Ninho Boys meet their group for the 2018 São Paulo Cup
The red-black team's quest for the fourth title in Brazil's biggest youth football competition will begin against Oeste (SP), Ji-Paraná (RO) and Aimoré (RS)
By Ian Sena - Flamengo Communications - in
The die is cast. On Wednesday afternoon (22), the São Paulo Football Federation announced the groups and venues for the next edition of the São Paulo Junior Football Cup, the largest and most democratic youth football competition in the country. In 2018, the Copinha will feature 128 teams from all Brazilian states.
Three-time champions of the tournament, after lifting the trophy in 1990, 2011, and 2016, Flamengo is in Group 21, based in Barueri, and will face Oeste (SP), Ji-Paraná (RO), and Aimoré (RS) in the first round. The schedule with dates and times has not yet been released. The top two teams will qualify for the knockout stage of the Copinha, which once again has the final scheduled for January 25th at Pacaembu Stadium.
"The first stage of the Copinha is always a mystery. Since many teams don't compete in national competitions throughout the year, we seek as much information as possible as we get closer to the competition. As the games progress and the knockout stages narrow, the big opponents arrive. But analyzing our group, I can highlight the Oeste team, which has been doing a great job both in youth football and with its professional team, having a great campaign in the Série B of the Brazilian Championship. But we know that this tournament traditionally produces good surprises, so our preparation is the best possible. We're going after the title," said coach Mauricio Souza.
RS International Cup in December
With the Copinha on the horizon and still in the preparation phase for the competition, the Garotos do Ninho, led by coach Mauricio Souza, will face another major challenge in December: the Copa RS Internacional. The competition, already a tradition in the category's annual calendar, will feature 2017 national and six international teams in 14, divided into four groups of five teams each, with the top two qualifying for the quarterfinals. The Mais Querido is in Group C, alongside Ponte Preta, Juventude, Cruzeiro, and Huracán (ARG), their opponent in the opening match on December 3rd at 14:30 pm, with live coverage on SporTV.
"Although it's less prominent than the Copinha on the national stage, the Copa RS is a competition with a much higher level of technical expertise. There are far fewer teams, but they're of higher quality, and there are also six foreign teams, a factor that always increases the level of competitiveness. It's a competition seen as preparation for a bigger objective that follows immediately, which is the Copinha. But we're wearing the jersey of Flamengo, one of the greatest teams in the world, and even with a team still developing, we'll enter this competition strong and aiming for the title as well, always with the goal of winning the title," concluded Mauricio Souza.
Three-time champions of the tournament, after lifting the trophy in 1990, 2011, and 2016, Flamengo is in Group 21, based in Barueri, and will face Oeste (SP), Ji-Paraná (RO), and Aimoré (RS) in the first round. The schedule with dates and times has not yet been released. The top two teams will qualify for the knockout stage of the Copinha, which once again has the final scheduled for January 25th at Pacaembu Stadium.
"The first stage of the Copinha is always a mystery. Since many teams don't compete in national competitions throughout the year, we seek as much information as possible as we get closer to the competition. As the games progress and the knockout stages narrow, the big opponents arrive. But analyzing our group, I can highlight the Oeste team, which has been doing a great job both in youth football and with its professional team, having a great campaign in the Série B of the Brazilian Championship. But we know that this tournament traditionally produces good surprises, so our preparation is the best possible. We're going after the title," said coach Mauricio Souza.
RS International Cup in December
With the Copinha on the horizon and still in the preparation phase for the competition, the Garotos do Ninho, led by coach Mauricio Souza, will face another major challenge in December: the Copa RS Internacional. The competition, already a tradition in the category's annual calendar, will feature 2017 national and six international teams in 14, divided into four groups of five teams each, with the top two qualifying for the quarterfinals. The Mais Querido is in Group C, alongside Ponte Preta, Juventude, Cruzeiro, and Huracán (ARG), their opponent in the opening match on December 3rd at 14:30 pm, with live coverage on SporTV.
"Although it's less prominent than the Copinha on the national stage, the Copa RS is a competition with a much higher level of technical expertise. There are far fewer teams, but they're of higher quality, and there are also six foreign teams, a factor that always increases the level of competitiveness. It's a competition seen as preparation for a bigger objective that follows immediately, which is the Copinha. But we're wearing the jersey of Flamengo, one of the greatest teams in the world, and even with a team still developing, we'll enter this competition strong and aiming for the title as well, always with the goal of winning the title," concluded Mauricio Souza.