Sponsorship and the Invisibility of Defenders

The sun shone brightly over the northern field, creating a warm and electrifying atmosphere for the tenth round of the Campeonato Baiano Sub-17. The Vitória fans, passionate and confident, sang non-stop, filling the stands with their energy. Their opponent this time was Jequié, a well-structured team known for their ability to surprise with quick counterattacks. But Cleiton and his teammates were ready. Still feeling the positive effects of the elixirs he had recently taken, Cleiton stepped onto the field with renewed confidence, knowing his role in defense would be crucial to maintaining control of the match.

At the sound of the opening whistle, Vitória wasted no time. From the very first minutes, they took control of possession, exchanging precise passes and looking for gaps in the opposing defense. Cleiton, firmly positioned on the defensive line, played a dual role: intercepting any attempt by Jequié to advance and initiating plays with quick, accurate passes.

At the 7-minute mark, Jequié attempted their first dangerous move. After a misplaced pass in midfield, an opposing forward managed to break through with a deep run toward Vitória's box. Cleiton, alert and quick, positioned himself perfectly and, with an impeccable tackle, won the ball cleanly, frustrating the attack. The crowd roared in approval, recognizing the play as a testament to Cleiton's reliability in defense.

A few minutes later, Cleiton displayed another facet of his game. After recovering the ball in defense, he raised his head and spotted Gabriel Costa in midfield. With a long, precise pass, Cleiton connected directly with his teammate, breaking Jequié's defensive line and creating a promising counterattack. Gabriel quickly advanced and found Nathan, who struck the ball, but the opposing goalkeeper managed to save. Even so, Cleiton's pass was what sparked the move, earning thunderous applause from the stands.

In the 21st minute, Vitória broke the deadlock. After a perfect cross from Cássio, Nathan rose above the defense and headed the ball firmly into the back of the net. The stadium erupted in celebration, and Cleiton, from the backline, raised his fist, encouraging his teammates to keep up the intensity.

Jequié tried to respond, but Cleiton was impenetrable. In the 30th minute, the visiting team launched a dangerous attack down the right flank. Their winger attempted a quick feint to dribble past Cleiton, but the defender, with his enhanced tackling skills, anticipated the move and cleanly stripped the ball. Without hesitation, Cleiton passed to Robson, who launched yet another offensive move for Vitória.

In the second half, Vitória continued their dominance. Cleiton, increasingly confident, distributed short and long passes with surgical precision, helping his team maintain possession and advance efficiently. In the 53rd minute, Cleiton started the play that led to the second goal. After intercepting a misplaced pass from Jequié, Cleiton played a low, precise pass to Claudio Sousa, who quickly launched the ball to Pedrinho. The winger sprinted forward and crossed for Nathan to score his second goal of the game.

With a 2-0 lead, Vitória was in control but did not ease up. In the 74th minute, Cleiton once again shone defensively. A Jequié forward received a dangerous pass near the edge of the box and attempted to turn for a shot. Cleiton, using his improved positioning, stood firm, blocking the shot and clearing the danger with a quick, efficient touch.

The third and final goal for Vitória came in the 81st minute when Pedrinho capitalized on a beautiful one-two with William, breaking into the box and finishing with precision into the corner of the net. The crowd erupted in euphoria, aware that the team had delivered one of its best performances in the championship so far.

In the final minutes, Cleiton remained a pillar of the defense. He organized the defensive line with clear and effective commands, ensuring that Jequié had no chance to pull one back. When the final whistle blew, the 3-0 scoreline perfectly reflected Vitória's superiority.

Cleiton left the field with a sense of accomplishment. Not only had he helped keep the defense intact, but he had also significantly contributed to the construction of offensive plays. The victory was another step toward the title and proof that he was constantly evolving, both as a player and as a leader on the field. The Campeonato Baiano Sub-17 was far from over, but Cleiton knew that with performances like this, Vitória was on the right path to glory.

The Vitória players were relaxing in the locker room after their 3-0 win over Jequié. The atmosphere was light, filled with laughter and jokes, while some of the boys reminisced about the best moments of the match. Nathan was sitting on one of the benches, holding a bottle of sports drink, while Cássio struggled to take off his cleats.

"These are done for," Cássio said, lifting his right cleat to show the tear near the sole. "I don't even know how it didn't come apart mid-game. I desperately need a new pair before tomorrow's match."

Nathan chuckled as he finished his drink. 

"Seriously, Cássio? Again? I think you spend more on cleats than on food."

"What can I do?" Cássio replied, half-indignant. "This is the third pair I've torn in four months. It's like no cleats fit my feet. And the worst part is, these things cost a fortune. I'll have to dip into my savings again."

Cleiton, who was sitting nearby, tying the laces of his casual shoes, looked at Cássio's torn cleat and shook his head.

"That's why I say, Cássio, getting sponsored by a sports brand would be a dream. Just imagine: Nike, Adidas, Puma, Umbro… any of them. Getting cleats, sports kits, everything for free. It would be so much better than spending the money we save up for months just to buy a new pair of cleats."

Nathan, who was listening, laughed and leaned forward, joining in the conversation.

"You're right, Cleiton. And then our names would be in commercials, like 'Nathan, now with the new Nike Phantom cleats.'" He said, acting dramatically and gesturing as if he were in front of a camera. "We'd be famous."

Cássio burst out laughing, tossing his torn cleat aside.

"Oh, sure, Nathan, and you'd be the first to order personalized cleats with your name and 'Goal Machine' written on them, right?"

