100 children take on nine professionals in Brazil

In Brazil, 100 children from Athletico Paranaense’s youth teams faced nine professional first-team players in an unusual match held for Children’s Day. Celebrated in Brazil every year on October 12, the occasion provided the backdrop for a game played for fun.

First-team coach Odair Hellmann took charge of the children’s side and prepared a game plan suited to their numbers. He summed it up jokingly: « We defend in numbers and attack all together as one. »

With so many young opponents spread across the pitch, the professionals had to change their approach. After the game, goalkeeper Santos laughed as he described the challenge: « They came at us with all their strength, and we had no choice but to change everything. I won’t say anything about the refereeing; you can’t even talk about it. »

Santos then addressed the young players: « Listen carefully to what I’m going to tell you: in 8 or 10 years, we’ll meet again, and that’s how things go in football. » His words pointed to the possibility that some of them could one day join the first team.