Five years ago, a 16-year-old boy got his first chance at Flamengo's professional team. Considered a great revelation from the Rubro-Negro youth academy, Bruno Mezenga was promoted as a hopeful player to save the Gávea team from possible relegation in 2005. However, the pressure was too much for the youngster, and he ultimately failed to establish himself. In the following years, he was loaned to several clubs before returning to Gávea in the middle of last year.

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Then, under Andrade's command, he began to be used more. He came on as a substitute in a few matches in the 2009 Brazilian Championship, and in 2010, he even started in matches at the start of the Campeonato Carioca. It was in one of those matches, against Volta Redonda, that he scored his first professional goals for Flamengo. Now, he hopes to replicate that performance.

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"It's always different replacing players like Vagner Love and Adriano. There's a weight to it, as they're players who make a difference. I'm confident, as I've been working hard to take advantage of opportunities, and I hope to repay that trust with a good performance," he said.

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And this Sunday's match is at the same venue where he broke his spell: Raulino de Oliveira Stadium in the Steel City. So he hopes to once again take advantage of Volta Redonda's favorable weather.

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"Without a doubt, the stadium brings back good memories for me. The pitch is very good, and I've played there since I was in the youth teams. As a professional, it's even better because I scored my first goals for Flamengo there," he said.

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A representative of the club's youth academy, Mezenga relies on the saying that Flamengo produces stars at home and hopes that his teammates, who were also raised at Gávea since childhood, continue to have opportunities with Andrade, who is also a Flamengo product.

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"What's happening is important. Flamengo is entering a new phase. It's Andrade's phase, as he's seen us play since the youth teams and is giving us a chance because he knows our potential. It's been a while since the youth players have had opportunities like the ones he's been giving them," he concluded.