Phoenix Soccer Teams Outplay All in Inaugural Neymar Jr’s Five Global Signature Tournament

(Phoenix, AZ) – Phoenix area teams came to impress as soccer players from around the Valley of the Sun convened in the heart of Downtown Phoenix on Saturday to test their skills at the first-ever Neymar Jr’s Five global tournament. In this signature event for male and female players 18-25 years of age, teams competed in a unique five-a-side elimination tournament. The first and second place teams, Cha Cha Lakas and African Champions, respectively, earned a trip of a lifetime to represent Phoenix at the Neymar Jr’s Five U.S. Finals in Miami. The champion was determined by coin-flip after inclement weather caused the tournament to be cut short prior to the final game. Phoenix hosted the third of nine U.S. Qualifiers across seven cities (Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, Phoenix, San Diego, Fresno and Rochester, NY), capped off with the U.S. finals in Miami on June 11.

Surrounded by the skyscrapers of Downtown Phoenix, hundreds of players and fans were treated to non-stop action throughout the day. When it was all said and done, Phoenix-based soccer teams African Champions and Cha Cha Lakas separated themselves from the 24-team tournament and punched their tickets to Miami.

The day started off with excitement and intrigue as competitors began play in a five-on-five tournament unlike any they’ve participated in before. There was something for everyone in attendance, as an emcee and DJ worked the crowd, food trucks kept appetites in check and Elite Barbershop provided attendees with complimentary Neymar Jr. inspired haircuts.

(Photo Credit: Lear Miller/ Red Bull Media House)

Cha Cha Lakas, the Phoenix qualifier champions, are comprised of high school friends who found out about Neymar Jr’s Five via social media and decided to see how they would fair against other squads their age. Cha Cha Lakas play together in an adult league every Sunday and are made up of captain Oscar Hernandez, 20, Sal Torres, 21, Jorge Martinez, 23, Julio Palomino, 20, Alan Rios, 20, and Mario Pacheco, 20. The champions were able to use their quick touch and expertise on the pavement to excel throughout the day. The trip to Miami will be the first time any of the team members has left the state of Arizona.

“We all came together today because we liked the concept of the tournament and wanted to try something new,” said Oscar Hernandez. “When we made it to the semifinals it really hit me that going to Miami was a real possibility and I just had my eyes on the prize that entire game. This is going to be our first time out of state and we are getting this opportunity to play the game that we love, it’s an amazing feeling.”

Coming in second place at the Phoenix Qualifier was fittingly named African Champions, a team made up of African college exchange students who have come to Phoenix from various African countries to study at Arizona State University and Grand Canyon University. The team-comprised of players from Kenya, Liberia, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Congo and Rwanda-was completely dominant throughout the day and didn’t concede a single goal in any of their six games.

“Our strategy was to just take the day one game at a time,” said Ugandan-born Limon Bogere. “I told the team that the first goal of each game is the most important and that mindset is what will take us to Miami. Today was amazing. We came here to win and now we go home as champions, just as our team name says. We can’t wait to represent Africa at the U.S. Finals.”

(Photo Credit: Lear Miller/ Red Bull Media House)

The U.S. qualifying process, which will continue on May 7 in Rochester, N.Y., will eventually reveal a U.S. champion in Miami on June 11 who then will advance to the finals at the recently founded Instituto Projeto Neymar Jr in his hometown of Praia Grande, Brazil on July 9. The global champion will then be flown to Spain where they will be Neymar Jr’s guests at a match at “Camp Nou” in Barcelona, Spain.

For the latest about Neymar Jr’s Five, follow @NeymarJr and join the conversation with #NeymarJrsFive.