The ball is about to roll for the most important competition in Brazil's youth soccer leagues. The traditional São Paulo Junior Football Cup will be holding its 2010st edition this year, 41, featuring over 90 teams from across Brazil, divided into groups of four. Flamengo is in Group S, hosted in the city of Taubaté, alongside the home team, Paulita de Jundiaí, and Sport Club Shallon (RO), which will be the red-and-blacks' opponent in their opening match on the 3rd.

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The competition will be broadcast live on cable channels SporTV and ESPN, allowing Flamengo fans to follow this young group emerging from the club's youth ranks and place their bets on the future. Who might shine, who will establish themselves in the professional ranks, who might end up heading to Europe... Questions like these only time will answer. However, it's important to follow the steps of Mengão's future stars from a young age. That's why the team at Flamengo's official website has prepared a special about this squad that will compete in the Copinha.

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A young, good-natured team whose main strength is its collective play. This is the Flamengo team that enters the field at the 2010 São Paulo Cup. Without any notable players and possibly with only one player with a professional career, right-back Galhardo (who will only play in the tournament if the team advances to the knockout stage, as he is called up to the Brazilian U-20 national team, which is competing in an international tournament in Uruguay, along with striker Diego Maurício), coach Armênio Moura's team enters the competition to surprise.

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"This team is young, but it has a strong desire to win. It's a team that reflects Flamengo. We have talented and determined players. It's a group that always fights, comes back to regain possession, and that's crucial," said the coach.

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Flamengo hasn't won a title in the youth division for two years, a first since the last century. Accustomed to winning titles, even at the youth level, the red-and-black club will do everything it can to end this drought in the Copinha.

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"It's not time, I think it's past time. We have to give our all, I don't know if I'll play yet, because I'll be with the national team, but I'll try to follow and support, because this team and Flamengo deserve to end this drought," analyzed Galhardo.

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Flamengo has been training with Marcello Vidotti, Alex, Christianno, Michel Pereira, Anderson, Lorran, Maicon, João Vitor, Guilherme, Nixon, and Dudu. However, João could be promoted to the senior squad and not compete in the competition. Midfielders Erivelto and Luiz Antônio, as well as forward Eliabe, would be starters, but are recovering from injuries and have not yet been confirmed.

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The cast
goalkeepers: Marcello Vidotti and Douglas Lima.
Sides: Galhardo, Anderson, Alex and Caio
Defenders: Michel, Christiano, Thomas, Fernando and Douglas
Frills: Luiz Antonio, João Vitor, Lorran, Frauche, Matheus and Ricardinho
Socks: Maicon, Elivelto, Guilherme, Ricardinho, Maycon Santana, Rosicley, Marquinhos and Vinicius
Attackers: Eliabe, Lucas, Nixon, Dudu, Pablo and Diego Mauricio