With a Venezuelan past, Andrade recalls good stories
Flamengo's coach worked in Venezuela when he was still in the youth divisions
By From the team at Flamengo's official website - in
CARACAS – He is a renowned former player and coach of the current Brazilian champions, but he has a past that few know about. Andrade returned to his youth academy days when he arrived in Venezuela, where Flamengo will face Caracas this Wednesday (March 10.03th) at 22 p.m. (Brasília time), having experienced important moments in his career in the country.
Before becoming the famous "Tromba", while still in the juniors, Andrade was loaned by Flamengo to Universidad de Los Andes Fútbol Club (ULA), in Mérida, in 1977. The current commander of the red-black team played for the Venezuelan team for two years, and as an attacking midfielder.
"It was a time when many foreign players came to play in Venezuela. Even Jairzinho, the Hurricane of the 70 World Cup, was here. I was recommended by a player who had played for Flamengo's youth team, and I ended up coming to play in Mérida. There was another Brazilian on my team, a defender, and it was a good experience. I played further forward and even scored a lot of goals. Later, I returned to Flamengo and had the opportunity to be promoted to the professional team," Andrade revealed.
The Rubro-negro coach doesn't remember the games from that time very well, but he remembered some details before the Flamengo bus arrived at the training field last Tuesday (09.03).
"We're not going to train in this stadium, no. This one's for baseball. Ours is the other one," he said, clarifying. "I remember when we came to play here. We'd pass the baseball stadium and it was packed, with lots of people outside. However, at the soccer stadium, right after, there were only two or three thousand people," the Flamengo coach joked.
Andrade recalls his Venezuelan teammates on that team with a certain nostalgia.
"I've made great friends here. Unfortunately, life puts us in situations where we lose touch with people. I'd like to see my friends from that time again, but I know it's a bit complicated," concluded the current Brazilian champion coach, who was voted the best coach of the 2009 Brasileirão.
Before becoming the famous "Tromba", while still in the juniors, Andrade was loaned by Flamengo to Universidad de Los Andes Fútbol Club (ULA), in Mérida, in 1977. The current commander of the red-black team played for the Venezuelan team for two years, and as an attacking midfielder.
"It was a time when many foreign players came to play in Venezuela. Even Jairzinho, the Hurricane of the 70 World Cup, was here. I was recommended by a player who had played for Flamengo's youth team, and I ended up coming to play in Mérida. There was another Brazilian on my team, a defender, and it was a good experience. I played further forward and even scored a lot of goals. Later, I returned to Flamengo and had the opportunity to be promoted to the professional team," Andrade revealed.
The Rubro-negro coach doesn't remember the games from that time very well, but he remembered some details before the Flamengo bus arrived at the training field last Tuesday (09.03).
"We're not going to train in this stadium, no. This one's for baseball. Ours is the other one," he said, clarifying. "I remember when we came to play here. We'd pass the baseball stadium and it was packed, with lots of people outside. However, at the soccer stadium, right after, there were only two or three thousand people," the Flamengo coach joked.
Andrade recalls his Venezuelan teammates on that team with a certain nostalgia.
"I've made great friends here. Unfortunately, life puts us in situations where we lose touch with people. I'd like to see my friends from that time again, but I know it's a bit complicated," concluded the current Brazilian champion coach, who was voted the best coach of the 2009 Brasileirão.