Cavaleiro Fiel statue installed at Neo Química Arena after long wait | OneFootball

Gilmar Pinna’s 25-metre São Jorge statue, Cavaleiro Fiel, was unveiled at the Neo Química Arena car park on Thursday. The event marked 100 years of the club’s social headquarters.

The stainless steel and iron figure shows the saint on a rearing horse with spear to a dragon and a raised fist symbolising resistance, democracy and peace. According to Meu Timao, it had stood at Parque Cecap in Guarulhos, near São Paulo’s international airport, during the long wait for installation.

Finished in 2014 for the stadium that hosted the World Cup opener and five other games, the gift was not installed then. Its arrival ends a delay of more than a decade at the club’s home.

Pinna said he felt he was the one being gifted, recalling about 15 years of effort and early backing from Craque Neto. He said the board did not accept the piece at the time for reasons he did not know and called the installation a victory for devotees, especially Corinthians fans.

President Osmar Stabile, vice Armando Mendonça and executive Marcelo Paz attended with invited councillors, alongside former midfielder Márcio Bittencourt, pivotal in the 1990 title. An ecumenical gathering brought together Candomblé, Umbanda and Catholic leaders for prayers and to consecrate the image.

São Jorge was officially adopted as Corinthians’ patron in 1941 during the building of Parque São Jorge, with links dating roughly two decades earlier.

Source: Meu Timao