Armenia make Brazilian friends

The Armenian Football Federation (AFF) has signed a co-operation agreement with Brazilian side São Paolo Futebol Clube.

Presidential affair
The deal will see a coach and five players from Armenia training with the Brazilian club. The arrangement was considered so vital for Armenian football that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with Ashot Egiazaryan, the Armenian consul in São Paulo, signed the agreement on behalf of AFF. The deal was finalised by Armenian president Robert Kocharyan who was on an official state visit to Brazil.

’A breakthrough for Armenia’
São Paolo have pledged to take financial responsibility for the Armenians who are to join them in the course of next season and the Brazilian club have also promised to play some friendly games with Armenian sides. Football officials in Yerevan were upbeat about the agreement: "It is a breakthrough for Amrenia," said AFF general secretary Arman Hovhannisyan. "São Paolo is one of the strongest clubs in Brazil, and we will benefit greatly from this deal."

Latin trend
South America, however, is not all that new for Armenia. Title-holders, FC Pyunik boast four Argentinian players on their books, and are also coached by Oscar Lopéz, a head coach who led Quilmes Atlético Club to the Argentinian title in 1978 and also won the Peruvian title in 1989/90 with Club Sporting Cristál.