Dunga imposes new Brazil media blackout

Brazil coach Dunga banned the media from training for the third time in a week on Sunday, just two days before the South Americans face North Korea in their World Cup opener.

Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) official Rodrigo Paiva announced the decision amid speculation that the move was the result of a reported fallout between teammates Daniel Alves and Julio Baptista on Friday after training.

However, the CBF preferred to see Dunga’s move as simply his preferred method of going about his business as the big kick-off nears for the five-times champions of whom so much is, as always, expected.

Four years ago in Germany, previous coach Carlos Parreira allowed greater access to players but Dunga, who has his critics not least as a result of leaving the likes of Adriano and Ronaldinho of the squad, prefers a more cagey approach.

Brazilian coaches habitually have to deal with hordes of journalists who battle to satisfy the insatiable appetite of fans, and Parreira had in 2006 to fend off issues such as former striker Ronaldo’s weight.

Dunga has kept most of his players on a tight media leash, doing the bare minimum in putting up two players a day for a set-piece interview at the Randpark Golf Club on the outskirts of Johannesburg.

Even when the players are on hand they come in and go out via a door which is at the other end of the room from where the reporters congregate, ensuring the maximum chance of a quick getaway to fend off awkward questions.

Defender Maicon and reserve midfielder Ramires explained that the decision to train behind closed doors “is the decision of the coach” and they had no say in it.

Benfica’s Ramires joked that if he were at liberty to divulge something about Saturday’s training session “then it would have been an open session, not closed!”

Under FIFA rules, Monday’s training session at Ellis Park will be open to the media for ther first 15 minutes, after which Dunga is slated to give an interview.

At least Dunga is not quite as extreme as 1958 winning coach Vicente Feola, who banned his players from wearing hats, smoking while in official squad attire or talk to the media outside of official press gatherings.

The Feola recipe worked, of course, as Brazil, inspired by a 17-year-old Pele, lifted the trophy in Sweden.