Rio de Janeiro, March 24 (DPA) With their bags packed full with dreams of glory, 37 Brazilian children aged 12 to 14 are set to leave their schools and country to embark on a controversial tour of the Middle East and Europe organised by the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF).
The boys called upon to wear the yellow-green shirt for the first time now play for clubs across the South American country. And they share a common dream - to be "discovered" by some talent scout and to get to play for a European club.
The CBF, which usually condemns officially the precocious exodus of young players from Brazil to Europe, appears now to be contributing to the phenomenon, with a call to Under-13 and Under-15 players to take part at the Mediterranean International Cup in Barcelona on April 4-8.
In order to take part in the tour, the young aspiring football stars will have to miss school for three weeks. Before the tournament they are expected to play several preparatory friendly games in Qatar.
The tour, however, worries Brazilian clubs and analysts. They point out that the Mediterranean International Cup will attract legions of "spies" from European clubs in search for new talent.
"School benches - in the middle of the school year - will give way to a show window for the eyes of foreign agents avid for Brazilian internationals at zero cost," the daily Folha de Sao Paulo said.
The fear is focused mainly on members of the U-13 squad, since Brazilian legislation forbids clubs having any kind of contract with players younger than 14.
"In case they receive invitations, those children can go to Europe without any payment to their clubs," the daily added.
"Legally, Corinthians cannot do anything to keep its boys," admitted Edson Rocco, the Sao Paulo club's U13 coach, who was forced to release three of his players for the squad just created by the CBF.
Jorge Silveira, the coach chosen by the CBF to lead the U13 squad, insisted that he would not allow direct contact between the boys and football agents during the tour.
"While they are under our responsibility, we will try to avoid that they talk to agents," he vowed.
The youngsters, however, eagerly look forward to proposals from European clubs."No agents have shown interest in me yet, but I hope they will do," said the striker Augusto, 12.
Likewise, Roberto Rivelino - named after the Corinthians and Brazil idol who won the World Cup in Mexico 1970 - looks to the tour as his first shot at the dream of becoming a great football star.
"I always dreamt of playing in Spain, of playing for Real Madrid or Barcelona some day," the 12-year-old midfielder told Folha de Sao Paulo.
None of the players in the U-13 squad are afraid of getting into trouble over their three weeks without school.
"The CBF gave me a letter for me to take to school, because we will be away for almost one month. The headmasters at my school were happy about the call and gave me their support," said Rivelino.
The boy pointed out he has made an extra effort over the past few weeks, so that later it is easier for him to make up for lost time.
"It is like in football - you have to accumulate reserves at the beginning in order to get to the end calmly," the youngster explained diligently.
Experts in educational matters consulted by Folha de Sao Paulo supported the CBF initiative, but with some reservations.
"I find many positive aspects in this kind of trip, but you have to take some precautions," said Maria Irene Maluf, president of the Brazilian Association of Psycho pedagogy.
Among those "precautions," the expert mentioned the need for a psychologist to travel with the group, along with at least two representatives of the boys' parents, in order to act as a "bridge" between the children and the team's managers.
The CBF did not include psychologists or parents in the delegation, but coach Silveira insists there will be no problem.
"We all look after them. When they get to the national team they are usually very calm, it is very easy to look after them."