AF Algarve and FPF distinguish 34 Algarve clubs in a certification ceremony

There were 34 training entities affiliated with the Algarve Football Association (AFA) certified and recognized, on the night of this Thursday, 1st February, in the headquarters auditorium, and who received their respective plaques and diplomas, within the scope of the Certification Process of Training Entities of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF).

At the ceremony, note was made of the 26% growth in certified Algarve clubs compared to the previous season, an increase that has been recorded for the fourth consecutive year and which results in the current 52% of distinguished clubs, of those eligible in the process.

The event was attended by Fernando Gomes and Júlio Vieira, president and director of the FPF, respectively, Reinaldo Teixeira, president of the AFA, Custódio Moreno, regional director of the Portuguese Institute of Sports and Youth, and several representatives of the AFA's governing bodies , City Councils, Parish Councils and security forces in the Algarve.

Fernando Gomes referred to the «work that clubs do, which is very difficult and demanding, having to adjust their practice to comply with all the assumptions of the process» and left «a word of encouragement and congratulations to all the clubs present», hoping that these distinctions will be another «stimulus and incentive» for «more clubs to participate in the process».

In turn, Reinaldo Teixeira recorded the «such an important moment for all the clubs and for the associative movement across the Algarve» and highlighted «the work of all the local authorities, which help the clubs to grow so much».

«This joint partnership between clubs, local authorities, government, federation and association is a work developed for social good and it is this culture that we want to strengthen, with the ultimate objective of making life easier for clubs», he stated.

Rogério Bacalhau, President of the City Council of Faro, the host municipality, highlighted the importance of «creating conditions for clubs to strengthen themselves, for the development of their training», recalling the relevance of «dynamizing the sport and training future adults».

«If there is a sport that has increased the number of people who practice sports, it is football and the AFA has done a great job. A 'thank you' to the clubs for making this Association one of the best in the country», said Custódio Moreno.

For Alves Caetano, president of the AFA General Assembly, «this is a particularly important moment for the lives of the clubs that now receive certification».

«May it be yet another motivation for us all to try together to improve the training of our young athletes», he concluded.