The Second National Level championship – Taca de Prata – had 48 participants, divided into 6 groups of 8 teams each. Standard league championship was played in each group and the winners qualified to the semi-finals. Peculiar structure, typical for Brazil: the numbers were not suited for the familiar next stages of direct elimination, but never mind. The championship meandered eventually to the semi-finals. During the rounds some well known clubs failed:
Bahia (Salvador) was one of the failures, along with many clubs of, let us say, ‘the second stringers’: America (Rio de Janeiro), Americano (Campos), America (Belo Horizonte), Coritiba (Curitiba), Nautico (Recife).
And many of even lesser fame, like:
Ceara,
Atletico (Goiania),
Treze (Campina Grande),
Central (Caruaru).
Maranhao (Sao Luis)
Comercial (Ribeirao Preto)
America (Sao Jose)
Gremio (Maringa)
Leonico (Salvador)
Comercial (Campo Grande), Guarani (Campinas), Remo (Belem), and Anapolina (Anapolis) reached the semi-finals. Guarani won both legs against Comercial – 2-1 and 3-0 – and Anapolina did the same against Remo – 3-2 and 4-2. On March 21st, 1981 the first leg of the final was played in Anapolis and hosts Anapolina lost 2-4. The second leg was more or less a formality and Guarani just kept the tie at home – 1-1.
Anapolina (Anapolis) had a strong season, but lost the final. They were the underdog anyway and unable to produce a miracle. But it was not so bad – reaching the final qualified them to Level A for the next season.
The winners: second row from left: Birigui, Miranda, Edson, Almeida, Edmar, Edson Magalhães.
First row: Lúcio, Angelo, Careca, Jorge Mendonça, Capitão.
Guarani won Taca de Prata, which was great – a trophy plus going up to Level A. Where they belonged at least by name. And not just by name – Jorge Mendonça played for Brazil in the 1978 World Cup. His much younger teammate Careca was on his way of becoming world-famous striker. Even in Brazil star players belong to top level, not to the lower one.