If you’ve ever been to a BUSA-QAC training session and heard a loud laugh, someone yelling “Let’s gooo!” with a Brazilian accent, or seen a keeper making an incredible save with a huge smile — chances are, you’ve just met Coach Rômulo… or as everyone calls him here, Coach Mingo.
Born and raised in Brazil, Mingo’s love for soccer started the same way many Brazilian stories begin — in the street, with a ball made of socks or whatever he could find, playing barefoot with his cousins until the sun went down. His first “jersey” was a Botafogo shirt gifted by his dad, and from that day on, the dream began: to play, to live, and to breathe soccer.
He wasn’t just watching games on TV — he was studying them, dreaming of one day stepping onto the field not as a fan, but as someone who made soccer his life. He followed his dad to every local tournament and club match, soaking in the passion, the community, and the thrill of the game. Then came the youth academies and small clubs. He was always the goalkeeper, diving headfirst into futsal, society games, and full-field matches (where the goal always looked waaaay too big — and still does, he says, laughing).
Coach Mingo never got the chance to play professionally — not for lack of talent, but because life got in the way. Training was far, and resources were tight. But that didn’t stop him. He won championship after championship with local clubs like Petropolitano, Magnólia, Balança Rede, and Botafoguinho — and along the way, became a leader and a fighter.
His path to the U.S. started through Coach Paulo — the Goalkeeper Academy where he is both student and coach. One day he asked, “What do I have to do to join the team?” Paulo looked at him and said:
“Mingooooo, just love soccer, have grit, energy, and start learning English TODAY!”
So, of course, he bought a course, paid it in 10 installments (classic!), went to São Paulo for classes, and in February 2024, got the big call:
“Come live your dream in the USA.”
Now, he’s here — for the second time — living that dream. Training, coaching, playing, smiling, and bringing his passion to every single practice. Because for Mingo, soccer isn’t just a sport. It’s joy. It’s community. It’s life.
And today, he proudly leads the goalkeeper training at BUSA-QAC, helping young players not only make great saves — but fall in love with the game just like he did.