21 juniors to go for 21-day training stint in Brazil

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IT WILL be an opportunity to pursue their professional dreams for 21 juniors from the Brazil Football Centre when they go for a three-week training stint in Brazil.

The players — two teams in the Under-15 and Under-19 age group — from the Brazil Football Centre, based at the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) Mini Stadium in Subang Jaya, will leave for Rio Grande Do Sul on Monday.

Rio Grande Do Sul is about two hours by flight from Sao Paulo and the players will be based at Pedra Branca FC in Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande Do Sul.

Going through the paces: The players going through a skills training session monitored by Oliveira.

Two top football clubs — Gremio and Internacional — in Brazil are also based in Rio Grande Do Sul.

Brazil Football Centre chief coach Robson Mattos De Oliveira said they had arranged about seven friendly matches during the stint in Brazil.

“Both our Under-15 and Under-19 teams will have one match each against their counterparts from Gremio and Internacional.

“The talent scouts from both Gremio and Internacional are expected to be present.

“It will be a golden opportunity for our players to impress the scouts. If our players perform well in the matches, there is a strong possilibity of them being considered for further trials in Brazil,’’ said Oliveira.

All ears: Oliveira (left) briefing the players before a training session.

The players were selected for the stint based on their commitment in training. But Oliveira, who had coaching stints in Dubai and India prior to his arrival in Malaysia, admitted the players’ fitness condition was not favourable.

“We train only twice a week as the players have to attend school and other activities. So we cannot expect them to be in good physical condition. But in terms of skills and techniques, they are well off.

“I am confident they will be able to match their rivals in Brazil,’’ said Oliveira.

This season, the players were tested in 10 friendly matches. The encounters were against senior teams.

The results were encouraging as they won eight and lost two matches. Some of the players had represented their schools and districts in age group competitions.

“It will be an opportunity for the players to understand professional football and how to be a professional. There is no pressure on the players and we expect them to have a nice time.

“But we have faith in the players and they have the talents.’’

During their stay in Brazil, the players will also get the chance to watch a league match between Gremio and Internacional.

“It will be an exciting and interesting local derby. Both are arch-rivals and the atmopshere will be electrifying. Our players are in for a good treat and wonderful experience,’’ said Oliveira.

The players: Derrick Malcolm, John Lim Zheng Yuan, Nazrin Ismail Izham, Thomas Ann Chi Yung, Abdul Qyyum Mustaqem Jalal, Haris Hamdan, Brandon Ann Chi Yaw, Isaac Thong Mun Ho, Desmond Neil Capel, Bryan Raj Mutusamy, Carlos Benjamin Goonting, Prem Jayabrarathi, Idowou Temilolu Oluwaseun, E. Hariharan, Rohan Ganesan, J. Balachandran, Jason Maha Ganesh Kanason, Dominic Wong Yee Hun, Ogustian Anthonysamy, Ian Nicholas Blaydes, R. Vesalan Naidu.