Director considers base to be one of the most valuable assets in South America

“The Paraná base is one of the most valuable assets in South America. We have an operation that very few clubs have, which is initiation into futsal. Today we have a gear working in a very positive way, which is the club’s futsal. We started at under-6, under-7 and continued until the end of the training chain”, highlights Possebon.

“Our big challenge, especially in the short term, is to connect the entire futsal operation and sports initiation with the base categories on the field. This is our main challenge. The base categories are a fundamental strategic pillar for this medium to long term project within the club. We know that futsal in Paraná has already revealed very high level players, and one of them is Tcheco [atual técnico]”, adds the executive.

In addition to Tcheco, Paraná Clube futsal has already revealed big names from the Brazilian scene, including midfielders Ricardinho and Lúcio Flávio. Midfielder Vina, now at Ceará, and striker Rodrigo Pimpão, with spells at Botafogo, Operário and Vasco, also started their careers at Kennedy Headquarters.

Paraná Clube football base plays in Vila Olímpica

Paraná Clube’s under-20s, the only category that competed in competitions last year, train and play their games at the Vila Olímpica do Boqueirão. The location, however, will become the new training center for the professional team, which begins pre-season on the 19th. This was one of NextPlay’s first decisions.

With priority given to the professional squad, Tricolor is working to find an alternative for training for the under-20s, who are competing in the Paraná Championship in the category in the first half of the year.

“The importance of the base is the same as that of the professional. All the best practices in the world give the same weight to the base and the professional. What happens at the moment is that we have an emergency objective, which is access. We are looking to accommodate the base and the professional in the best possible way in the Olympic Village”, explains Possebon.

“The professional will have total priority in the operation of the Olympic Village, and we will look for alternatives so that the under-20, under-17 and other base categories can carry out their preparation, especially since the start of the Paranaense base is also close. We are working day and night to find the best infrastructure for the base. We need to understand that this is a complex moment and look for solutions within our structure. With several fronts working in the operation, we will be able to offer the best service provision”, concludes the director.