The fans have been Brazil-liant

PAUL KIDDIE

HAVING had to grow up quickly at Tynecastle, the boy from Brazil came of age in Hearts' impressive victory over Rangers.

Recent signing Samuel Camazzola was handed a surprise start against the champions but coped admirably with the pressure to help the Jambos register their first home win over the Glasgow giants in more than seven years.

Despite having just 35 minutes of SPL action under his belt after making his debut as a substitute against Inverness Caley Thistle, boss George Burley plunged the 23-year-old into the heat of battle at Tynecastle last weekend.

His reliance on a midfielder he hadn't seen play prior to his arrival in Gorgie barely a month ago for such a huge game could have been viewed as something of a gamble. But the South American, who touched down in Edinburgh having been identified by major shareholder Vladimir Romanov's scouting network, repaid his manager's faith with an assured display in his first appearance at home.

Camazzola, on loan from Brazilian first division side Juventude for a year, was given a rousing reception from the supporters when he was replaced with just five minutes of the match left.

The ovation was music to the Samba star's ears and he's hoping to hear more of the same this weekend when makes the short journey along the M9 to take on SPL new boys Falkirk.

"The applause from the fans was great for me to hear, especially considering it was my first start for the club at home," he said.

"They haven't seen a lot of me but I was happy that I pleased them with my performance against Rangers and their reaction certainly meant a lot to me.

"It was important I tried to play well for the manager as it was a very big game for us.

"It was a great result for Hearts and put us 11 points ahead of Rangers and kept us five ahead of Celtic.

"We are in a good situation at the top of the league but we have to make sure we keep it going against Falkirk now."

Camazzola, or "Sammy" to his team-mates, dovetailed nicely in the engine room in Saturday's showdown as the Jambos maintained their stunning start to the season, Roman Bednar's first-half header clinching the triumph which saw Hearts prove they are no "flash in the pans" with a highly impressive eighth successive league victory.

He doesn't mind admitting that he knew nothing of his prospective new team-mates prior to his arrival but his dressing-room buddies have been quick to make an impression on the player who has lined up against such stars as Dunga, Rivaldo and Romario back in his homeland.

"I didn't know anything about the players here before I came to the club as there is not that much coverage Scottish football in Brazil," said Camazzola, who is the holder of an Italian passport.

"I used to see the results and look at the league table but there were no match reports from games for me to read. But I have obviously joined a good team and there are a lot of very good players in the side.

"Our midfield was strong against Rangers and it was great to play alongside the likes of Paul Hartley and Rudi Skacel, who are both quality performers.

"Saturday was my first game at Tynecastle and it was a great feeling running out of the tunnel and seeing all the fans there.

"There were so close to the field of play and it was a brilliant atmosphere to play in."

If his family and friends back in his home town of Caxias do Sul in the south of Brazil take time to scan the latest SPL standings, they'll see the Gorgie outfit proudly entrenched at the summit of the table, a position Camazzola wants to see the Jambos retain for as long as they can.

Victory over John Hughes' Bairns at Falkirk Stadium on Sunday will, of course, see that achieved irrespective of results elsewhere and three points will also break a 91-year-old record of eight straight wins to open a league campaign - the club record is 11 chalked up en route to the title in 1894-95.

The Brazilian ace knows next to nothing about Sunday's opponents but after seeing their hosts upset the odds with a 1-1 at home to Rangers and give Celtic a real fright in the third round of the CIS Cup, he is well aware of the threat which the Bairns will provide to Hearts' magnificent run .

"I don't know much about them but they will be difficult to beat on their own ground," he said.

"We cannot afford to underestimate them and will have to be aggressive and close them down just as we did against Rangers.

"We are very pleased with the start we have made but we have to try to keep things going and try to stay as league leaders for as long as possible. That has to be our aim.

"My own target is to try to keep my place in the team. Hopefully, I did well enough against Rangers but it's up to the manager to decide what he feels is the best team for Falkirk."

A month into his new life in Scotland's capital, Camazzola has been taken aback by the reaction of the supporters, the midfielder already being recognised as he wanders around town.

"The passion of the support is tremendous and their feeling for the club and the players is great," he said. "I have only been here for four weeks but supporters having already been stopping me in the streets.

"The football club has also made a very good impression on me and the facilities at the training academy are first class.

"I am living in a beautiful city - I visited the castle recently with friends and we all loved it - and I couldn't be happier at the moment.

"All my team-mates have been helping me settle in since I came here and hopefully we can all work together to get another good result on Sunday."

Taken from the Scotsman