Sixteen under-19 footballers from Brazil, accompanied by five officials and famed coach Vicente Feola, received an enthusiastic welcome as they arrived at Palisadoes Airport for their Jamaica tour. Greeted by Kingston College Old Boys’ Association president L. E. Matalon and other local representatives, the visiting team was met with admiration for their skill and the impressive trophies they brought from recent victories in Trinidad and Venezuela. Their arrival generated excitement among local football fans eager to see the young Brazilians, hailed as high-calibre players from the “land of Pele”, in action.

Published Saturday, December 12, 1964

Footballers from ‘Land of Pele’ here

— Sixteen players, five officials arrive

Sixteen under-19 footballers from Brazil, the land of the legendary Pele, acknowledged 'King of Soccer', touched down at the Palisadoes Airport shortly after midday yesterday.
The boys, chosen from the best schools and clubs in São Paulo, Brazil’s winners of the World Cup in 1958 and 1962, were accompanied by five officials. Among them was Vicente Italo Feola, one of the world’s outstanding coaches and the man responsible for the development of Pele and his famed fellow forward, outside right 'Little Bird' Garrincha. Feola coached the World Cup sides of 1958 and 1962.
A welcoming committee, headed by the president of the Kingston College Old Boys’ Association, Mr L. E. Matalon, met the team. They will stay at the Liguanea Terrace Hotel and meet Kingston College on Monday and an invitational schoolboy team on Wednesday.
The team brought with them magnificent trophies which they won in Trinidad and Venezuela. In Trinidad, they played four matches and won them all. In Venezuela they lost their first match but won the next two against the same team that had beaten them in the opening match.
Credit to Brazil
The chief of the delegation, Joao Atalla, said there were no stars on the team. He said that all the players were of a “high calibre and were a credit to Brazil”. After saying thanks to Jamaica for the “splendid welcome”, Atalla — translated by national coach Jorge Penna, who is himself a Brazilian — said he hoped that the football of his team would be enjoyed by the soccer fans of Jamaica.
The Brazilians were not pleased with the hotel accommodation, and it was decided to house them at the Liguanea Terrace Hotel.
The officials with the team are Joao Atalla, chief of delegation; Vicente Feola, coach; Irineu Rocha Neto, masseur; Walter Lacerda, journalist; and manager Jose da Gama.
Members of the team are Jose Luis Carbone, An Camile, Leerja Julle, Adhemar Fraccions, Garsvesti Jereto Hest, Pereira Oswalde, Frettas Carlos Martins, Jackson Alfan, Leme Paes Luis, Marques Gilbering, Perora Wiha D’Amics Paule, Antonie Area, Guilherme Arthur Artes, Antonis Marto, and Araujo Elcio.
BWIA is donating a trophy to the two-match tour, which is promoted by the Kingston College Old Boys’ Association and sponsored by Cocomalt.

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