(dpa) - Joel Santana led the Brazilian team Flamengo to its 30th Rio de Janeiro state championship title Sunday, ahead of his departure this week to become national coach of 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa.
Flamengo defeated archrival Botafogo 3-1 at Maracana stadium. Trailing 1-0 at halftime, Santana made daring changes and managed to turn the score around with four strikers on the pitch.
Santana will coach Flamengo Wednesday against the Mexican side America in the quarterfinals of the prestigious Copa Libertadores, before his scheduled departure Thursday for South Africa.
He is to succeed fellow-Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira, who resigned from the helm of the Bafana Bafana to attend to his ailing wife.