Connection on verge of signing Brazilian

It was revealed on Saturday that they are on the verge of signing a Brazilian player who had previously played for one of his country’s first division club team, Nautico.

Joao Ananias Jordao Jr, a right wing-back, arrived in Trinidad last Sunday, and is expected to join the local team soon. The 22-year-old player is expected to be loaned to the local club for a period of six months.

If the three-time Caribbean Cup champions are to successfully secure this deal with Jordao Jr, this would be the highest level Brazilian player to join the likes of a national football club at such a young age.

With the CONCACAF Champions League just under three weeks away, Jordao Jr is expected to use the coming weeks to familiarise himself with the local players and coaches/ managerial staff at Connection. Connection will begin their Champions League campaign on August 8 against Panamanian League champions, Arabe Unido, at the Armando Dely Valdes Stadium in Panama. They will then return to Trinidad and Tobago, to square off against 2012/ 2013 Major League Soccer (MLS) runners-up, Houston Dynamo, at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, on August 20. Connection, Houston Dynamo and Arabe Unido make up Group One of this year’s draw.

Before coming to TT, Jordao Jr played a game against Brazilian club, Sporting Lisboa, to open the Pernambuco Arena in Brazil.

This venue is going to be used for the 2014 World Cup and recently played host to the Spain versus Uruguay clash and two other matches at the recently concluded Confederations Cup.

Meanwhile, Neal and Massy Caledonia AIA has also found themselves in a challenging Group Six, which comprises Guatemala’s Comunicacioned and Mexico’s 10-time Liga victor, Deportivo Toluca.

Caledonia have been scheduled to open this year’s competition with a clash against the Mexican squad at the Toluca Stadium on August 6.

They will also fly to TT for the meeting with Comunicaciones at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, on August 29.