The fifth edition of the Copa Foot21, the biggest national children's football tournament, will kick off in Vila Real de Santo António until the 30th of June.
The inauguration of the football party was marked by a match that pitted players from the Vila Real de Santo António municipality and former football stars, artists and some television faces. The visiting team ended up winning by two balls to zero, but the result did not stop the good mood from continuing throughout Sunday afternoon.
In addition to the Vila-Realense team, names such as Pedro Pinto (TVI journalist) or the brothers Nelson and Sérgio Rosado (Angels group) played on the pitch at the VRSA Sports Complex.
Captained by João de Deus (Oliveirense), the visiting team was completed by former players Portela (Farense), Jorge Soares (Benfica), Jorge Andrade (National Team), Ricardo Santamaria (Sporting), José Soares (Benfica), Pedro Santos (Leixões), Paulo Ferreira (Amadora), Chalana (Benfica), Mário Jorge (Sporting) or Patrick (FC Porto).
After the match, the parade of the 120 teams participating in the Copa Foot21 followed, with the Lusitano de VRSA team opening the ceremony. Before, the group «Anjos» sang the National Anthem, in an «a chapel» version, which ended up being one of the highlights of the afternoon.
At the same time, the many cries of support from hundreds of supporters were heard, whose chants of support could win the prize for best cheerleader.
For the technical director of Copa Foot 21, Jorge Andrade, in addition to this tournament being a mirror of the new values of football, its success is owed, year after year, «to the parents who accompany the athletes for a week, to the local authority of VRSA, as well as the dedication and fair play of all athletes».
The mayor of VRSA, Luís Gomes, chose to highlight the playful aspect of the event and the «role that the football festival has in the training of almost 2000 young people in competition».
"This is, without a doubt, one of the most important youth sporting events at the national level and is one of the county's key events both for its positive economic impacts, and for its repercussion at the club level", continues the mayor.
More than 360 games in a week
As happens throughout all the World Cups, teams from all national districts will be present, to which the major national clubs will join, transforming Vila Real de Santo António into an unavoidable reference in sporting terms. In this edition, the Cup also counts on the Indian team of Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools.
In addition to the existing levels, entries were extended to the under-13 category, also in 7-a-side football, for athletes born in 99. Thus, the categories of the 5th edition of Copa Foot21 will be: under-13 (1999) ; sub-12 (2000); sub-11 (2001); sub-10 (2002) and sub-9 (2003/04).
In a first phase, the VRSA Sports Complex will host eight games simultaneously, for three days, over 9 hours a day, in a total of 72 matches. During the tournament, more than 360 games will be played, which is equivalent to 18 thousand minutes or 300 hours of football.
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