ATTENTION! FLAMENGO ANNOUNCES REINFORCEMENTS WHO HAVE ALREADY PLAYED WITH THE BRAZILIAN SELECTION

Flamengo announced two new signings for the youth football categories this Sunday (9). Having spent time with the Brazilian youth team, goalkeeper Kauane Lima and defender Camila Seguins were officially appointed as reinforcements and will reinforce Mengão's under-17 squad.

Starting with Camila. A figure present in the Brazil Under-17 squads, the defender left the Ferroviária base to sign a contract with Mais Querido and is now integrated with her new teammates. At 17 years old, she still has one more year of under-17s before definitively moving up to under-20s, but she can play in both categories from this year onwards. She also has a spell at Internacional.

Kauane Lima is just 13 years old and is already part of Mengão's under-17 squad. Born in January 2011, the athlete is a promise of Brazilian football and will now wear the Sacred Mantle. And in addition to training with the red and black team, she plays and stands out for the Dellas Gol women's futsal team.

Kauane's case is an example of an athlete who skips stages and manages to work with much older players. However, it exposes a serious problem in national women's football: lack of categories. Many athletes in Brazil do not have youth teams for their age group and need to work and train with older athletes or, in some cases, with men. Something that does not happen in Flamengo Feminino, it is worth highlighting, but it is a problem present in the country's sport.

There is great expectation for the announcement of the Brazilian Under-17 Women's Championship in 2024. After holding the tournament, the competition took place at the headquarters only and at a 12-day interval last year, the president of the CBF, Ednaldo Rodrigues, stated that the plan is to double the number of teams this season.

Last year had 16 teams and was played between 13 and November 25th. Each team faced its group mates once and the best two advanced to the semis. Mengão was a finalist in the competition, but came second after losing to Grêmio on penalties.

“We designed a project last year to hold a competition with girls up to 17 years old. 32 teams, from all federations, competing at national level in the competition. During the school holidays they can be playing and also the press (can cover it in full)”, said Ednaldo, before announcing dates:

“The Brazilian Championship ends on December 8th. The under-17 women's tournament will start on December 15th and end just when the 2025 calendar begins. This is to have visibility and give so many girls who play football across Brazil the opportunity to be seen.”