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Cape Town - Amaglug-glug defender Rivaldo Coetzee has revealed that competing in Brazil at the 2016 Olympic Games was predestined from a young age.
Coetzee was in action for the South African Under-23s in the goalless draw against hosts Brazil on Thursday.
Owen Da Gama's side held the Brazilians despite playing with 10 men for the last 30 minutes after Mthobi Mvala was red carded.
"My father is a huge fan of Brazilian football and Rivaldo was his favourite player, which is why he named me after him," Coetzee told FIFA.com website.
"I've had a ball with me ever since I was a little boy. He played in goal for an amateur side. When he was out on pitch, I was behind his goal with my friends, kicking my ball around.
"I grew up in a small place, and everybody knew how much I loved football. Maybe they thought it was just the right name for him to give his son, because football was his life."
Amaglug-glug will face Denmark in their next group match on Sunday (7 August).
Coetzee was in action for the South African Under-23s in the goalless draw against hosts Brazil on Thursday.
Owen Da Gama's side held the Brazilians despite playing with 10 men for the last 30 minutes after Mthobi Mvala was red carded.
"My father is a huge fan of Brazilian football and Rivaldo was his favourite player, which is why he named me after him," Coetzee told FIFA.com website.
"I've had a ball with me ever since I was a little boy. He played in goal for an amateur side. When he was out on pitch, I was behind his goal with my friends, kicking my ball around.
"I grew up in a small place, and everybody knew how much I loved football. Maybe they thought it was just the right name for him to give his son, because football was his life."
Amaglug-glug will face Denmark in their next group match on Sunday (7 August).
