Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva used his country's passion, football, to charm leaders of the G-5 outreach countries, including prime minister Manmohan Singh, here when he presented them with his national team's yellow jerseys carrying players' autographs.
With numbers 1 to 5 blazoned on them, the jerseys given at a joint media briefing last night on the sidelines of the G-8 summit represented the unity of the G-5 nations and was accepted by leaders with great glee and happiness.
Giving the jersey to Singh, who accepted it with a smile, Silva wished India that its football also rose to the heights of his country's team.
During Singh's visit to Brazil in 2006, India had sought their assistance in coaching Indian players. A noted Brazilian coach had also come to India for a few days.
Silva preceded his gift distribution by recalling that his country's team survived a nightmare in the semi-final of the Confederation Cup in South Africa against the 'Rainbow' nation, which Brazil ultimately won defeating the hosts.
With South African president Jacob Zuma sitting by his side, Silva recounted that Zuma was all smiles and he was downcast when the Brazilian team was trailing the hosts. But a last minute goal by Brazil's Daniel Alves brought smiles on Silva's face and sadness to Zuma, he recounted.
The jerseys, with which the leaders stood for a photo-opportunity, were also given to Mexican president Felipe Calderon and China's state councillor Dai Bingguo, who is replacing president Hu Jintao at the meetings here in the wake of the Chinese leader's abrupt return following the deadly ethnic violence in Xinjiang.
