Betinho hails Juventus-SP’s top-flight return: “Moleque Travesso again” | OneFootball

Juventus-SP is back among the elite of São Paulo football. Promotion to Série A1 was confirmed in April against Votuporanguense, ending an 18-year wait since the club’s last appearance in the top division, in 2008. The return came in the very first season after the club’s football department was turned into an SAF.

For Betinho, however, Moleque Travesso’s return to the top flight means much more than just a place in the standings. A product of Rua Javari, the former player knows the club’s strength from the inside and followed the promotion campaign with excitement.

Now the head coach of Santo André, he spoke exclusively to Agência RTI Esporte about Juventus’ current moment, memories from the time he wore the maroon shirt, and his expectations for reunions with São Paulo, Corinthians, Palmeiras, and Santos.

“I was very happy about Juventus coming back, I really rooted for it to happen,” Betinho said. For him, the return could restore one of the club’s historic traits: producing players precisely when facing the biggest teams in the state.

“Once again in the top flight, playing against São Paulo, Corinthians, Santos, Palmeiras... and throughout its history, it was always through these matches that players stood out and moved on to other big clubs,” he recalled. “Juventus always rose to the occasion against these teams; it was always a breeding ground for developing talent in that sense.”

A memory that remains at Rua Javari

Among so many memories from his time at the club, one match holds a special place. In a clash against São Paulo at Rua Javari, Juventus won 2-0 and Betinho scored one of the goals in a Campeonato Paulista match.

“It was a counterattack move, the goalkeeper was Gilmar, I ended up dribbling past him and finishing. The fans packing Javari made that game very special, and it’s kept in my memory,” said the former Moleque Travesso player.

It was also during the 1986 and 1987 campaigns that his football began to gain greater recognition. According to him, his development at Juventus was decisive for the player who would later go on to represent clubs such as Cruzeiro and Palmeiras.

“My development there was fundamental to my growth. When I got to the professional team, with all of them already established through the national team and big clubs, and later moved to Cruzeiro and Palmeiras, I didn’t feel the weight of the shirt. There’s no doubt they made a huge difference in my life,” he recalled.

From Javari to major clubs

The move to Cruzeiro represented a reality check. At Juventus, Betinho already had good conditions for development, with player housing, food, and the Rua Javari structure. But the reality at the Minas Gerais club was different.

“When I went to Cruzeiro, that really was a huge impact with Raposa’s training center, four pitches, dressing room structure, Medical Department... it surprised me a lot. I had never experienced that situation, and it helped my football.”

His spell at Palmeiras also marked his development. “It kept growing little by little until reaching what it is today, which is a fantastic structure.”

Betinho credits an important part of his career to the people he met along the way. Borracha, Candinho, and Dudu are among the names he mentions with gratitude. The work done at that time even had an impact on the Brazilian national team.

“In 1988, I was called up to the Brazilian national team while playing for Juventus, and all of that happened because of the influence of these people who came through my life.”

Now, the challenge is to stay up

Betinho followed much of Juventus’ Série A2 campaign and highlights the team’s ability to respond. “They started the competition with difficulties and, during it, they adjusted, improved, and brought in many pieces. A2 is very difficult and balanced, and Juventus managed to maintain that balance.”

Promotion came in the knockout stage, when, as the coach himself sums it up, “it’s a different championship.” Now, the level of demand will be even greater. “The level of demand in São Paulo’s Série A1 is very high, a short tournament with the big teams from the capital and very strong teams from the interior.”

For Betinho, the first objective must be clear: “Juventus needs to be a competitive team and the first objective, without any doubt, is to stay in A1 next year.”

And he believes the new structure can restore the club’s ability to trouble the giants. “Now, with structure, it will go back to playing great matches and being Moleque Travesso, surprising the big clubs.”

The coach who still wants to go up

Finally, Betinho’s own journey has also gained new chapters. The former player says he did not initially plan to pursue a coaching career, but his partnership with Sérgio Soares ended up changing his path.

Today, after experiences in youth and professional football, the former player says he is ready for bigger challenges. “Today I do feel very prepared for major challenges, and in every job I seek the challenges of achieving promotions and titles, and through that, growing.”

His relationship with football, however, still has the same essence as when it began at Javari: helping people grow. “I was a player who loved playing, and today I’m a coach who loves what I do: helping people, making them improve, understanding their difficulties.”

For Betinho, Juventus’ return to the top flight is also a reunion between a club and its own history. And after so many years, Rua Javari will once again host the giants of São Paulo football.

*André Freixo, special correspondent for Agência RTI Esporte, reporting directly from Portugal

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