Brasil Ladies Cup: the competition is the stage for great stories of young athletes who have overcome adversity and found themselves in football

The tournament, which brings together 16 grassroots women’s teams, will take place from October 23 to 31 in the hinterland of Sao Paulo

Next Monday (23rd), the Brasil Ladies Cup under 20 will begin, a women’s football tournament that aims to promote the youth categories of the national sport. With matches to be played in Águas de Lindoia, Lindoia, Amparo, Itapira, Araraquara and Novo Horizonte, the competition is surrounded by great stories of young players.

With 16 teams divided into four groups, the first phase of the Brazil Ladies Cup under 20 will see the participation of São Paulo, Ferroviária, Grêmio, Santos, Atlético-MG, América-MG, Independente-SP, Avaí Kindermann, Criciúma, Aliança-GO , Red Bull Bragantino, Coritiba, Realidade Jovem-SP, ADFV/MG, São José and Minas Brasília-DF.

Unexpected pregnancy and return to the field

In group A of the competition, the Criciúma team has striker Ana Paula Reus Germano, 21 years old, in its squad. The athlete arrived in Criciúma at the age of 12 and was elected best player of the Brazilian Scholastic Games (JEB). After spending a season at Amazon team Iranduba, Paulinha returned to Criciúma, but she had to take a break from her short career when she discovered she was pregnant.

“I got pregnant during the pandemic, when things were slowly returning to normal. When I found out I was pregnant it was a shock, it was difficult for me,” says Paulinha.

With all the support and support of Tigre, Paula returned to the field three months after the birth of her son.

“Both during the pregnancy and after the birth of my son, I had the full support, both from the team coach, from my colleagues, from my teammates, from everyone. When I went back to training and went back to playing in the competitions and we need to travel to compete, my son came with me, I had full support when he went on trips, the girls help me, the coach helps, everyone helps a little”, explains the athlete.

“I am very happy to be back on the field, thank God I am having a good season this year. For me it is a joy to be able to play the Brasil Ladies Cup, because it is a competition that will bring opportunities and visibility, so I am very happy to participate in this competition”, concludes Paula.

Criciúma makes her debut in the Brazil Ladies Cup under 20 against Avaí Kindermann, Monday (23), at 9pm.

Knee injuries and desire to stop playing football

Striker Vitória Paim, from São José, who represents group D together with Atlético-MG, América-MG and Minas Brasília-DF, has started her journey towards her dream of becoming a footballer in the schools of the neighborhood. In 2020, just before the Covid-19 pandemic, Vitória had the opportunity to have a test at São José.

“I managed to pass the test and the pandemic arrived just before the start of the championship, causing all the anxiety of competing in the competition to be shaken,” commented the player.

Shortly after, in 2021, at just 14 years old, Vitória suffered her first injury: she tore the cruciate ligament in her left knee in the last training session before the start of the competition. After the entire recovery process, in 2022, on the eve of the under-17 championship in Sao Paulo, the athlete saw the film repeat itself when she tore the cruciate ligament in her right knee.

“The moment I got injured I was already sure what it was, and at that moment I lost ground, I didn’t want to know about playing again, I wanted to give up everything”, he underlines.

After recovering from her second injury, the athlete returned to the field and will now compete in the Brasil Ladies Cup for the São José team.

“The love for football was greater than the fear and trauma of injuries, and here I am, today I take it in phases, they are processes, and luckily I managed to overcome everything. I don’t know what my destiny will be, but I want at least being able to write down my story somewhere, knowing how to listen to criticism and praise and adding it in a positive way at the time of the match, knowing everything I’ve been through and as a form of thanks to the club, the committee and my family”, concludes Vitória.

São José will take the field next Monday (23rd), against América-MG, at 3.30pm.

The dream of becoming a professional player and helping his family

Aline Pimentel, Red Bull Bragantino player, has always had a dream: to become a footballer. To do this the young girl from Alagoas had to give up some things. At just 12 years old, the athlete left home and began the journey towards her main goal.

“At the beginning I just wanted to play, be a great player and help my family. I have always liked football, I have played since I was little with my friends, cousins ​​and uncles. My grandmother always supported me “At the beginning, my ​​my father and mother didn’t want it. I really liked the idea. They wanted me to go and study. Then they saw that this was what I wanted to do, so they started supporting me,” says Aline.

From Alagoas she went to Rio Grande do Sul, where she played for a period in Grêmio. Earlier this year, Aline went to Red Bull Bragantino, where she signed her first professional contract. The path, however, was not easy.

“I wasn’t at home much. I cried a lot, we didn’t have much financial means. But my family and friends came together to help me. They supported me and believed it would work. Even if it didn’t, they wanted to see me happy.”

Far from home and alone, Aline says she had to face many difficulties to get to where she is today. “I had no money to travel, to go to training, to buy football boots and sports equipment. I was very far from home, most of the time alone. My parents couldn’t accompany me. I took the bus and I went to train alone. Sometimes I hitchhiked. I had difficulty dealing with many things. I was very young and I didn’t understand some things. I had difficulty adapting to some places, relating to people, learning some things about football “, he comments.

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About to make her debut in the under-20 Brazil Ladies Cup, the athlete says she can’t see herself doing anything else and hopes the competition will open new doors for her.

“If I’m not a player, I’ll be nobody. Being a player is my only plan. It’s who I am. There’s no other plan. It’s play or play. I feel like I’m on the right path. I still haven’t gotten to where I want to be.” , but I’m on the right path. Let the Ladies Cup be another door, another step. I’m very happy with everything I’ve already achieved. For everything I’ve been, I know it’s a great victory”, concludes Aline.

Source: Terra

Rose

Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.