A former Galaxy FC player from Vanuatu has signed a new contract in Brazil: he is Elias Silva Júnior, also known as Pepeta. The striker played the OFC Champions League 2019 for Erakor Golden Star on loan from Galaxy and also played in Fiji for Rewa in the continental competition. He also had a short stint in the defunct club Amicale in Vanuatu.
The Brazilian striker recently won a semi-pro tournament in Espírito Santo state in Brazil and now signed for Clube Atlético de Itapemirim to play the Espírito Santo professional regional league. The news were recently released by local media station. Elias is succesful in the region after playing for important clubs as Estrela do Norte and Rio Branco.
Elias is a known striker in Espírito Santo – a state with around 4M people in Southeast Brazil – and is called for his nickname in the region: Pepeta. He is one of the most known players in the recent years of football in Espírito Santo. His new club for the season, Atlético de Itapemirim, was once regional champions in the past years and the now 31-year old striker was in that succesful squad.
Galaxy developed a good relationship with Brazilian players – the club already had many players from the South American side in his squad. Currently the defender Diego Máximo and the midfielder Roberson Felipe are part of the team that will represent Vanuatu in the OFC Champions League 2020.
Oceania Football Center 