Calgary’s Cavalry FC has made Brazilian winger-forward Oliver Minatel its first international signing in advance of the Canadian Premier League’s inaugural season.
The 26-year-old from Campinas, Brazil, has experience in Canada, having previously played for the Ottawa Fury in 2014.
"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," Cavalry FC head coach and GM Tommy Wheeldon Jr. said in a statement.
"Oliver has had a fantastic football education in Brazil before going to the Netherlands with PSV and then onto Portugal. He has also played in Canada and across North America so understands the landscape very well, which will make him adapt and make an impact very quickly."
Minatel made headlines in 2014 while with the Fury when he was attacked by another passenger on an Air Canada flight from Toronto to Atlanta. Minatel, who was travelling with the Ottawa team to a game against the Atlanta Silverbacks, said he was sleeping when a man jumped on him and tried to choke him with a headphone cord.
Another passenger intervened to stop the attack. Minatel was shaken up by the incident but not injured.
The attacker was eventually taken to hospital by Atlanta police for medical and mental evaluation.
Minatel is expected to arrive in Calgary in February to begin training, pending approval of the required visa and work permit.
Cavalry FC assistant coach Martin Nash worked with Minatel in Ottawa.
"Oliver is an intelligent footballer that is very good technically and dangerous in and around the opponents penalty area," said Nash.
Minatel also has played for Puerto Rico FC, the Richmond Kickers, Brazil’s Velo Clube, Portugal’s C.D. Nacional, PSV Eindhoven’s under-19 side and Australia’s South Melbourne.
"It’s an honour to be back to Canada in such an important time for soccer in the country," said Minatel.
The Brazilian joins Canadians Nik Ledgerwood, Sergio Camargo, Marco Carducci, Dominick Zator, Elijah Adekugbe and Chris Serban on the Calgary roster. The team also has U-Sports prospects Gabriel Bitar, Joel Waterman and Easton Ongaro.
The seven-team CPL is set to kick off the last week of April.
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