LUCAS WON’T GIVE UP ON HIS DREAM
Coutinho’s at Barcelona, he’s at Worthing, but...
FROM playing with Philippe Coutinho at Vasco Da Gama and representing Brazil U20s to chasing his dream in England – Worthing goalkeeper Lucas Cavagnari’s story isn’t like many others in NonLeague.
But the 27-year-old has a tale of never giving up, accepting new challenges head on with the belief that one day he will get his big break.
At Adam Hinshelwood’s Rebels, he has found a club he loves and who love him, following last season’s supporters’ player of the year prize.
But just how did he end up in the Bostik Premier – and how good was Barcelona attacker Coutinho back then?
“He’s one year younger but we played U20s together at Vasco Da Gama,” Cavagnari tells The NLP. “He was unbelievable even back then. He’s the best I’ve ever played with. You just give the ball to him and he’ll take it from your 18yard box and score at the other end. He was unbelievable.
Opportunity
“Training, finishing, penalties – he was really good. He had charisma and would always be laughing.
“I played with Oscar for the Brazil U20s too and Allan, who plays at Napoli now. So big names playing in the Champions League now and I’m playing Bostik Prem, which is a bit different! But I’m getting there slowly, slowly. I’m not giving up, it’s my dream to play full-time.
“I try to do my training fulltime as a player now. I don’t just train twice a week. I train in the morning, sometimes I train with the academy U18s at Worthing and I go to the gym.”
In a country where football runs through every vein, the call to represent the young Selecao was a special moment.
“Vasco is in Rio de Janeiro and I’d flown home to my city,” he says. “My parents came to pick me up and I received a call from my goalie coach. He said, ‘You need to come back as soon as you can. You’re going to the national team’.
“I couldn’t believe it. I was crying, it was a big emotion for everyone because it’s a dream. Thousands and thousands of kids and you’ve been selected for the U20s in that moment. It was really good.
“We played in a small tournament against eight teams including Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay and Peru. It was the best of the countries so it was really good to have that as part of my career.
“Another year came, nothing happened. The first team at Vasco Da Gama had a really good first team keeper and it’s difficult because no one wants to put a 20-year-old kid in that first team. In every country, no one trusts, it’s difficult, so I moved to the team from my city, Atletico Paranaense, who I’ve supported since I’m young. “That was another dream come true. It is so professional, two goalie coaches and the facilities are really good – to give you an idea, the Spanish team stayed there in the World Cup.” Again, Cavagnari found the pathway to the first team blocked and moved onto to smaller teams in Brazil, where he was part of a national competition winning side, before an opportunity came up in Spain.
“When we got to Madrid the directors of the team, in the second division, had been sacked,” Cavagnari says.
Qualities
“We spent four months in Madrid looking for teams but by then the league had started and every team had a goalie. It was more and more rocks in the way. I said, ‘I’m not giving up’. My agent contacted another agent and I ended up going to Majorca for two years playing for a third division team. “The pro team, Mallorca, were in the second division and they called me to train with them. I was there for six months but they said because I was 24 years old they only contract people under 23 unless they are ready for the first team. Another rock in the way! ‘Ok, I’m still not giving up, let’s go forward’.” His next stop was England with Whitehawk before moves to Lewes and, now, Worthing. “My first year in England I didn’t play much, so it was like, ‘What’s next?’” he says. “I went back to Brazil on vacation and Gary Elphick called me to play for Worthing. It’s one division below the Conference South, where I was playing for Whitehawk, but I said, ‘Ok, I will do my best’. “Last season was good for me. I played well, I think that’s why I got player of the year for them. “I’ve been trialling at a few clubs, which has been really good for me, and I hope I keep doing well for Worthing and I can get a chance. When it appears, just go and get it. “But I love it here. The good thing at Worthing is we play from the back so if people come and watch me they can see I have other qualities – not just play long and make saves.”
“BOSTIK PREM IS A BIT DIFFERENT TO CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BUT I’M NOT GIVING UP, IT’S MY DREAM” – Lucas Cavagnari