José Orlando Fonseca, living archive of Lavras football, wants to turn Fabril's collection into a book

The stadium was already almost empty, with the equipment being dismantled, when Rádio Cultura found the best conversation of the night. After Operário 2 x 1 Real Brasil, in Round 1 of Group B of Copa Rex 2026, on November 4, José Orlando Fonseca stopped to speak into the microphone of Renato Corrêa. A former Fabril player, he holds one of the largest football collections in Lavras.

"I really do have a very rich collection, mainly of Fabril. I think there's no one in Lavras who has what I have", he said. Much of the material has already been handed down to his grandson, who is passionate about football, but some relics remain with him.

The fate of the collection is already decided. José Orlando's son, a teacher who lived in Itabirito, is digitizing the material and preparing a book on Fabril's history, with photos, dates and the stories that took place. "We've already gathered a lot of data, we've already put dates on the photos and on everything. We're looking for a sponsor to make this book", he said. He also plans to donate part of the material to the Secretaria de Cultura (Municipal Culture Department), which is building a collection. "I can't keep it forever."

Asked about the greatest player in Lavras of all time, José Orlando named three eras. From the 1940s and 1950s, a defender who was invited to join Fluminense. Then Miranda, "a true football star". And, in the 1980s, Giovanni, Fabril's number 10.

Giovanni's arrival at Fabril went through him. José Orlando says he ran a friendly team on the Ferroviária field when Fabril's coach complained that he had the lineup set but was missing a number 10. "I told him: come by tomorrow, we're going to train, and you'll see I have a number 10 there." The coach watched the training, pointed out Giovanni and invited him. Giovanni was Fabril's number 10 until the end of that period at the club.

The conversation also recalled the Lavras names who reached the Brazilian national team: goalkeeper Luiz Borracha; Alemão, who went to Rio de Janeiro and shone at Botafogo; and Cláudio Caçapa, who came out of Fabril's youth school, passed through São João del-Rei and reached Atlético Mineiro.

José Orlando's ties to Fabril run in the family. He joined the club at 13 and played as a defender; his brother and his son also wore the shirt. His first youth coach was Kennedy dos Santos, who came from Olímpica. Renato took the opportunity to clear up a common mix-up: the name is Kennedy dos Santos, with no relation to the former U.S. president.

"I have a lot of history to tell. One show won't be enough, no", José Orlando warned, adding that he should return to Rádio Cultura for a longer conversation on Júnior Murad's program.

All Copa Rex games are broadcast live on Rádio Cultura 96.5 FM and on the station's YouTube channel. The full broadcast of Operário x Real Brasil is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0k8W7SZYrk4

Copa Rex 2026 is sponsored by the Lavras Municipal Government, Supermercados Rex, Sicoob Copermec, Pax Carvalho, Chopp Brahma Express, Fábrica de Óculos, Casel Materiais de Construção, Laboratório Santa Cecília, 123 Car, Conecta Internet and Fadminas (Adventist College of Minas Gerais).