SOCCER
Journalist, who passed away this Sunday (19), christens cabin at Nilton Santos Stadium
Published on January 19, 2025 at 5:01 pm
Léo Batista was honored by Botafogo Credit: Vitor Silva/Botafogo
Journalist Léo Batista, , was an illustrious fan of Botafogo. And he never hid which team he loved. So much so that, in 2019, he was honored by Glorioso and named a cabin at the Nilton Santos Stadium, Engenhão. The presenter had been a black and white member since 1992 and covered Garrincha’s first match for the club, in 1953.
In 2022, during his participation in the Conversa com Bial program, Léo Batista explained that he became Botafoguense by chance. “I went to watch a game with some friends, it was Fluminense and Botafogo. Suddenly, Botafogo started to play better, a beautiful move came out and that was it, a great goal from Botafogo. I jumped up shouting “goal”. After the game I stopped and thought : Hey, am I supporting Botafogo? From that moment on, it was over, I became Botafogo”, he said.
“I was once sick from Botafogo. Today I’m sick because of Botafogo”, he added. Two years later, the team became champion of the Libertadores and three-time champion of the Brazilian Championship.
The black-and-white paid tribute to the fan on social media and highlighted that Léo Batista was one of the journalists who broadcast Garrincha’s first official football match (Botafogo x Bonsucesso, for the Campeonato Carioca, on July 19, 1953).
“With regret and gratitude, today we say goodbye to the great Léo Batista, chosen by Estrela Solitária and one of the biggest names in Brazilian communication. The journalist’s remarkable voice has crossed generations, accompanied us in historic moments and announced the “Tempo de Botafogo”. Fan declared and member since 1992, Léo has always exalted the Club’s name and gained an additional space in the hearts of black and white people.
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