Vasco Da Gama Select Team Arrives In Azores
The Vasco da Gama select team has arrived in the Azores as it prepares for the XV International U11 Football Tournament.
A spokesperson said, “Vasco da Gama Club’s U11 select team is busy preparing for the 15th International U11 Football Tournament of the Azores, to be held this week from April 5 to April 8.
“The team has already landed in Ponta Delgada, the region’s largest city and where the tournament will be hosted.
“The International U11 Football Tournament is one of the largest youth sporting events in the Azores, bringing over 3,000 people to the Azores.
“The club’s participation follows an invitation which was extended in December 2022 by officials of Clube União Micaelense, the Azorean club hosting the tournament. Featuring 7-a-side football, the tournament comprises 24 teams organized into fourgroups. After the group stage, there will be elimination stages to determine the winner.
“Vasco da Gama’s select team is part of Group D, which also includes ACF Pauleta, CAAF Atlântico, Arlander FC and FC Flamengos. Other teams are visiting from as far afield as Italy, Kazakhstan, Uruguay, Cabo Verde, Canada and the USA.
“The Select team comprises Lucas Amaral, Cameron Camara, Julian Hands, Jasper Herrick, Roman Gaglio, Seth Neill, Eben Oosthuizen, Ryan Renaud, Nikolai Shaw, and Austin Viera.
“Germano Botelho, Director of the Vasco Youth Program, will lead a coaching staff consisting of Enio Vieira and Reed Gaglio. They will coach the young athletes and chaperone them throughout the trip. Dr Sylvanus Nawab will serve as team medic. Richard Ambrosio, President of Vasco da Gama, will formally lead the delegation.
“After a long journey that saw the team travel to New York’s JFK and catch a red eye flight to Ponta Delgada, the young sportsmen still had enough energy to explore the Azorean city and to take part in a spontaneous pick-up game with returning tournament champions, Bayside FC, from East Providence, Rhode Island.
“Outside of the football pitch, the team will get to visit the picturesque Lagoa das Sete Cidades and take in the sights of the still volcanically active village of Furnas.
“The Vasco da Gama Club wishes the U11 team the best of luck in the Azores this week.”
The team at the LF Wade International Airport in Bermuda
The team outside the old TWA Terminal at the JFK International Airport
The team arriving at the John Paul II International Airport in Ponta Delgada
Director of the Vasco Youth Program, Germano Botelho, being greeted by the Director-General of Clube União Micaelense, Arsénio Furtado, the main organizer of the tournament
The team grabbing breakfast at their hotel after catching an overnight flight
The team taking part in a pick-up game with reigning tournament champions, Bayside FC
I remember my tour with Vasco to Boston many many years ago, it was a fun time. Best of luck and had fun.