The accentuated urban changes in the city of São Paulo, during the 19th century, under the strong development of coffee growing, contributed to the arrival of different foreign groups, among them, the Germanic immigrants. According to Siriani (2013, p. 104), in December 1827, Germans landed in the port of Santos. After much discussion among local politicians, it was decided that the vacant lands in the hinterland of Santo Amaro would be the ideal location, since they were very close to the capital and the coast. (SIRIANI, 2013, p. 104).
If the São Paulo native Charler Miller is considered the father of Brazilian football, the German Hans Nobiling can be famous as the “uncle” of the sport. Born in Hamburg, on September 10, 1877, he landed on Brazilian soil on May 15, 1897, bringing with him a soccer ball and a copy of the statutes of the Sport Club Germania, club in which he was captain, in Germany. Hans, unlike the Germans who lived in São Paulo, preferred football to gymnastics.[1].
Chácara Dulley, former São Paulo match venue Athletic, before leasing, in Rua da Consolação, a land for football practice, it became the place for Hans to teach football to several young students and businessmen in the city. It didn’t matter the time or the weather to play football. At Chácara Dulley, Hans trained the boys whenever there was an opportunity. Sometimes he didn’t find time to train in the afternoon, but he wasn’t disturbed by this: he scheduled the rehearsal for the evening. And it is in the light of the moon that, many times, with frightened frogs, they saw two groups of boys running here and there, chasing a ball wrapped in white cloth. The training sessions were only interrupted due to the lack of moonlight or, as it happens today, the lack of electricity. (SILVA, 2017, p. 32).
Soon, Nobiling’s team, named by the players themselves as Hans Nobiling Quadro, in honor of their coach, was ready to face other teams from São Paulo. The first game took place on March 5, 1899, against Mackenzie’s team College, commanded by Professor Augusto Shaw. According to Cunha (2019, p. 19) Nobiling initially challenged the British SPAC, who did not give importance to the challenge. Even with two players less, Hans Nobiling Quadro held the score. After the tie, this is Mackenzie College they faced each other again, this time, with the victory of the team commanded by Hans by 1 to 0. On June 29, 1889, after acceptance by the English, the SPAC faced the Hans Nobiling Quadro in front of 60 people from the English and German colonies, on Rua da Consolação, behind the first water tank in São Paulo.
Football is passionate for uniting different peoples with the same goal within a demarcated field: to win. However, it is also a reason for disagreements and separations. According to Cunha (2019, p. 20) there was a meeting for the founding of a football club with Hans Nobiling and his companions, and at that meeting there was disagreement about the name of the club. There was the wing that defended the name “Sport Germania Club”, defended by Nobiling and some German immigrants. Another wing, formed by people of different nationalities, defended the name “Internacional”, which after voting[2]most chose the name “Sport Club International”, which caused Hans to revolt, withdrawing from the meeting. On September 7, 1899, Hans and the Wahmschaffe brothers, also of German origin, founded the Sport Club Germania. (CUNHA, 2019, p. 21).
O Sport Club Internacional was born on August 19, 1899 after a disagreement between Hans Nobiling and German colonists over the choice of the team’s new name. The initial meeting was held at Leopoldo Villa Real’s residence, Rua Senador Queirós, nº 5, and aimed to change the name of “Hans Quadro Nobiling”. (SILVA, 2017, p. 34). The winners of the meeting, contrary to Nobiling, chose the name due to the internationalization of football at the club, since Mackenzie College only accepted students from the institution, and the SPAC only accepted English students.
The board, soon after, was composed by Antônio Campos, president; Henrique Vanorden, vice president; Julio Villa Real; secretary; Ernesto Ey, treasurer. For the organization of the Statutes, the following committee was chosen, composed of Drs. René Vanorden, Nikolas Edwards, Otto Krischke and Victor Weisskopf. Mr. René Vanorden temporarily directed the team. (SILVA, 2017, p. 35).
Chácara Witte received training from Sport Club Internacional, which sported its red-black uniform. The club’s progress was due to the acceptance of players of all nationalities, becoming one of the friendliest clubs in the city, according to its public. English, French, Portuguese, everyone could sign up, (SILVA, 2017, p. 35) and, for that reason, the name “Internacional”. According to Silva (2017, p. 35), Internacional’s board installed the club in the center of São Paulo, on Rua José Bonifácio, in a building with vast facilities, including a games room and gym terrace.
The club lasted until 1933, after merging with Antarctica Futebol Clube to try to solve its financial problems. In its short journey, the “Internacional” won the 1907 Paulista Championship (Liga Paulistana de Football) and the Football Amateur League in 1928.
On September 7, 1899, Hans Nobiling created the Sport Club Germania, with German roots. Its adherents, dissidents of the Hans Nobiling Quadro and the Sport Club International, were mostly German immigrants. The club had the small field of Chácara Witte as a training ground.
According to Silva (2017, p. 39), in the early 1900s the club held its first competitive game against “Internacional” at the Velodromo Paulista, and was defeated by 4-2.
O Sport Club Germânia was not just limited to football practice. With the increase in the number of members, monthly events and competitions were disputed by the members. On this aspect, Sevcenko said that:
It is necessary to simultaneously consider the powerful attraction exerted by sports on the various communities, in order to be able to assess the magnitude of their cultural impact (…). Practicing sports implies a profound reformulation of life experience. (SEVCENKO, 1992, p. 48-52).
In the year 1902, the Sport Club Germania participated in the founding of the Liga Paulistana de Football and it fell to the club to hold the first official football game in Brazil, against the Mackenze team College. It was also up to Germania to concede the first goal in the history of Brazilian football, scored by Mackenzista Mário Epinghaus.
Germania’s main achievements were the 1906 Paulista Championship[3] and 1915. In 1932, Germania ended its participation in official football competitions, and in 1942 it changed its name to Esporte Clube Pinheiros, due to the Second World War[4].
Grades
[1] Hans sought to influence the elements of the German colony, but gymnastics, the Germans’ favorite sport, served as an obstacle to his objective. (SILVA, 2017, p. 32).
[2] There were 15 votes to 5. (CUNHA, 2019, p. 21).
[3] Germania had Hermann Friese as the competition’s top scorer. There were 7 goals. The 1906 Paulista Championship reserved some unusual events. SPAC withdrew from the competition, followed by Mackenzie soon after. AA Palmeiras would be champion, but lost the title due to an irregularity. SC Internacional filed an appeal with the League claiming that the club failed to comply with the statute by charging tickets for a match. From champion, the team ended up eliminated, and the title fell in the lap of Germania. (KUSSAREV, 2021, p.26).
[4] The National Sports Council (CND) enacts an ordinance prohibiting sporting events from showing “manifestations of nationalities” — according to the text of the ordinance of September 1942 — assigning to the state public forces the responsibility of maintaining order. In 1942, Palestra Itália changed its name to Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras. (ARAÚJO, 2000, p.18).
how to cite
FAZZOLARI, Felicce Fatarelli. Hans Nobiling Quadro, Sport Club Internacional and Sport Club Germânia. Ludopedio, Sao Paulo, vol. 164, no. 13, 2023.
