Name Edivaldo Sarafim-DaSilva | ||
Edivaldo Sarafim da Silva Junior (born April 15, 1974) is a Brazilian football (soccer) player. Using the name Juninho, Sarafim da Silva played professionally in Brazil, Puerto Rico and the United States.
Sarafim da Silva played for Barra da Tijuca in Brazil. In 1996, as the MetroStars prepared for the first season of the newly established Major League Soccer, it selected Sarafim da Silva, under the name Juninho, in the 1996 MLS Supplemental Draft. According to the New York Times, “In the other two rounds of the draft, the Metrostars got two young Brazilians, Juninho and Tulio. Juninho is a 23-year-old midfielder, and Tulio is a 21-year-old forward.” This report set off an immediately positive reaction which was quickly crushed after the MetroStars revealed that they had not actually drafted Juninho. The MetroStars waived him on March 25, 1996. He later played for the Puerto Rico Islanders of the USL First Division in 2004, the Rochester Rhinos of USL-1 in 2005 and 2006. In the summer of 2008, Junhinho signed with Guaynabo Fluminense FC of the new Puerto Rico Soccer League. Then, in 2009, he signed with Club Atletico River Plate Ponce, also from the Puerto Rico Soccer League. He is currently coaching Eleven FC in Dorado, Puerto Rico, a team that includes Puerto Rican national soccer player Alvaro Torres.