude

Married with two children, Luis says he motivates himself by giving due priority to his family.

Note: Readers may also read about Vagner Luis in an earlier story " Attached to Indonesia, Vagner Luis is in Bahrain."