Cavalry FC has announced the signing of Brazilian forward Oliver Minatel for the inaugural Canadian Premier League season.

He is Cavalry FC’s first international signing. Minatel joins Canadian-based players Marco Carducci, Chris Serban, Elijah Adekugbe, Dominick Zator, Nik Ledgerwood, and Sergio Camargo at Calgary’s new professional soccer club.

“It’s an honour to be back to Canada in such an important time for soccer in the country.” – Oliver Minatel, Cavalry FC forward

Originally from Campinas, Brazil, the 26-year-old has played for such clubs as Nacional, of the Portuguese Primeira Liga, the Ottawa Fury, then of the North American Soccer League, and most recently for South Melbourne, of the National Premier Leagues Victoria in Australia. Minatel spent some of his youth career with PSV Eindhoven, of the Dutch Eredivisie.

An experienced attacker for Cavalry FC

Cavalry FC head coach and general manager Tommy Wheeldon Jr. is expecting Minatel’s experience to supply his burgeoning club with a cutting edge when the start of the first CPL season arrives at the end of April 2019.

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“We wanted to bring Oliver to the Cavalry as he is a fantastic professional with great personality and the type of pedigree we were looking for in our first international import that could add instant value to our team,” said Wheeldon, via a club statement Wednesday. “Oliver has had a fantastic football education in Brazil before going to the Netherlands with PSV and then onto Portugal. He has also played in Canada and across North America so understands the landscape very well, which will make him adapt and make an impact very quickly.”

Cavalry FC assistant coach Martin Nash has previously worked with Minatel at Ottawa Fury. And the former Canadian international midfielder is looking forward to reconnecting with the Brazilian attacker.

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“Oliver is an intelligent footballer that is very good technically and dangerous in and around the opponent’s penalty area,” said Nash, via the club statement. “He was the leading scorer for Ottawa in the 2014 season we worked together”.

Happy to return to Canada

Minatel says he’s pleased to return to Canada and is looking forward to joining the new club in the new league.

“I’m very excited with the opportunity to join the Cavalry FC in its inaugural season and to contribute with the club on and off the pitch,” said Minatel. “It’s an honour to be back to Canada in such an important time for soccer in the country.”

He is expected to arrive in Calgary in February to begin training pending the expected approval of appropriate visas/work permits.

– files from Cavalry FC

The Canadian Premier League is a new professional soccer league set to kick off in April 2019. Calgary’s club is Cavalry FC and will play its home games at Spruce Meadows.