It's not just in soccer that Flamengo's children have great idols. Flamengo's basketball team, five-time Rio de Janeiro champion, two-time national champion, and current South American League champion, is also a hit among the Gávea club's young fans. Proof of this was the joy of the approximately 30 children who attended coach Paulo Chupeta's team's final training session in Rio de Janeiro before departing for Venezuela, where the group will compete in the Liga das Américas, this Friday morning.

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The young people arrived on a tour bus directly from Volta Redonda and visited the HSBC Arena facilities, one of the most modern basketball arenas in Latin America, home to Flamengo and the venue for the 2008/2009 Novo Basquete Brasil finals. After the tour, the young people had the opportunity to watch and cheer on the plays and dunks of the multiple-time champions during the team's teamwork.

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"It was really cool, I brought the kids from Volta Redonda to watch the training, they got to know the gym, then they played a little ball... I'm sure it was a cool experience for them," said supervisor André Guimarães.

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Flamengo departs this Saturday for Marguerita Island, where they begin their group stage play in the Liga das Américas next Monday. It's worth remembering that the League title is the only one this generation of Flamengo has competed for, but has yet to win. The team will be without Marcelinho Machado, who is suspended for the first game and recovering from an injury. The captain, however, will accompany the delegation.