Obina

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Personal information
Obina
Image:Obina.jpg
Full name	Manuel de Brito Filho
Date of birth	31 January 1983
Place of birth	Vera Cruz Bahia, Brazil
Height	1.83 m
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current club	Flamengo
Senior clubs¹
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
2001-2003 2003-2004 2004-2004 2004-2005 2005-present	Vitória Fluminense-BA Vitória Al-Ittihad Flamengo	57 (17)
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 25 March, 2007. * Appearances (Goals)

Manuel de Brito Filho, or simply Obina (born January 31, 1983 in Bahia), is a Brazilian football striker currently playing for Flamengo.

Flamengo's supporters like to refer to him as the Brazilian Samuel Eto'o, a joke-reference to the Cameroonian FC Barcelona player. Some chants include "Deus perdoa, Obina não" (God forgives, Obina doesn't) and "Ô Ô Ô Obina é melhor que Eto'o" (Ho Ho Ho Obina is better than Eto'o). They also joke with the Corinthians foward Nilmar, "Ahhhh Obina é melhor que Nilmar" (Ahhhhhh Obina is better than Nilmar).

Obina was fundamental in helping Flamengo win the 2006 Brazil Cup.

Obina has often been compared with Fio Maravilha for his folkloric charm. Kleber Leite, Director for Flamengo's Football Departament, once referred to him as being "culturally naive."

During Flamengo's Taça Guanabara semi-final match against Vasco da Gama on February 25, 2007, Obina injured his left knee's anterior cruciate ligament after scoring in the second minute of the match. Flamengo's doctors estimated that he will be out of action for six months. After the injury, the Flamengo's supporters start singing "Ahhhh Obina vai voltar" (Urnnn Obina is going to return).