ISTANBUL (2010 FIBA World Championship) - Bobo, Elano (top player) and Alex (small photo) all play football in Turkey for different teams.
 
Bobo is a striker with Besiktas, Elano a star with Galatasaray and Alex the captain of Fenerbahce.
 
On Monday night in Istanbul, though, they weren’t football players.
 
They were just Brazilians.
 
As part of the huge audience at the Abdi Ipekci, the trio sat in Section 109 and watched as their compatriots took on the United States in a Group B battle at the FIBA World Championship.
 
The players were all smiles, even with all of the fans coming up and asking for photographs.
 
Alex is a hugely popular figure among his clubs fans.
 
They adore him, as do the supporters of other clubs as well.
 
Elano, meanwhile, played well at the World Cup but got injured in South Africa and is still trying to get back to 100% fitness.
 
Another beloved former star of football in Istanbul was on hand as well.
 
Sitting near the court was Pascal Nouma, a Frenchman.
 
Knowning to be playfully mischievous, he played for Besiktas and was a fan favorite.
 
Nouma remains in good contact with his former club and often visits Turkey to attend games.
 
FIBA