Five-goal Fabiano: The man who keeps his promises

JOHANNESBURG - When the US were sensationally leading Sunday’s Confederations Cup final in Johannesburg’s Ellis Park stadium against Brazil 2-0 at half-time, it was clear that a lot would be asked from the Selecao to come back.

Within a minute from the restart, the Brazilians however had pulled one back through striker Luis Fabiano.

It was Fabiano himself who levelled matters in the 74th minute and a header from the captain Lucio six minutes from the end gave the Brazilians their second successive Confederations Cup victory.

For Fabiano, the two goals ensured he kept a promise he had made at the start of the tournament.

At the start of the Confederations Cup he said that he was aiming to score at a rate of a goal a game.

“If I manage to score five goals, I think I should be in with a chance to win the top scorer award. What can stop me is if there is somebody who comes out of nowhere and scores three or four in a game.”

Spain’s Fernando Torres scored three against New Zealand in the European champions opening game and his team-mate David Villa also scored three, but both failed to find the net in their side’s two last games.

For Fabiano though, the two goals he scored in the final took his tally to five - as he had promised.

It was the second promise that he fulfilled during the Confederations Cup.

On Fathers Day in South Africa the five-time world champions took on Italy in their final group game, knowing that a victory would guarantee them a semi-final against South Africa, rather than against the favourites Spain.

Fabiano scored twice to set up his side’s convincing 3-0 victory.

He said that he had made sure of scoring because he was determined to fulfil a promise he made to his daughter a few days earlier.

The Sevilla striker said: “On the day of our match against the US in the group phase, my daughter Giovana had her birthday. I promised her that I would score a goal for her.

“We won the game 3-0, but I could not score. I then told her that I would score one for her in our next game and I am very happy that I managed to do that.

“I am very happy that I could dedicate my two goals to my two daughters Giovana and Gabriela.”

But the goals were not only important for the 28-year-old because he was able to make good on a promise to his daughter, they were also important because they kept him in the running to retain his place in the Brazilian national team.

Brazilian coach Carlos Dunga is in the very envious position of having a whole array of exceptional strikers to chose from. Not only the likes of Robinho, Alexandre Pato and Nilmar, who are all in the Confederations Cup squad, but also players like Adriano, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, who failed to make the team this time around.

“I have a dream and that dream is to be a part of the World Cup squad next year in South Africa.

“It is still a year to go, but when you are called up you have to use all the opportunities. And this is the only opportunity that I will have before the World Cup in a competition.

“I will try to make the dream of playing at the World Cup a reality,” he said.

Fabiano’s strike rate in the national team is quite remarkable and although he played his first game for the Selecao in 2003, he had a three year absence from the team between 2004 and 2007.

He now has 30 caps to his credit and has scored 22 goals in those matches.

The striker was born in Campinas in the Sao Paulo region, from where his mother was kidnapped in 2006, but released after 61 days in captivity.

He started playing at local side Ponte Preta as a teenager, before moving to Stade Rennes, where he endured a disappointing spell.

He then returned to Brazil and signed for Sao Paulo. In 2004 he moved to Porto, but again failed to live up to expectations and was transferred to Sevilla after just one season in Portugal.

Playing in the La Liga he finally blossomed as a player and he has recently signed a contract extension until 2011.

After impressing in Spain, he was recalled into the national squad again and has been a fairly regular starter since 2008.

As top scorer at the Confederations Cup and as a player who keeps his promises, Fabiano has given Dunga plenty of reasons why he should stick to his man.