環(huán)球英語 — 398：Kaká the Great

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Voice 1

Thank you for joining us for today’s Spotlight program. I’m Ryan Geertsma.

Voice 2

And I’m Marina Santee. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.

Voice 1

It is September, 2005. The AC Milan football team is playing the best team in Turkey. The game is tied. The score is one goal to one goal. Player number twenty-two [22] from the Milan team gets the ball in the middle of the field. He begins running up the field. He kicks the ball past one defending player, then another. Finally he passes the ball quickly around the last defender. Now, only the goalkeeper stands between him and the goal. Number twenty-two [22] is moving fast. He kicks the ball hard. The ball flies down and to the right, under the goalkeeper’s hands and into the net. Goal! He scores and the crowd screams with joy!

Voice 2

This was the story of a great goal by the world class footballer - Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite. However, many football lovers may not even recognize that name. This is because most people know the player by his short name - Kaká. Today’s Spotlight program is about the life of Kaká - both on and off the football field.

Voice 1

Kaká was born in Brasília, Brazil in 1982. He has played football since he was a little boy. And he has always been very good. Kaká is only twenty-six years [26] old. However, he has become a very famous international football player. He plays for both the Brazilian National football team and the AC Milan Italian club team.

Voice 2

This past year has been extremely special for Kaká. In December of 2007, Kaká’s team, AC Milan, won a very important competition. They won the FIFA Club World Cup. This is the most important world-wide football competition for club teams. So, this was a great honor for Kaká and AC Milan. However, that was only part of Kaká’s great year in football. Kaká was also named the 2007 European Footballer of the Year and the FIFA World Player of the Year. These are the greatest individual awards a footballer can receive.

Voice 1

Many people who are not football lovers know Kaká. His face has become well-known across the world. He is often on television, and in newspapers and magazines. This is because he works as a model for a famous clothing company. And because he uses his name to help sell things like sports equipment and even soft drinks. Kaká has become very famous through these kinds of business.

Voice 2

In 2008, Kaká was named one of TIME magazine’s one hundred [100] people with most influence in the world. Most people probably think Kaká received the award for his football and business successes. But these are only part of why he received the award. The story in TIME noted another, less known fact about Kaká - he works as an ambassador.

Voice 1

In 2004, the United Nations’ World Food Programme appointed Kaká as an Ambassador Against Hunger. Kaká is not the only famous individual to be appointed to such a position. However, he was the youngest ever to be appointed. Kaká was then only twenty-two [22] years old. And for almost four years, he has worked to help the cause of hungry people worldwide. When Kaká was appointed as an ambassador, he told the press,

Voice 3

“It is a real honor to help the World Food Program rid the world of hunger. I owe a lot to football. Now I would like to give something back and bring hope to hungry children who have less than I have.”

Voice 2

When Kaká was growing up, he wanted to be like another famous footballer named Raí. Raí was one of Brazil’s greatest players when Kaká was young. Raí also played for a European club team and he was very successful. But Kaká respected Raí for other reasons as well. He says,

Voice 3

“Not only was Raí a great football player, but he also cared about social issues. When he played in Paris Saint Germain, he managed many charity works to improve the poverty situation in Brazil.”

Voice 1

Like Raí, Kaká cares much about the social issues of the world. In February of 2008, Kaká helped the United Nations launch a new program. This new program is called “Fill the Cup.” There are fifty-nine million [59,000,000] children around the world who go to school hungry each day. “Fill the Cup” seeks to raise money for these children. The World Food Program often uses plastic containers, or cups to provide food to hungry children. So, the “Fill the Cup” program is named after these cups.

Voice 2

Kaká has spoken on television and the Internet about the program. And he even dedicated one of his football games to the cause. Kaká explains why he supports the program,

Voice 3

“I come from a country where I have seen how hunger can rob a child’s future. So I am very proud to ask football lovers and other people to Fill the Cup and build a strong base for the future.”

Voice 1

Kaká is a great footballer and a great ambassador for world hunger. But he is also a great man of faith. Kaká speaks often about his Christian faith. And he hopes to become a Christian minister after he stops playing football. For Kaká, it is very important for his life to support what he believes. He says,

Voice 3

“I am not supposed to be hitting people on the field or using bad language. My concern, before my own team mates and the players on the other team, is to be what I am. I never want to say one thing and be something else. As much as possible I try to say something about Jesus, about life with God, and to help other people.”

Voice 2

As an Ambassador for World Hunger, Kaká does live out his desire “to help other people.” However, some people do not approve of Kaká’s desire to live out his faith so strongly on the football field. During football games, he often wears clothes that say things like “I belong to Jesus” or “God is faithful.” Many people criticize him for wearing clothes like these.

Voice 1

Kasey Keller is an American goalkeeper, now playing in Britain. He wrote the TIME’s one-hundred magazine story about Kaká. Keller is not sure that the football field is the best place to share about religion. However, he says,

Voice 4

“In a time when many sports players care more about cars, women and getting into trouble, it is wonderful to see one who is loyal to the idea of making positive changes to the world around him.”