Flamengo debuts in the São Paulo Junior Cup this Tuesday
The red-blacks will face Mogi Mirim, in São José dos Campos, in the first round of the Copinha
By From the official website team - in
This Tuesday (January 04.01th), Flamengo kicks off one of the most traditional competitions in Brazilian football: the São Paulo Junior Cup. The Flamengo youth squad will take to the field at 21 p.m. to face Mogi Mirim in their first match of the 2011 edition of the tournament. With a team that mixes players already in the junior category with others recently promoted from the Rio de Janeiro youth champions, the group dreams of a title that hasn't come to Gávea since 1990.
One of the standouts of this generation is striker Negueba. A player with speed and skill, he has even impressed Vanderlei Luxemburgo, the first team's coach, who is already showing special concern for his development. Proof of this is that Guilherme hasn't had much time to rest. After joining the main squad in the final stretch of the Brasileirão, he competed in the Brazilian Under-20 Championship and is now heading to the Copinha.
"I think it's good to have as many opportunities as possible. It will be another chance for me to showcase my football, to play in a position where coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo believes I can help the senior team, so I'll do my best again to try to improve and help my teammates. It's also good for gaining fitness and match rhythm," he said.
Defender Marllon, who also trained with the seniors for a while during the 2010 season, believes this is another opportunity to prove himself and be promoted to the senior team, a dream for all youngsters. Already on Luxemburgo's list for the start of the year, he hopes to live up to expectations.
"I'm very happy to be on this list. Now I have to do well here and show that I can climb the ladder," said the defender, who knows that a good way to do that is to win the Copinha title. "Our focus is on the title. We're all very focused," he added.
The Flamengo lineup has not yet been confirmed, especially since coach Paulo Henrique made some changes to training on the eve of the match. Flamengo is expected to start with Cesar, Alex (Digão), Marllon, Frauches, and Anderson; Vitor Hugo (Maicon), Muralha, and Lorran; Negueba, Lucas (Rafinha), and Adryan (Thomas).
One of the standouts of this generation is striker Negueba. A player with speed and skill, he has even impressed Vanderlei Luxemburgo, the first team's coach, who is already showing special concern for his development. Proof of this is that Guilherme hasn't had much time to rest. After joining the main squad in the final stretch of the Brasileirão, he competed in the Brazilian Under-20 Championship and is now heading to the Copinha.
"I think it's good to have as many opportunities as possible. It will be another chance for me to showcase my football, to play in a position where coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo believes I can help the senior team, so I'll do my best again to try to improve and help my teammates. It's also good for gaining fitness and match rhythm," he said.
Defender Marllon, who also trained with the seniors for a while during the 2010 season, believes this is another opportunity to prove himself and be promoted to the senior team, a dream for all youngsters. Already on Luxemburgo's list for the start of the year, he hopes to live up to expectations.
"I'm very happy to be on this list. Now I have to do well here and show that I can climb the ladder," said the defender, who knows that a good way to do that is to win the Copinha title. "Our focus is on the title. We're all very focused," he added.
The Flamengo lineup has not yet been confirmed, especially since coach Paulo Henrique made some changes to training on the eve of the match. Flamengo is expected to start with Cesar, Alex (Digão), Marllon, Frauches, and Anderson; Vitor Hugo (Maicon), Muralha, and Lorran; Negueba, Lucas (Rafinha), and Adryan (Thomas).