Totó,PreguinhoandCotoco

TOTÓ

Also known as pebolim in other parts of Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro the traditional game is called totó. Until the 1950s, it was found only in middle- and upper-class homes due to its high cost. Later, when the game became automated -- allowing it to be played with tokens or coins -- it began to gain space in shops, bars, and amusement parks.

Totó - Engraving by Alcides Oliveira

Image description: The image is a painting of four people playing table football. On the left side, there is a man in an orange shirt and jeans, looking at the game. In the center, a boy in a white shirt and blue shorts stands with his back turned, holding a game handle. On the right, another man in a beige shirt and black shorts also has his back turned, with a handle in his hand. In the background, a boy in a light blue shirt stands still, watching. The game is on a green table with black and white details. In the lower right corner, it reads "TOTO'".

Foosball is said to have been created by Alexandre de Fisterra, a fighter wounded during the Spanish Civil War, who was hospitalized in Monserrat. There, the Spaniard lived alongside many children who, due to illnesses or war injuries, could not play soccer. Watching them play table tennis, the famous ping pong, he had the idea of creating a kind of "table soccer."

Among the many urban legends of Rio, one concerns the origin of the name totó. It is said that players always used to ask “shall we play a tok tok?”, referring to the sound the ball made when it hit the sides of the field. Over time, the onomatopoeia became totó. Cariocas also created some different rules for the game. Among them are the requirement to count a goal scored by the goalkeeper as two points and the prohibition on spinning the rods to which the players are screwed.

Because of the rivalry between Flamengo and Fluminense, in some neighborhoods of Rio, foosball was called Fla-Flu. Participants organized tournaments in which they split into pairs and wore the jerseys of their soccer clubs. While one player was responsible for defense, the other focused on attack. Then the game would go on for a while, in matches of six or twelve goals, divided into two halves, marked by switching sides on the field.

PREGUINHO

Image description: The image is a painting of a table football game. From left to right, we see a hand holding a coin over the green board. The board is arranged at an angle, with the field lines and markers visible. In the background, there is a small area representing the opposing team's goal. The predominant color is green, representing the pitch, with details in black and beige for the board's markers and edges. In the lower left corner, there is a signature and the date "Alcides 2020."

It didn't take long for Rio locals to adapt the new trend to the city's reality, creating a smart, cheap, and more democratic alternative. That's how "preguinho" came about, which could be played anywhere: on the street, on corners, in doorways, on steps...

Unlike totó, with its heavy, well-aligned structure, the preguinho was set up on a smooth 50x30cm board, framed by strips of wood that closed off the field. At the shorter ends, two goalposts were opened up, serving as goals. Twenty-two nails simulated players, 11 on each side. The game was marked with a soccer field design, with the back line, small area, penalty mark, large area, and midfield line. The ball -- a coin the size of a present-day R$ 0.50 coin -- was flicked forward and couldn't touch any opposing nail before reaching the goal. If it did, the turn passed to the opposing team.

Without tournaments and exhibitions, "preguinho" was easier to play than foosball. Over time, the toy became more sophisticated and started being sold in popular markets. Among the many names it got – but which didn't catch on, thankfully! – are pregobol, "pin soccer," dedol, and dedim.

COTOCO GAME

Widely played in the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro until the late 1970s, the game of cotoco is a variation of preguinho played on dirt ground, including the same rules. To tell the two teams apart, players set up 20 broomstick cotocos, arranged in rows and painted in different colors. Wooden slats four fingers high by six long served as goalkeepers, while the goals were marked by stones or lines drawn in the dirt. Players used ice cream sticks, and the ball was the same one used in table tennis.

Image description: The image is a black-and-white print. It shows two men on a playing field called "Jogo de Cotoco" (Cotoco Game). The figure on the left is seated holding a ball, while the figure on the right is standing, watching. In the center of the field, there are several vertical columns arranged in rows. At the bottom of the image, there is a hand holding a small ball. The text in the image reads "Jogo de Cotoco" and "Regras do Futebol de Botão" (Rules of Button Football). The date "01-8-20" and the name "Alcides" are also present.