He came to Argentina for love and stayed for soccer

There are decisions that are not simple, but that open up endless unimaginable possibilities. It is to take that step and go on an adventure. Both classical and modern literature have written hundreds of books about that moment of choice at the fork in the road. One love, follow the lover, but another passion ends up conquering your dreams; the unforeseen adventure. Something like this is the story of Cleo Santos, the talented Brazilian striker who arrived at Talleres during the summer to reinforce the ‘Matadoras’ for their participation in the AFA Women’s Soccer First B tournament. A goalscorer in love with the goal.

“I am from Bahia, Brazil, a beautiful city. And on March 30 I will be eight years old in Argentina”, Cleo introduces herself in dialogue with PROFILE CÓRDOBA. As a girl she liked to play ball, but futsal. She had never played soccer 11. She participated in various tournaments in her city and in São Paulo, where she was living when she met an Argentine. They fell in love, they became boyfriends and she accompanied her. Destination: City of La Plata.

Already settled in these lands, she began to play soccer 11 and her goals did not go unnoticed. She played in Tolosano, Las Malvinas and Adip and was called up to the La Plata Amateur Selection. “I always played in La Plata. I played in three teams in the La Plata league and I was one of the pioneers of the La Plata National Team, where we were provincial and national champions, ”she recounts, with very good Spanish, although her land tune is still present. .

Last season she played in the First C of AFA women’s football with the Arsenal de Sarandí shirt, where she scored 14 goals and was one of the stars of the competition. The coach of the ‘Matadoras’ took note of her and looked for her to reinforce the offense in this tournament.

—How did your Talleres come about?

—I arrived because of a call from Professor Micah. We had played against each other last tournament and he had seen me there. I played for Arsenal de Sarandí. He told me that he needed me for this tournament and here I am. I remember those two games, because it was incredible how the girls from Talleres played, they had things that we didn’t use. The first game we lost and the second we tied 3-3. I didn’t score goals, but I did give assists.

—Do you promise goals?

—In Arsenal I scored 14 goals, I was the team’s top scorer and I want to repeat the history in Talleres scoring goals. They all tell me that I have to score goals. I have a goal and it is to surpass the 14 of last season.

—In these weeks in Córdoba, what did you think of the club?

—It’s incredible, they treat us wonderfully, we have all the comforts. They give us everything, a lot of respect. I still don’t fall for what I’m going through. The group surprises me every day, they have received us very well, I get along well with all of them. And I’m the clown of the group, I like to be like that, I’m not going to change. They make jokes about how to speak, they make me say words (laughs).

-What is your dream?

—I came to Argentina for love. I met an Argentine in São Paulo. He worked there and knew my ex-boyfriend. It was a very good stage in my life and thanks to him, who always supported me, I am here. I have a lot to thank you for. And now I’m in Córdoba and I’m not leaving here until people know who I am. I’m not a pretty face, I want to be known for my game and for the type of person I am. I want the promotion and leave Talleres as high as possible. And, also, together with (Florence) Pianello to be the scorers. May the people continue to support us, we are going to fight to make a very good team.

• The ‘Saints’ of the ‘T’
• Michael Santos is the forward of the Talleres men’s team in the Professional League and Cleo Santos is the forward of the Talleres women’s team in the Primera B. And that coincidence generates multiple sensations in the ‘Mundo Albiazul’. By the way, the Brazilian attacker exclaimed: “And we’re both ‘9’, strikers and foreigners! I saw him once at the property and we took a photo, also at this week’s event. We are going to have an opportunity to take a better photo”.

HOW WILL THE TOURNAMENT BE PLAYED?

The AFA Women’s Soccer Primera B will start on March 19 and will feature 22 teams. The same format that will be developed during the past year will be repeated. That is, a first phase will be played with two classification zones. The teams located from first to sixth place in each zone will qualify for the ‘Ascent Phase’, while those located from seventh to 11th place in each of the zones will play the ‘Permanence Phase’. There the teams that will compete for promotions and those that will fight for permanence are divided. There are two tickets that, at the close of the tournament, will give two teams promotion to the First Division. In the Promotion Phase there will be 12 teams and it will be played all against all, in two rounds of matches. The champions will achieve the right to move up in category and the second promotion will come from the next eight best-placed teams (2nd to 9th), who will qualify for a Reduced final.

FIXED GOAL. “My goal is very clear: I want to be promoted and leave Talleres as high as possible,” said the Brazilian.