They are young, attend universities across the country and will represent Portugal at the highest level, starting on the 13th, in Spain.
The female and male futsal university teams have been since monday in Faro preparing to participate in the World University Championship of the sport, in Malaga, with the past allowing to dream of a presence in the final.
Both teams are guided by Jorge Braz, the person responsible for selection A in this modality, who is also, inherently, the selector of national university teams.
The selector devalues the issue of the final classification in the World Cup that is about to start, in the locality of Antequera, putting the emphasis on a good performance, but assumes that the objective is "to reach as far as possible".
“We already have a huge tradition in the university world championships. The main objective is to dignify as much as possible the Academic Federation of University Sports (FADU). The partnership between FADU and FPF for the development of Futsal, has lasted for a long time, is fruitful and has given good results in the field of training», illustrated Jorge Braz to Sul Informação.
Jorge Braz: "We have more than 30 athletes who reached the A team who started their journey in the university teams"
“From a competitive point of view, we will try to go as far as possible. Last time, we were third placed. We're not too concerned about the rating issue. We want to do a good job, but, essentially, give a good image of Portuguese university futsal», added the national selector.
For many of the players in the group, this "will be their first experience at an international level", something that helps in the maturation process of these young people.
A bet for the future, as many international A from Portugal have gone through university sports and some of these young people may follow the same path.
«The university environment is an excellent space for futsal. We have more than 30 athletes who reached the A team who started their journey in the university teams. So this means something. In these selections, we have several under-21 internationals and athletes who can aspire to be in the A selection», he revealed.
These potential “stars” have been evolving a little more in Faro, where FADU and FPF found «excellent conditions», provided by the Faro local authority and the University of Algarve.
«We choose Faro for two reasons. Firstly, due to the proximity to Malaga, also in terms of temperature and heat. And then, the excellent conditions they provided us: a fabulous pavilion, proximity to university residences [where the athletes are accommodated] and the sympathy with which we were received at UAlg by the administrator of Social Action Services, who made all the resources available to us », said Jorge Braz.
Comments