Manhattan Kickers 2008 (USA)

August 9, 2008

On August 2008, Manhattan Kickers’ team did its second season of trainings at Granja Comary. During nine 09 (nine) days, players were accommodated at Granja Comary and could enjoy all infrastructure offered at CBF (Brazilian Soccer Confederation). 15 (fifteen) athletes and 2 (two) coaches, and trained daily in two shifts, under EBF (Brazilian Soccer School) technical coordination. Kickers played 2 (two) friendly matches against Friburguense and Vasco da Gama, at Granja Comary.

On August 13th, after 4 (four) days training hard at CBF, the team had the opportunity to compete in a tournament with teams from Teresópolis at Pedro Jahara, known as Pedrão stadium. At the end of the tournament, teams were mixed and players had a friendly game.

In Rio de Janeiro, Manhattan played a friendly match between Flamengo infant team, at Ninho do Urubu stadium. There, the boys could check the quality of Brazilian soccer, especially Flamengo’s team, which always launched excellent players in its base categories. The team also trained beach soccer, a novelty to the athletes, since this modality practice is not common in New York. At Posto 12, at Leblon beach, the team had a training-game against Leme Esporte Clube team.

In the day before their departure in Brazil, Manhattan team had a close view of where the 2014 World Cup final game will be disputed. In Maracanã, the team visited the hall of fame, dressing rooms and knew the most famous stadium in the world. In the last day, they also watched closely to the massive victory of Vasco da Gama over Internacional (4 X 0), at São Januário. Guilherme Pessoa, CBF coach, evaluated this second season of trainings in Brazil in a positive way, since the team demonstrated an excellent technical evolution and upgraded its strategy.