Kells girl takes football to home of beautiful game!

A County Antrim student has quite literally brought football to the the home of the beautiful game - in Brazil!
Brazil missionary worker and SC Corinthians fan Katherine Duncan, from Kells, with one of the footballs donated by Stuart Gordon from suppliers The Beautiful Game, who is seen along with Milk Cup chairman Victor Leonard.Brazil missionary worker and SC Corinthians fan Katherine Duncan, from Kells, with one of the footballs donated by Stuart Gordon from suppliers The Beautiful Game, who is seen along with Milk Cup chairman Victor Leonard.
Brazil missionary worker and SC Corinthians fan Katherine Duncan, from Kells, with one of the footballs donated by Stuart Gordon from suppliers The Beautiful Game, who is seen along with Milk Cup chairman Victor Leonard.

Katherine Duncan, from Kells, is taking time out of her summer missionary work in the country to help Milk Cup organisers present tournament footballs to one of the country’s best known clubs, SC Corinthians.

Katherine, who is studying part-time for a Theology and Missions degree course at Belfast Bible College, arrived in Sao Paulo last week.

She commenced her work with street children and teenagers who live in the shanty towns, known locally as favelas, assisting the Latin Link missionary organisation, teaming up for the work with Verna Langrell who hails from the Republic of Ireland.

Before leaving home, Katherine agreed to assist Milk Cup organisers fulfill Corinthians’ request for a football similar to the ones to be used throughout the international youth tournament at the end of July.

“They were keen to get a feel for the ball as part of their ongoing preparation for coming to Northern Ireland for the first time,” explains Pastor Billy Jones who has worked in Brazil as a missionary and regularly helps out at the Milk Cup as a Portuguese translator.

In the end, suppliers The Beautiful Game, who are providing all footballs for the tournament, presented two for Katherine to take on her travels.

In truth its a labour of love for the avid football fan. Katherine also spent time in Brazil five years ago and took a shine to the SC Corinthians club, following their progress with a real passion.

“Since arriving in Brazil she has met up with Rafael Leao who played for Desportivo Brasil at the Milk Cup in 2010 and is currently on the books of Championship side Middlesbrough. He will be accompanying her to the club to deliver the balls,” says Billy.

Desportivo’s coach at the tournament in 2010 was Rodrigo Leitao who is now the Corinthians’ youth coach and last year Katherine and Billy’s daughter Sarah, who grew up in Brazil where her father was a missionary for many years, helped Milk Cup interpreting duties with Desportivo and got to know players and coaching staff . Katherine also plans to visit the Desportivo club on this trip.

In terms of revenue, Corinthians are Brazil’s richest sports club, the largest outside Europe, commanding massive support across the country and earlier this year Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster visited their ground during a trade mission to the country.

“It’s a great time to be in Brazil with World Cup fever building 12 months to go and massive excitement about Rio de Janeiro hosting the 2016 Olympic Games,” Billy points out. “Yet, despite all that, the Corinthians youth players are eagerly anticipating their visit to Northern Ireland.

“I believe they will be a delight for Milk Cup fans to watch. They can work such magic with a football,” he adds.

In addition to her visit to Parque Sao Jorge, the home of Coninthians, Katerhine also has been invited by last year’s Premier Milk Cup winners Desportivo Brasil to their training centre near Sao Paulo where their youth teams are based. She hopes to renew friendships with the players and coaching staff who were in Northern Ireland last year.

Stuart Gordon, from The Beautiful Game, says: “It’s fitting that our footballs are now in the home of the beautiful game! The fact that a leading Brazilian club wanted to use them in training ahead of coming to the Milk Cup is a source of great pride for us and we were only too pleased to present the balls to Katherine to deliver to Corinthians.

“We are sure that Milk Cup fans will witness some excellent skills at this summer’s tournament with The Beautiful Game playing a central role in delivering them.”

Milk Cup public relations officer Jim Sandford adds: “Brazilian teams have always produced fabulous football at the tournament and it is an honour for us to welcome one of the country’s leading and most successful clubs, SC Corinthians in the Premier competition this year.”

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