Lourenço

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Gold mining in Lourenço began in the 19th century. In 1894, at the height of the gold rush, there were 6,000 to 10,000 gold miners in the area around the Calçoene River. In 1984, Mineração Novo Astro (MNA) and Mineração Yukio Yoshidome (MYYSA) were awarded concessions for mining on an industrial scale. This resulted in conflicts with the garimpeiros (illegal gold prospectors). In 1992, the Mining Cooperative of Garimpeiros of Lourenço (COOGAL) was founded, and the concessions were transferred to COOGAL in 1994. As of 2014, COOGAL operates five mining concessions and employs 1,100 garimpeiros. The official census figures for the district are an underestimation, and the actual population is estimated at 4,500 people. Lourenço is located in an area surrounded by protected areas and indigenous territories. The region around Lourenço has been polluted with mercury, and has been deforested. The school and clinic are functioning below standard. In 2017, Lourenço received 24 hour electricity. The town is connected to the BR-156 highway via an unpaved road.

In Their Own Story

The path from a centre back in Rio to managing the Saudi Arabia Under-20 team began with a foundation built on discipline and local success. After retiring from playing, Lourenço transitioned into management, where he guided Brazil's U-20 squad to victory at the South American Youth Championship in 2009. This achievement highlighted his ability to develop young talent before taking on an international challenge. On March 28, 2011, he officially assumed the role of manager for the Saudi Arabia Under-20 team. His journey reflects a career that moved from domestic dominance with Flamengo and Cruzeiro—where he also won the Campeonato Mineiro in 1996 and 1997—to leading national youth setups across continents.

Reader's Guide

Lourenço is a district in the municipality of Calçoene, Amapá, Brazil. It is accessible via an unpaved road from the BR-156 highway.

Did You Know?

• Gold mining in Lourenço began in the 19th century.
• In 1894, there were 6,000 to 10,000 gold miners in the area around the Calçoene River.
• As of 2014, COOGAL operated five mining concessions and employed 1,100 garimpeiros.
• The actual population of Lourenço is estimated at 4,500 people.
• Lourenço received 24-hour electricity in 2017.