It’s now been a season since the twin brothers Romario and Ronaldo Vieira signed professional contracts with Leeds United.
Romario is still playing for the development squad, but Ronaldo made the step up to the first team and has managed to appear in most of the Whites’ games this season.
The Guinean teenagers have a very interesting story apart from being named after Brazilian stars. Ronaldo, Romario and his parents Regina and Vladimir have all spoken to Brazilian website Globo Esporte about the boys’ trajectory before making it to Leeds United.
“Our dream is to watch kids do what they like,” says Vladimir, their father. “They love to play football. They were born with this gift. Here in Africa, there is no school, there is nothing. But the children, in the streets, in the neighbourhoods, are playing day and night.”
Regina, who played for the Guinea national team, has a special feeling for her boys playing football and will have known all about Leeds United: “I am one of those women who leaves the soap opera behind and I prefer to watch football. On Sundays, when I do not work, I start to watch games from the English league from noon and I go on until eight.”
On the obvious questions about their names, Ronaldo has revealed it may have helped their careers: “It’s a pleasure to have the same name as a player like Ronaldo. He’s one of my big football idols. I think having those names was one of the things that helped us get here. When we introduce ourselves, people soon think we should play well and it gives us more opportunities.
“I think of putting some player’s name on my son. Let’s see what my future wife will think of it (laughs). It can be even Ronaldo, because I admire Ronaldo and Ronaldinho a lot. But I still do not know that.”
Romario told Globo Esporte how difficult it was to get to play for a big club: “When we got here, it was difficult to find a club because we did not speak English. It took us a year to be accepted into a neighbourhood team. We went to Leeds United several times for several trials, but it was just no, no, and no. We continued to try and finally my brother managed to get approved. The next year, I got in too.
“But all the teams said that we were lying and asked for our documents. The coaches asked, ‘What are your names?’ ‘Romario and Ronaldo’. ‘I’m not kidding, tell the truth”.
Finally asked if they would have something to say to their namesakes, Leeds United’s Ronaldo said: “I’d ask how they got to the stage they got. And if they have any advice to help us get there.”
But Romario would just like to observe: “If I were lucky enough to meet Romario and Ronaldo, I would just say that I wish I had been born before to watch them play.”
Ronald and Romario, Leeds United’s potential future stars.
