Photo: Youth Vitor Saba in a junior game in Switzerland
The first International Junior Football Cup (23 years old), the Porto Seguro Cup, will be held from June 29rd to 18th this year in the city of Porto Seguro, on the coast of Bahia. Eight teams were chosen with great care to ensure the technical level is the best possible and also to encourage many other tournaments.
The event is organized and hosted by Márcio Granada Sports Marketing (MGSM), with support from the Porto Seguro city government through the Sports Department. "There will be six days of matches featuring some of the biggest talents in world football. This tournament is unique in South America and will certainly create excitement for many others," said Márcio Granada, a former midfielder who began his career with Palmeiras, then played eight years in Europe and ended his professional career two years ago with Apucarana, Paraná.
The tournament was created after Márcio Granada visited Ibiza, Spain, to watch one of Europe's most famous tournaments, the Ibiza Cup. From there, the idea of holding a similar competition in Brazil emerged. "We're expecting executives and businesspeople from all over the world to attend the tournament," says Granada.
The city of Porto Seguro was chosen for a historical reason. It was in this Bahian city that the Portuguese first arrived in 1500. Furthermore, it will help Bahia begin preparations to host the 2014 World Cup, to be organized by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF).
Porto Seguro is already breathing down its neck for the tournament. The Toca do Guaiamum Municipal Stadium is being specially prepared by organizers to welcome the delegations that will begin arriving in the city on the 19th.
The eight teams were divided into two groups of four: Group A – EC Vitória (BA), Santos FC (SP), SE Ibiza (ESP), and RCD Mallorca (ESP). Group B – EC Bahia (BA), SE Palmeiras (SP), CR Flamengo (RJ), and Villarreal CF (ESP). Sportv will broadcast the tournament, which will also welcome executives and businesspeople from several countries, all seeking new talent to parade through the Porto Seguro stadium.
Launch/table – At the beginning of June, in Porto Seguro, there will be a launch of the tournament for journalists and guests.