"Wouldn't be a lie, would it?" Nathan replied, winking with a mischievous smile. "But seriously, it's a far-off dream for us right now. Those sponsorships are only for the guys already on the big teams, on TV."

Cleiton crossed his arms, thoughtful.

"Maybe for now, but who knows in the future? If we keep playing like this and make it to a professional team, those things could happen. And when they do, no more torn cleats, Cássio."

"Amen to that, Cleiton," Cássio replied, getting up to grab his backpack. "But until that future comes, I'll have to go to the store tomorrow morning to buy another pair. Any of you want to come with me?"

Nathan shook his head.

"I'm sleeping in. But good luck finding a pair that lasts more than two games."

"Funny guy," Cássio retorted, laughing. "You'll have to lend me yours if I don't find anything."

The three laughed together, and the locker room continued to be filled with conversations and jokes as the team finished getting ready to head out. 

Cleiton, however, paused, lost in thought for a moment. The idea of being sponsored and having a successful career seemed distant but not impossible. With the team growing stronger and his own skills improving, he knew he was one step closer to that dream.

The Sunday afternoon was perfect for football, and Vitória took the field once more, this time against Jacobina. The team was riding high on a winning streak and showed confidence from the opening whistle. Nathan, always a threat up front, wasn't the protagonist this time, but that didn't mean Vitória wouldn't shine. At 18 minutes into the first half, a dangerous free kick was awarded just outside Jacobina's box. Claudio Sousa stepped up to take it, and the stadium fell silent. With calm and precision, he sent the ball into the top right corner, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance. The 1-0 score made the crowd roar and gave the team even more energy.

In the second half, Jacobina tried to respond, but Cleiton, with his increasingly refined defensive skills, blocked several dangerous attempts. His precise tackles and well-calculated passes helped Vitória maintain control of the game. At 63 minutes, the red-and-black team seized a quick counterattack. Rodrigo received the ball in midfield, advanced a few meters, and, unmarked, fired a powerful shot from outside the box. The ball flew like a missile, straight into the left corner of the goal, extending the lead to 2-0.

Vitória managed the game until the final whistle, securing yet another solid win and keeping the team's morale high. The players left the field exhausted but happy. Nathan, though he hadn't scored, was full of praise for his teammates.

After the match, the Vitória players gathered briefly in the locker room before heading home. The atmosphere was light, with jokes and laughter. Cleiton, while tying his sneakers, commented:

"Today was your day, huh, Claudio and Rodrigo. What goals!"

Claudio chuckled modestly while packing his bag.

"Thanks, but it was only because you guys held the fort back there. If it weren't for Cleiton cutting off everything and Gabriel controlling the midfield, we wouldn't have had any chances up front."

Rodrigo, always the more outgoing one, flashed a big smile.

"Yeah, and what a pass from Gabriel for my goal, huh? I think I should share the credit with him."

The conversation continued in a relaxed tone until everyone said their goodbyes. Cleiton, tired, went straight home, eager to rest. But while the players were unwinding, an unexpected meeting was taking place at Vitória's headquarters.

Coach Cerqueira was about to head home when he received a call from the club president, asking him to come to headquarters immediately. Curious, he complied, and upon arriving at the office, he was greeted by the president and two representatives from the marketing department.

The president started without delay:

"Cerqueira, we have some important news. We've secured a partnership with ActiveHydro, a new sports drink brand making a big entrance in the market. They want to sponsor our professional team but are also interested in highlighting the youth team."

Cerqueira raised his eyebrows, surprised and excited.

"That's great for the club! And for the boys, of course."

The president continued:

"Yes, but there's a catch. The brand selected five youth players for this endorsement based on their performance on the field and, naturally, their commercial potential. They chose Nathan, Pedrinho, Rodrigo, William, and Claudio Sousa. They believe these five have the highest chances of becoming professionals and want to use them as representatives for ActiveHydro."

Cerqueira smiled, pleased for the boys, but his expression soon turned serious.

"These boys definitely deserve it, but what about the others? Cleiton, has been a rock in defense, essential for the team. Cássio, Gabriel Costa, Kayque Silva… they're all key players. It wouldn't be fair to exclude them."

The president sighed and explained patiently:

"I understand your point, Cerqueira, but the choice was made by the brand. And brands, as you know, are driven by profit. They want players who attract attention, who score goals, or are at the center of the action. Unfortunately, in Brazil, defenders and support players rarely get the same recognition as forwards. It's cultural. People love the dribbles, the beautiful goals, the fast forwards. No matter how much of a star a defender is, they'll never have the same commercial appeal as an attacker, especially in youth football."

Cerqueira nodded, though he still looked uncomfortable.

"I know, President. But that doesn't make it right. Cleiton, for example, has shown incredible growth. He's a natural leader on the field. If this kid isn't a prospect, I don't know who is."

"And maybe he'll prove that in the future" replied the president. "But for now, the spotlight is on those in the limelight. ActiveHydro is a business, and they think with the market in mind. We can't change that, but the sponsorship will be good for the club as a whole."

Cerqueira couldn't argue further. He knew the commercial logic was relentless, but it didn't lessen his frustration. He just smiled, though it was a bit forced.

"Very well. I'm happy for the chosen boys. But I assure you that all of them, including those not mentioned, will continue to receive my full support and encouragement."

The president patted him on the shoulder.

"I know that, Cerqueira. That's why we trust you."

With that, Cerqueira left the office, reflecting on the harsh realities of football. While he knew that Cleiton's talent and that of the other defensive players was undeniable, he also understood that recognition and success often depended on more than just skill.