Former Arsenal and Sao Paulo midfielder Denilson has been appointed as ambassador of Gillingham Town Football Club. The town club plays in the Kent County League in Division 3 of English Professional football. He is the second Brazilian to be presently associated with the club.
The new arrangement comes as advantageous to both Denilson as well as the club. With the Brazilian planning to start his own academy next year, Gillingham Town will be hoping to send some of its coaches and players to the academy to refine their skills. In return, the academy’s teams could get exposure in English conditions on regular visits.
Gillingham Town, captained by Steve Talbot is having a rough time on the pitch. Many of its players have left either for better clubs or have gone back home due to the coronavirus pandemic leaving the management in the lurch.
In his role as the ambassador for the club, Denilson will be guiding the players and team on the field. In addition, he will be playing a critical role in helping its promoters expand their businesses.
Bernardes, the owner of the club financed the club with returns from his online property business. As the property market has dried up due to the pandemic, Bernardes has moved to manufacture bamboo toothbrushes as an alternative to plastic.
The Gillingham Town FC also known as ‘Gills’ are currently 8th in the league standings. In the last match played this weekend, they defeated Sherborne Town Reserves 2-1.
Denilson was earlier signed up as ambassador by the online sportsbook and casino operator ‘sportsbet.io’ last year.
He has been the captain of the Brazilian national squad in all junior age-groups. He was the captain of the Brazilian under-17 side that finished runner-up in the FIFA world cup for the age-group in 2005.