Brazilian striker adds firepower to Cavalry
It was bound to happen sooner or later, but Cavalry FC has added its first taste of international flavour.
On Wednesday, the club announced it had signed Brazilian pro Oliver Minatel to the roster for the Canadian Premier League team’s inaugural season.
Minatel, who hails from Campinas, Brazil, and trains out of Sao Paulo, is no stranger to soccer in the Great White North.
His first taste came via a twoyear stint with the then North American Soccer League’s Ottawa Fury, where he became the club’s leading scorer in 2014 with seven goals in 22 games played. In 2015, he put up three goals in 25 appearances before being released by the team, which now plays in the United League.
“We wanted to bring Oliver to the Cavalry as he is a fantastic professional with great personality and the type of pedigree we were looking for in our first international import that could add instant value to our team,” said Cavalry FC GM/head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr.
“Oliver has had a fantastic football education in Brazil before going to the Netherlands with PSV and then on to Portugal. He has also played in Canada and across North America so … (he) understands the landscape very well, which will make him adapt and make an impact very quickly.”
Minatel has also spent time with South Melbourne FC (National Premier Leagues Victoria), Puerto Rico FC (NASL), Velo Clube (Brazil), and Nacional (Portugal) among some others mixed in from his youth days. Cavalry FC assistant coach Martin Nash worked with Minatel during their time in Ottawa.
“Oliver is an intelligent footballer that is very good technically and dangerous in and around the opponent’s penalty area,” said Nash of Minatel.
“I’m very excited with the opportunity to join the Cavalry FC in its inaugural season and to contribute with the club on and off the pitch,” said Minatel.
Minatel is expected to arrive in Calgary next month to begin training, pending the expected approval of appropriate visas/work permits.
Minatel joins a roster that now boasts the names of Nik Ledgerwood, Sergio Camargo, Marco Carducci, Chris Serban, Dominick Zator and Elijah Adekugbe.