Mexican football team feted in Brazil

Mexico City, June 11 (IANS) The Mexican Football Federation has said the city of Santos in Sao Paulo state welcomed their national team for the FIFA World Cup with celebration.

Mexico is one of the 32 teams competing in the World Cup which kicks off Thursday. The general director of Mexico's team Hector Gonzalez Inarritu thanked Mayor Paulo Alexandre Barbosa Tuesday for Monday night's festivity which took place at the second-highest mountain peak in Santos -- Monte Serrat, reports Xinhua.

Gonzalez said that the Mexican team is working hard and is highly motivated. They are buoyed by the kind reception they received from Brazilians, allowing both players and trainers to work comfortably.

The team will remain in Santos till Wednesday when they travel to Natal for the June 13 match against Cameroon. The following day, the team travels to the seaside resort of Recife where the players' families are staying.

A luncheon has been organised in Recife for the players and their families to afford them some time together, considered good for the athletes.

The sports director of Mexico Ricardo Pelaez said the team is committed to doing well.

"There is solidarity, hope and commitment among the players. I see good atmosphere. There's joy and rivalry, important factors in order to be closer to success than to failure," he said.