Youngsters take over the red-black squad
Youth categories are valued and half of the group that showed up this Tuesday is made up of players raised in Gávea
By From the team at Flamengo's official website - in
Flamengo's youth academy has always been a key player in the club's major title campaigns. Building on the motto that it produces stars at home, the Gávea team continues this tradition in 2010, as it fights for its second consecutive Brazilian Championship title.
On Tuesday, the squad returned with 25 players to begin the preseason training camp, aiming for the second half of the year. Of these, 13 were created in the youth academy: Fabrício, Welinton, Galhardo, Lenon, Antônio, Camacho, Paulo Sérgio, Diego Maurício, Saba, Vinícius Pacheco, Rômulo, Marcelo Lomba, and Paulo Victor.
"It's a great opportunity for all of us in the youth academy. This appreciation of the youth teams is important, and I believe that with Zico's arrival, everyone will look at us fondly. It's a dream come true to come into the locker room and be alongside players who, for us younger players, are idols," said full-back Galhardo, whose speech was endorsed by striker Paulo Sérgio.
"It's good to be back and see teammates I had in the youth teams also playing professionally. I think this appreciation for the players who came through the ranks at the club is important, and I'm sure they'll all be able to help Flamengo a lot this year," the center forward added.
And while some young talents from the youth academy have been promoted to the professional ranks, Flamengo's youth team continues its commitments in the state championship. This Wednesday, the team, currently in second place in the standings, faces Resende at 15 pm at CFZ, looking to close the gap on Vasco, who are four points ahead of the league.
On Tuesday, the squad returned with 25 players to begin the preseason training camp, aiming for the second half of the year. Of these, 13 were created in the youth academy: Fabrício, Welinton, Galhardo, Lenon, Antônio, Camacho, Paulo Sérgio, Diego Maurício, Saba, Vinícius Pacheco, Rômulo, Marcelo Lomba, and Paulo Victor.
"It's a great opportunity for all of us in the youth academy. This appreciation of the youth teams is important, and I believe that with Zico's arrival, everyone will look at us fondly. It's a dream come true to come into the locker room and be alongside players who, for us younger players, are idols," said full-back Galhardo, whose speech was endorsed by striker Paulo Sérgio.
"It's good to be back and see teammates I had in the youth teams also playing professionally. I think this appreciation for the players who came through the ranks at the club is important, and I'm sure they'll all be able to help Flamengo a lot this year," the center forward added.
And while some young talents from the youth academy have been promoted to the professional ranks, Flamengo's youth team continues its commitments in the state championship. This Wednesday, the team, currently in second place in the standings, faces Resende at 15 pm at CFZ, looking to close the gap on Vasco, who are four points ahead of the league.