Youth Football Agenda – October 02rd to 08th
By Ian Sena - in- Under-20 (Juniors):
Flamengo x Itaboraí - Saturday (07) at 15 pm, in Gávea
Competition: Otávio Pinto Guimarães Tournament (OPG)
- After finishing second in the Copa do Brasil and the State Championship, Flamengo's U-20 team returned to training on the 22nd after a break. Since then, they have been preparing under coach Maurício Souza for the next three competitions on the calendar: the OPG Tournament, the Copa RS (in December), and the Copa São Paulo (in January). The OPG debut will be this Saturday at 15 p.m. in Gávea, against Itaboraí. Bangu and Olaria complete Group B of the tournament, which is played in a single round in this first phase. The top two teams will qualify for the second phase of the competition.
- U-17 (Youth):
Flamengo x Portuguesa - Sunday (08) at 13 pm, in Gávea
Competition: State Championship
After winning the Guanabara Cup in an epic final against Botafogo and already securing a place in the State Championship final, the Garotos do Ninho remain steadfast in their pursuit of their second title. The Rubro-Negro team has already secured the best performance in the Taça Rio, the second half of the championship, and with a five-point lead over second-place Vasco, they will only have to play out the final round, when they host eliminated Portuguesa in Gávea. In addition to the State Championship, the U-17 team, led by coach Márcio Torres, also competes in the Brazilian Cup for the category. In the first phase, they beat Ceará away from home 4-1, a score that eliminated the need for a return match. In the second phase of the national competition, Mais Querido will face Santos.
- U-16 (Youth):
Botafogo x Flamengo - Wednesday (04) at 15 pm, at CEFAT
Competition: Guilherme Embry Tournament
After finishing second in the first half of the season, just two points behind Botafogo, the U-16 team, led by coach Ramon Lima, leads the competition's second half, boasting a 100% record after the first six rounds. This Wednesday (04), the team takes to the field to defend its lead away from home against General Severiano (fourth in the first half). The tournament rules state that the champions of each half (played in a points system) join the team with the highest score in the overall standings for a decisive triangular, which will determine the 2017 Guilherme Embry Tournament champion.
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- Under-15 (Children):
Flamengo x Friburguense - Sunday (08) at 15 pm, in Gávea
Competition: State Championship
Runner-up in the Guanabara Cup after losing to Fluminense in the final, the U-15 team has already secured the highest points tally in the Rio Cup, with an excellent campaign of nine wins in ten games. They are seven points ahead of second-place Fluminense. In the final round of the first half, the Ninho Boys, led by coach Ramon Lima, host Friburguense in Gávea next Sunday.
- Under-14 (Children):
Flamengo x Madureira - Saturday (07) at 08:30 am, in Gávea
Competition: Metropolitan Championship
Flamengo x Internacional de São Gotardo - Sunday (08) at 10:30 am, in Sarzedo (MG)
Competition: Dadazinho Cup
Runner-up in the Guanabara Cup, the U-14 team led by coach Mário Jorge leads the Rio Cup of the Metropolitan Championship (the state championship for this category) alongside Fluminense, with six wins in six games. The Boys from the Nest will look to continue their perfect second-half campaign by hosting 4th-place Madureira this Saturday in Gávea. Immediately after the match, the team will switch gears, hit the road, and shift its focus to the Dadazinho Cup, the main national competition in the category. The current undefeated champion of the competition, the Mais Querido (Most Beloved) debuts in the 2017 edition on Sunday, when they face Inter de São Gotardo in the city of Sarzedo, at 10:30 a.m. Completing Group G of the competition are Grêmio Imperatriz and Chelsea. The top two teams in the group qualify for the knockout stage of the tournament.
- Under-13 (Children):
Flamengo x Madureira - Saturday (07) at 10:10 am, in Gávea
Competition: Metropolitan Championship
Runner-up in the Guanabara Cup, the U-13 team led by Leonam Kasali leads the Rio Cup of the Metropolitan Championship (the state championship for this category) alongside Fluminense, with six wins in six games. And like the U-14 team, the Garotos do Ninho will look to continue their perfect second-half campaign by hosting Madureira (8th place) this Saturday in Gávea, in a duel valid for the 7th round of the second half.