greatest in Brazil's countryside and one of the most intense in the whole country. Symbols The club's mascot is a female monkey (Macaca) wearing Ponte Preta's home kit. It was initially intended as a derogatory term, reflecting the racism against the club (one of the first Brazilian teams to accept blacks, having been even refused participation in championships due to this) and its fans. This co-option of a derogatory term as team mascot was copied by Palmeiras fans, who adopted the pig as their mascot instead of taking offense from it, and other teams. Ultras Torcida Jovem Serponte Placar magazine's Silver Ball Prize winners while playing on Ponte Preta 1977 – Oscar and Polozzi (defenders) 1978 – Odirlei (left back) 1980 – Carlos (goalkeeper) 1981 – Zé Mario (defensive midfielder) 1982 – Carlos (goalkeeper) and Juninho Fonseca (defender) 2000 – Mineiro (defensive midfielder) Basketball Ponte Preta had one of the most powerful teams in the history of Brazilian female Basketball during the early 1990s, winning the World Club Championship twice. Current squad Out on loan Head coaches Abel Braga (January 1, 2003 – December 31, 2003) Estevam Soares (January 2, 2004 – May 24, 2004) Vadão (January 1, 2005 – May 22, 2005) Zetti (August 2, 2005 – August 23, 2005) Estevam Soares (August 26, 2005 – November 22, 2005) Vadão (December 15, 2005 – May 29, 2006) Marco Aurélio (May 19, 2006 – October 5, 2006) Nelsinho Baptista (January 30, 2007 – September 23, 2007) Paulo Comelli (September 24, 2007 – December 3, 2007) Sérgio Guedes (2008) Paulo Bonamigo (June 11, 2008 – September 27, 2008) Vágner Benazzi (October 1, 2008 – December 4, 2008) Sérgio Soares (December 4, 2008–11 March 22, 2009) Marco Aurélio (March 9, 2009 – May 25, 2009) Pintado (May 25, 2009 – August 30, 2009) Márcio Bittencourt (August 31, 2009 – October 7, 2009) Sérgio Guedes (January 1, 2010 – March 31, 2010) Jorginho (April 21, 2010 – October 25, 2010) Givanildo Oliveira (October 25, 2010 – December 2, 2010) Gilson Kleina (December 3, 2010 – September 18, 2012) Guto Ferreira (September 22, 2012 – June 6, 2013) Paulo César Carpegiani (June 15, 2013 – August 24, 2013) Jorginho (August 25, 2013 – December 13, 2013) Sidney Moraes (December 15, 2013 – January 30, 2014) Vadão (January 31, 2014 – May 13, 2014) Dado Cavalcanti (May 13, 2014 – July 21, 2014) Guto Ferreira