Marcelo Vido talks about FlaBasquete's international prominence
Flamengo's Executive Director of Olympic Sports accompanies the Flamengo delegation at GLIC
By Raiana Monteiro - inFlamengo traveled to Uruguay to prepare for the 2019/20 basketball season, which includes State Championships, the NBB, and the Champions League. Although the NBA G League International Challenge isn't on the official CRF calendar, the invitation from the world's largest league means Flamengo has a "luxury" preseason, featuring matches against strong European teams and high-quality players from the United States. Regarding this invitation and international recognition, the club's Executive Director of Olympic Sports, Marcelo Vido, emphasizes our national sovereignty.
"Initially, it's the NBA's recognized work over the last eleven years, especially regarding the recent history of the National Basketball League, with the NBB. In those eleven years, we performed very well, winning six titles, and in ten editions, we finished in the top four and reached seven finals, winning six. It's the work built over all these years, which is consolidated, but it also leaves us with the challenge of continuing to seek new challenges. So, I think this invitation from the NBA shows that we're on the right track," says Vido.
Although the GLIC is a valuable preparation for what's to come in 2019, Vido highlights the opportunity to play high-level matches and, of course, is thinking about winning the friendlies.
"It's amazing to participate in a tournament of this level, with such strong European teams that we would rarely have the opportunity to play against, like Bayern Munich. We're here for a few reasons: first, because it's a tournament that serves as preparation for our competition calendar. But we're here not only to prepare the team; we came with the goal of having a good campaign and competing in the best possible condition. If it's the title, even better," emphasizes the Director.
All of this is part of the Flamengo brand's internationalization project, widely adopted by its department in these years as manager of CRF's Olympic sports.
“Institutionally, it is always important for Flamengo to be competing in the best tournaments on the continent and to continue to be a partner and prestigious of the NBA,” he adds.
EVOLUTION OF RED-BLACK BASKETBALL
Although the red-and-black basketball team is nationally dominant and has, in recent years, won important international titles, such as the League of the Americas and the Intercontinental Cup, the director intends to further raise the level of prestige of FlaBasquete.
"Besides our achievements within Brazil, we have a strong desire, preparation, and ambition to win international tournaments, whether it's the South American or the League of the Americas, and now it's the Champions League. We want to be on the international stage, competing in the continent's major tournaments. This is our focus, with more challenges, more responsibilities, more involvement and support, not only from our team of athletes and coaching staff, but also from our communications, marketing, legal, and multidisciplinary teams... This entire group contributes significantly to our good results. And this commitment from all areas of the club ensures the sport's success and allows us to increasingly strive for better positions," concludes Marcelo Vido.
This Saturday morning (21), Flamengo will participate in the press conference for the official launch of the Champions League, at the Hilton Garden Inn Montevideo Hotel, the biggest challenge of the 2019/20 season for the red-black team.
The basketball teams of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo receive funding from their sponsors – BRB, TIM, AmBev, Rede D'or, IRB Brasil RE, CSN, Brasil Plural, and EY – via the Federal Incentive Law/Ministry of Sports (IR) and the State Incentive Law/Rio de Janeiro State Secretariat of Sports, Recreation, and Youth (Seelje), in addition to support from the Brazilian Club Committee (CBC) resulting from the decentralization of resources generated by the Pelé Law. The Anjo da Guarda Rubro-Negro Project, a personal tax transfer, benefits all Olympic sports of the Most Beloved.