Espírito Santo's CD honours Geovani Silva, Capixaba legend | OneFootball

The Geovani Silva Football Development Center, in Serra, Espírito Santo, was inaugurated by the CBFCredits: Silvia Mantovani/CBF

The Geovani Silva Football Development Center will bear the name of one of the greatest idols in the history of sports in Espírito Santo. Known as “The Little Prince,” he was honored on the morning of this Wednesday (30) at the inauguration ceremony of the center, attended by his family members, who were moved during the event.

The star, who passed away on May 18 at the age of 62, is now immortalized in a space dedicated to social transformation and the fulfillment of dreams in Espírito Santo. The Development Center is located in Serra, about 30 km from the state capital, Vitória. Playing for the club of the same name from this municipality, Geovani won the 1999 Campeonato Capixaba.

After standout spells at Vasco, where he became an idol, and at several clubs in Espírito Santo, Geovani also made history with the Brazilian National Team. He was part of the squads that won the South American and U-20 World titles in 1983, the silver medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, and the 1989 Copa América.

The Geovani Silva Football Development Center, in Serra, Espírito Santo, was inaugurated by the CBFCredits: Henrique Mantovanelli/FES

A star on the pitch, the Vitória-born player from Espírito Santo is always praised for his personality and character. For his son, Geovani Filho, the tribute to his father comforts the family and reinforces the legacy he left to football in Espírito Santo and in Brazil.

“It is a source of pride to know that our father’s name will be on a training center so important to Espírito Santo, not only for football but also for social initiatives. He left a legacy of humility, resilience and discipline—everything that sport gave him. And we see that beginning again here, in this beautiful facility delivered by the CBF and the Federation, which comforts us in knowing how loved our father was and that he is remembered at such an important event for football in Espírito Santo,” he said emotionally.

President of the Espírito Santo State Football Federation, Gustavo Vieira, alongside Geovani’s wife, Andrea Silva, and his son Geovani Filho, during the inauguration of the Espírito Santo Football Development CenterCredits: Silvia Mantovani/CBF

President of the Espírito Santo State Football Federation, Gustavo Vieira described Geovani as a “star in life.”

“Geovani, besides being a great idol of sports in Espírito Santo, was a friend, served as the Federation’s vice president for a long time, and is someone very special to us and to the entire sporting community of Espírito Santo and the nation. He was a great player for the Brazilian National Team and is a great Vasco da Gama idol. It is a more than fitting tribute to a star, and his name will bring even more prestige to our center,” said Vieira, who also could not hold back his tears during the ceremony.

A four-time world champion with Brazil in 1994 and a friend of the star from Espírito Santo, Branco was present at the ceremony and praised Geovani as both a person and a player.

“I want to congratulate President Gustavo for the initiative and President Samir for accepting it, in honor of a great figure, a phenomenon on and off the field. We won the Copa América in 1989, and I was with him in Jair Pereira’s world champion U-20 squad. Geovani was a unique, spectacular and very humble man—serious, a great professional and a great family man. We saw the tribute paid to the family members, and if we, as friends, are proud, just imagine his children and wife. The tribute is extremely well deserved, and he will certainly be with us forever,” he said.

Branco, Geovani Silva and Gustavo Vieira together before a Brazil U-20 match in Cariacica (ES), in 2022Credits: Pedro Vale/CBF

Development centers: A sea of possibilities

In addition to Espírito Santo, Rondônia, Tocantins, Amapá, Santa Catarina and Sergipe have had their centers inaugurated by the CBF since July of last year. The centers have the structure to host events for children beginning sports practice, referee training, courses for managers, doctors and coaches, as well as amateur, youth and professional football competitions, both men’s and women’s.

Each Development Center has a synthetic turf field built to FIFA Quality standard dimensions (105x68m), team and referee locker rooms, stands, medical and administrative areas, parking and storage. The centers were built with funds from the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 Legacy Fund.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.