English title Being Benfiquista Composer(s) Paulino Gomes Júnior Language Portuguese | Published 16 April 1953 Lyricist(s) Paulino Gomes Júnior | |
"Ser Benfiquista" ([seɾ bɐ̃ȷ̃fiˈkistɐ], "Being Benfiquista") is the official hymn of Portuguese club Benfica.
The song acknowledges Benfica's humble beginnings and shows that being a Benfiquista (supporter of Benfica) is more than being a football fan. It is sung before every home match and sometimes during the match. It was created by Paulino Gomes Júnior and was first sung on 16 April 1953 by tenor Luís Piçarra in the presence of 6,000 Benfiquistas at a sarau in Benfica's old arena Pavilhão dos Desportos to raise money with the goal of building the original Estádio da Luz.
The original hymn, composed by Félix Bermudes in 1929, was called "Avante pelo Benfica" ("Onward for Benfica") but was censored by the Estado Novo in 1942 because of the political connotation of the word avante.