Four of the best futsal teams in the world, Sporting Clube de Portugal, Sport Lisboa e Benfica, Inter Movistar FS and AFC Kairat Almaty, will compete in the International Masters Futsal, on the 24th and 25th of August, at Portimão Arena.
This is an excellent opportunity for lovers of top-level sport to see four of the world's powers in action and watch high-level competitive matches.
Sporting CP (European champion in title), SL Benfica (national champion in title), Inter Movistar (where Ricardinho plays, the sixth best player in the world) and Kairat Almaty's Kazakh team, European runner-up, promise full matches of emotion and spectacle at Portimão Arena.
During the press conference to launch the competition, held at the end of yesterday afternoon at the Tivoli Marina Portimão, the president of the host municipality, Isilda Gomes, said that «this great sporting event gains greater relevance due to the fact that Portimonense has gone up to the 1st Liga, testing the home team's possibilities in the game against Kairat».
The mayor also highlighted the importance of the Gira Movistar MegaCrack, «stimulating the practice of futsal among children and young people belonging to local futsal clubs, namely Gejupce, Boavista, Portimonense and Pedra Mourinha, as they can learn with the best of the best".
"This competition is already part of the sporting calendar of the European City of Sport, which until last July had a movement of 85 thousand athletes in 370 events", highlighted the president.
"Sport will continue to be seen with a very attentive and active look in this municipality, contributing to this the existing infrastructure, which responds to those who want to practice about 60 sports," stressed Isilda Gomes.
According to Paulo Jorge, director of the tournament and administrator of Sigmastars, a company that promotes the Futsal Masters, «we will certainly have in Portimão, the best pre-season tournament in the world, for which the support of the newspaper Record and Portimão Chamber, which has done a lot for the sport».
"In fact, the event has the presence of world-class teams and high levels of competitiveness, framed in values of ethics, fair play and sportsmanship, working as a catalyst for a broader program", praised the official.
This is an example of funzone, Open on the 22nd, 24th and 25th, between 10:00 am and 17:30 pm, it will make available to visitors four taverns operated by the clubs in Portimão participating in the event, as well as an inflatable and entertainment area with free access.
The International Masters Futsal program of activities begins on Thursday, August 22, at 21 pm, with the 00th City of Portimão Trophy, which will pit Portimonense, recently promoted to the 5st Futsal League, against Kairat Almaty, with free entry.
The social aspect of the event will give special attention to practitioners in the training levels of the four local clubs that practice futsal: Boavista, Clube Desportivo and Recreativo Pedra Mourinha, Gil Eanes Juventude Portimonense Clube (Gejupce) and Portimonense.
Thus, on Friday, August 23, between 17:30 pm and 19:30 pm, the biggest futsal training action ever held in the Algarve will take place – the Gira Movistar MegaCrack project, where Inter Movistar players, with special emphasis on Ricardinho, will develop a sporting and playful interaction, with training exercises, mini-games, various challenges and lots of fun, with athletes from local clubs in the pesky, benjamin and children's levels (6 to 12 years old), as well as all the others children from the Algarve region or visitors who wish to participate.
The Gira Movistar MegaCrack project also includes a specific program in the context of adapted sports, namely for children with disabilities, fulfilling the idea of sport for all. Entries are free and without any cost, and must be made on the website. www.cm-portimao.pt.
International Masters Futsal Programming
Saturday, August 24
Match 1 – 11:00 am – Sport Lisboa e Benfica vs Kairat Almaty Futsal Club
Match 2 – 15:00 – Sporting Clube de Portugal vs Inter Movistar Fútbol Sala
Sunday, August 25
Match 1 – 11:00 – Kairat Almaty Futsal Club vs Sporting Clube de Portugal
Game 2 – 15:00 – Inter Movistar Fútbol Sala vs Sport Lisboa e Benfica
- Awards ceremony
NOTE: - The games will be broadcast live on CMTV
Tickets for the International Masters Futsal are on sale now, at a price of 5 euros per game, and can be purchased at the following points of sale: Portimão Arena (from 09:30 am to 12:30 pm and from 14:00 pm to 16:30 pm, every weekday and on Friday game from 09:00 am to 17:00 pm); Portimão Museum (Tuesday from 19:30 pm to 23:00 pm and from Wednesday to Sunday, from 4:15 pm to 00:23 pm); Portimão Municipal Theater (Tuesday to Saturday, from 00:13 pm to 30:18 pm; online ticket offices – www.bol.pt; FNAC, Worten, El Corte Inglês, CTT and Serveasy stores.
Photos: Filipe da Palma | Portimão City Council
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