In Ipswich, Portuguese hearts are divided, but everyone wants Amorim to succeed

There are divided hearts in Ipswich. In the most Portuguese cafe in the town that will host Ruben Amorim’s debut for Manchester United, some remain faithful to the blue and white of Town, the club they adopted when they emigrated, while others stand next to the coach, their support a kind of letter of love for the country they left behind, but they do not forget.

“I want Ipswich to win, because I’m Ipswich. I live here, I have to be Ipswich”, says José Camarinha, the owner of the café “O Português”.

It’s a party day. From the Portuguese Cup, but also in Ipswich. Coincidentally, hours before the Renaissance visiting the café, there was an opening party for a cramped space, a market filled with Portuguese products, “for the community and beyond”. There are customers dressed in formalwear, beers are passed from hand to hand and, we are told, the mayor was there to cut the ribbon.

“We here are as if we were in Portugal. Half of my clients are Portuguese. The other half are not, but we all get along well with each other, we talk, we laugh, we watch games together, we have drinks” , describes José Camarinha.

“The Portuguese”, located right in the center of Norwich Road, known as the “street of immigrants” – of various nationalities -, is the largest center of Portugueseness in Ipswich. Here the most heard language is Portuguese, although there is occasional support in English for this or that word. You can also hear entire conversations that jump between the two languages ​​- and English people who enjoy Portuguese beer and universal coffee chat are welcome.

There are those who have lived here for more than two decades. If “O Português” unites the community in one place, football unites it around television and debates tinged with club passions.

“My Sporting never fails”, declares Carlos, hidden beneath several layers of clothing and a nicotine beard, before showing off his “business card”: a ring with the Sporting coat of arms and a necklace with two pendants: a cross and the old shield of the Alvalade club. “It’s the club of my heart. Sporting ‘forever’, ‘forever’, ‘forever”, he adds, with a laugh.

Ruben Amorim’s departure “was a catastrophe” for Sporting, however, in a cafe where the overwhelming majority of clientele are immigrants or the children of, there is no one pointing the finger at the coach for looking for a better life.

“He has the right to have a chance in life. It was a good farewell he made to the Sporting fans, wonderful. I wish him all the luck”, guarantees Carlos.

José Camarinha agrees: “People were sad, but it’s another level. Another story. And we’re happy for Rúben Amorim, because he’s another coach at the ‘top’ of Portuguese coaches, like José Mourinho was at Chelsea.”

Carlos differs, however, in the team he will support on Sunday: “Ruben Amorim.”

Originally from Almada, Luís Figueiredo arrived in Ipswich in 2010, but only settled there in 2012. He has his own business, “Luísa’s”, a beauty salon, and is a regular customer of the cafe.

“I chose Ipswich because my mother has lived here for 24 years”, he tells Renaissancebefore introducing his mother, Nazaré Inocêncio, who is sitting right next to him.

“I also have a son and four grandchildren here. I really like England”, reveals Nazaré.

Luísa adds that she has family in the Netherlands, Germany, Norway and Spain; Through marriages, they also already have Ukrainian, Arab and Brazilian family members.

“It’s world peace”, declares Nazaré.

Luísa also mentions that Ipswich is the destination of choice because it is a “safer location, not as big as London”, for example: “The first time I came here I didn’t really like it, but now I consider it my home.”

“People choose Ipswich because it is a city that ends up being safer, it is not as big as London”, explains Luísa.

José Camarinha once lived in London. From there, he brought Chelsea to his heart. At Ipswich, he continues to wear blue, Town’s main color.

The owner of the café “O Português” is loyal to those who host him. That’s why they want a home victory against Rúben Amorim’s Manchester United. Also because Ipswich is just above the waterline, with just one victory achieved. It was in the last round, at Tottenham, and José Camarinha hopes that the second round will arrive on Sunday.

“Is it difficult? Very difficult, there will be no chance at all, they are practically zero. But I don’t want Ipswich to go down. I’ve been here for 25 years and I want it to stay in the first division, because it’s good for me, it’s good for business, it’s good for the city, it’s good for everyone”, he maintains.

José and Carlos were unable to get tickets for the match.

“It’s 300 thousand reis. It’s a lot of twine”, jokes Carlos.

José Camarinha is counting on a full cafe on Sunday: “People will be there watching the game and supporting Ipswich. Everything will be packed, even here at the stadium, waiting to see Amorim.”

“To see a Portuguese person”, he adds, proudly.

There’s also a game about to start, a Sporting-Amarante match for the Portuguese Cup. As time passes, however, the coffee begins to empty.

“Life here in England is different”, explains Mauro, one of the last holdouts. “We start working at six in the morning, we have to go to bed early. Plus, now a lot of people can watch the game at home.”

José Camarinha explains: “We arrive here at night and we don’t have much to go to. It’s not like I arrive in Porto and say, ‘look, I’m going to Matosinhos to eat some fish’. Here, it doesn’t work like that. Restaurants close the kitchen at 10pm at the latest. There are a few bars open there, but it’s nothing like that.

Still, Mauro and Vasco don’t let up and watch as Sporting scores one, two, three, four goals in the first half.

During the break, they talk to the Renaissancelive, about João Pereira’s happy debut. Vasco is more reserved when asked if the first half made him forget Rúben Amorim.

“That’s still a lot of Amorim’s work”, he asserts, highlighting that it’s only up front that you’ll be able to see the new coach’s hand.

Sporting’s heart “still beats” for Amorim and leaves Vasco divided about the weekend’s game. He doesn’t know whether he will support Ipswich Town, of which he is a fan, or Manchester United, which, in addition to the coach, “has several Portuguese people”.

Mauro, who understands Amorim’s decision, because “there are opportunities too good to refuse”, will dress in blue and white, the colors of his city’s club.

Regardless of the outcome of Sunday’s match, both show one certainty: “Ruben Amorim will triumph.”