Chapter 28: A Five-Star Hotel Where You Can Hear Cows Mooing at Night?
July 15th marked another long trip for São Paulo. This time, the team traveled north again, facing Vitória away from home only a few days after their previous league match. The schedule had become increasingly tight, and even the most experienced players were beginning to feel the strain.
Despite the fatigue, the match turned into one of the most dramatic encounters of the season.
Vitória, playing in front of their home crowd, refused to back down from the opening whistle. Their aggressive pressing forced São Paulo into several early mistakes, and the game quickly developed into a fast-paced exchange of attacks. Midfield control shifted back and forth, neither side willing to slow the rhythm.
Ken sensed early that the match would demand something special. Vitória's defensive line played very high, leaving narrow but dangerous pockets of space behind them. Every time São Paulo recovered the ball, he immediately looked for forward runs, trying to exploit those openings.
In the 18th minute, his effort paid off. Receiving a through pass from Denílson near the edge of the penalty area, Ken feinted inside before suddenly accelerating to the right, slipping between two defenders. His low shot struck the far corner cleanly, giving São Paulo the early lead.
The celebration, however, did not last long. Vitória equalized ten minutes later through a powerful header from a corner kick, sending the stadium into an uproar.
The match gradually evolved into a relentless attacking battle. Vitória scored again before halftime, forcing São Paulo to chase the game. Inside the locker room during the break, the atmosphere remained calm. Coach Ramalho simply emphasized patience.
"We keep our shape. The chances will come," he said.
They did.
In the 54th minute, Ken once again demonstrated his sharp instinct inside the penalty area. After a rebound fell loose near the six-yard box, he reacted faster than everyone else, sliding the ball into the net to equalize.
Vitória responded almost immediately, retaking the lead through a long-range strike that left even the veteran goalkeeper helpless.
But Ken refused to let the match slip away.
In the 82nd minute, São Paulo launched a quick counterattack. Aloísio held the ball under heavy pressure before laying it off to Ken at the top of the box. With defenders closing in, Ken struck first time, sending the ball curling into the upper corner—his third goal of the night.
Hat-trick.
The final whistle soon followed, sealing a 3–3 draw. Although the team's winning streak ended, Ken's performance drew widespread attention. It was the second hat-trick of his professional career, and another sign that his influence on the team was growing with every match.
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The Cup Winners Cup Second Leg
Three days later, São Paulo faced Corinthians again in the second leg of the South American Cup Winners Cup final.
Holding a 3–1 aggregate advantage, Coach Ramalho chose a conservative strategy, prioritizing defensive organization and counterattacks. Ken began the match on the bench, part of a rotation decision intended to manage the squad's heavy schedule.
Corinthians attacked relentlessly at home, pressing high and controlling possession. For much of the first half, São Paulo struggled to move the ball out of their own half. Veteran leaders like Rogério Ceni and Lúcio held the defensive line together, preventing the pressure from turning into multiple goals.
By halftime, Corinthians had scored once, narrowing the aggregate gap but still trailing overall.
Ken entered early in the second half, and the impact was immediate. His movement between midfield and attack created passing outlets that had been missing earlier, allowing São Paulo to launch faster transitions.
In the 63rd minute, he converted a counterattack with a composed finish after receiving a through ball. Later, he added another goal with a precise strike from just outside the penalty area.
The match ended 2–2, giving São Paulo a 5–3 aggregate victory and securing the trophy.
For Ken, it was more than just another match—it was the first professional title of his career.
That night, still wearing his medal, he made a long video call to his family. Their laughter and excitement reminded him why he had endured the long years of struggle before reaching this moment.
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League Challenges Continue
The celebrations were brief. The schedule allowed little time for rest.
Only days later, São Paulo faced Cruzeiro, a historically powerful club known for producing legendary players. Perhaps still carrying the fatigue of recent matches, São Paulo struggled to find rhythm and eventually lost 2–1, their first league defeat in weeks.
The setback, however, quickly served as motivation. In the following fixtures, the team responded strongly, earning back-to-back victories against Internacional and Corinthians, restoring confidence before the mid-season break.
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Departure for Europe
At the end of July, a new journey awaited: São Paulo would travel to Munich, Germany, to participate in the Audi Cup, a preseason tournament featuring several major European clubs.
At the training base parking lot, players loaded large suitcases onto the team bus. Some carried enough luggage for a month-long vacation.
Aloísio looked at Ken's single backpack and shook his head.
"That's all you're bringing?"
Ken smiled. "We're going for ten days, not moving houses."
His relaxed attitude made several teammates laugh. For Ken, the upcoming trip held special meaning—it would be his first time setting foot in Europe, the continent where he hoped to play one day.
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Arrival in Munich
After an eleven-hour flight, the team finally arrived in Munich late in the evening and checked into a five-star hotel arranged by the organizers. Many of the older players immediately headed to their rooms, exhausted from the journey.
Ken, however, still felt energetic. He had slept most of the flight and found it difficult to fall asleep later that night.
Unfortunately, his roommate, Aloísio, had no such problem.
Within minutes of lying down, loud snoring filled the room—deep, rhythmic, and impossibly loud.
Ken stared at the ceiling in disbelief.
It continued for hours.
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The Morning Joke
The next morning, Aloísio stretched comfortably while Ken sat at the edge of the bed with tired eyes.
"You woke up early today," Aloísio said cheerfully.
Ken looked at him expressionlessly.
"Early? I never slept."
"Why?"
"Because there was a cow mooing next to me all night."
Aloísio froze for a second before realizing the meaning, and the entire team burst into laughter during breakfast when the story spread. Even the coaching staff couldn't help smiling at the joke.
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First Training Session in Europe
Despite the sleepless night, Ken reported to training on time. São Paulo's sessions were held at a nearby training complex, where the players adjusted to the cooler European weather and different pitch conditions.
For many teammates, the tournament felt like a short vacation mixed with football. For Ken, however, it was something else entirely—a rare opportunity to perform in front of European audiences and scouts.
As he stepped onto the training field, he looked around quietly, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings.
This was only a short visit for now.
But someday, he intended to return—not as a guest, but as a player competing here every week.