Basil Sylvester Pinto
PANAJI
Take the name of Brazil in world football and the side from South America command awe and respect. The naturally-gifted footballers in the Land of Samba take to the game as naturally as fish to water. One of the five sides (others being Russia, hosts India, China, South Africa), set to play the inaugural edition of the BRICS U-17 Football Tournament in Goa from October 5-15 are here with an eye on adding yet another piece of silverware to their Cabinet.
Head Coach of the Brazil national U-17 side, Carlos Amadeu addressing the media ahead of the tournament at GMC Stadium, Bambolim on Tuesday was confident of his team doing well.
“For us this tournament is particularly very important as we all have tournaments that we have played this year for our preparations at the FIFA U-17 World Cup next year which would be held in the country,” the Seleção Sub-17 gaffer stated.
With the qualification process for the next FIFA U-17 World Cup to be held in October 2017 underway, and five seats from Asia from 24 confirmed from the recently concluded AFC U-16 Championship 2016, Brazil appear almost certain to qualify from South America given their unenviable track record. In the South American U-17 Championship held since 1985, they have won the trophy an impressive 11 times, while thrice they emerged as runners-up, while on the other two occasions they came third (2013) and fourth (1993). The Brazil U-17s look to retain their Championship when the next edition begins in end March next year in Chile. Amadeu would look at one of the three slots available from the bi-annual regional tournament to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Incidentally, at the under-17 age level, from 16 editions, Brazil has missed out on qualification only once (1993). Champions thrice (1997, 1999, 2003) and runners-up twice (1995, 2005), they could not go beyond the quarters stage in the last two editions (2013, 2015) of the mega tournament.
And considering that India plays host to the next edition of The FIFA U-17 World Cup, the Brazil Under-17s view the BRICS tournament in Goa, one of the six venues of the mega tournament, as a preparatory step to the bigger picture. In reply to a question posed by The Goan, the Brazil junior coach revealed they have been regularly having camps back home. He went on to add that while they have featured in some tournaments, they have recently played friendlies at home “ they have played two friendlies against Chile in July, while they played another two friendlies against Uruguay last month. He takes this tournament as special in view of realizing how their teams are preparing comparatively to other nations at the tournament with the World Cup in mind.
When asked to single out a particular player the aficionados of the game could look out for, coach Amadeu did not wish to name any. “The most important thing is that the group plays as a whole. I understand that everybody is skilled, technically gifted as one would expect from a Brazilian player,but more than the individual, the group is what ultimately matters,” Amadeu stressed.
On Brazil deemed as firm favourites to win the tournament, the Brazil U-17 Head Coach had this to say. “The tournament is quite balanced with all other teams being strong. I know Brazil is considered favourites almost everywhere we go, but I think balance is more important. And we will do our best to win the title,” the Brazilian junior team gaffer stated.
In reply to another question posed on what makes the side so competitive at the U-17 level and to give an insight on the structure of youth football there, Amadeu revealed: “Brazil can be considered a continent, though a country considering its size. All the people love football. It is expected to have young footballers that are really good and who start out early.”
On the competitive youth club environment, Amadeu said that they have done very good work with the Brazil clubs with at least 20 of them being very strong at the youth level. As the coach of the U-17 National side since a year, Amadeu had preparations with his young side for one week every month. They have played tournaments and against football schools all over and he now looks forward at the chance of playing South Africa U-17 in Goa.
Amadeu aims at the integration of his youth side with the professional level, senior Brazil side. He has had frequent meetings with the senior team coach Tite and has expressed immense happiness with the work done in association with the Brazilian Football Confederation.
He is no stranger of Indian football and has a fair idea of the football revolution happening in the country since the ISL took off in 2014. “I have started to know about football in India as it has Brazilian players coming here and particularly due to the fact that Zico is coaching FC Goa, one of the ISL sides. The side has many Brazilian players. Lucio is a World Cup captain for Brazil, while I am aware there are two Brazilian youngsters (referring to Rafael Dumas and Trindade Gonçalves).Before working with the Brazilian Confederation, I have worked with Flamengo and I know one of these players who has been with the local club (Dumas),” he revealed.
On India as an emerging face in world football, he acknowledges the role played by the world governing body of football. “FIFA has helped in the development of football in Asia especially with the U-17 World Cup here. It is a good opportunity in a country with its rich and beautiful culture,” Amadeu added.
