The Globe

In his new beginning, Joel displays his well-known 'fatherly' coaching style.

No clipboard, no laptop, no notepad: coach attacks psychologist

On his first day of his fourth stint at Flamengo, coach Joel Santana decided to compete with psychologist Paulo Ribeiro. Instead of technical and tactical guidance, he used a lot of chatter and observation. Repeating that this was a time of sacrifice, Joel arrived early at Gávea to meet his new group and spent about 40 minutes chatting with the players in the locker room. Later, after the training session, the coach called forward Souza aside for a quick word, maintaining his old, familiar father figure.

"It depends on what you mean by 'father figure'. I've known Souza for a long time, and I told him that aggression isn't going to demonstrate hierarchy. I told Souza that he suffered a significant professional loss with that expulsion. Respecting people is the easiest way to earn respect," says Joel Santana.

After speaking with Souza, Joel met with the defenders. He believes the defense, which has conceded 54 goals in 36 games (an average of 1,5 goals per game), is the most problematic area.

"It all starts back there, right? I already warned you I'm going to be annoying. We have to practice hard because the goals we're conceding are more a result of our own mistakes than the opponents' merits. I know that position. A good team needs a good defense," said the coach, who in his days as a defender didn't face the rigors of today's refereeing.

Club announces another defender: Fábio Luciano

To put an end to this Swiss cheese, Flamengo announced the signing of another defender, the ninth player for the sector is Fábio Luciano, released by Fenerbahçe, from Turkey, and transferred to Cologne, from Germany, which ended up being relegated.

At 32 years old, Fábio Luciano hasn't played since April 20th and would need at least ten days of physical reconditioning to make his debut. He will be presented tomorrow afternoon at Ninho do Urubu.

The signing of an experienced player for the sector pleased coach Joel Santana, who hopes for better days ahead.

- Of course I'm excited. The team is down, imagine if I arrive discouraged...

Joel's debut will be against Santos on Sunday, but in Gávea, attention is already focused on the derby against Vasco on October 16. Vasco claims that, since the game was scheduled for June 25, reinforcements like Ibson, Roger, and Jônatas cannot play.

- We have a letter from the CBF guaranteeing that everyone can play because, according to the entity, the game for the Brazilian Championship was not postponed but rescheduled - said the legal vice, Michel Assef Filho.

Federation has another foreseeable election

The opposition already admits defeat to Rubens Lopes today in an election that bears similarities to the Caixa D'Água Era.

Fellipe Awi

Over the past 22 years, known as the "Water Tank Era," the Rio de Janeiro Football Federation has faced countless crises, but every four years, there was never any doubt that Eduardo Viana would be re-elected president. In the first election after his death, scheduled for today, the players have changed, but the same certainty remains. Opposition candidate Francisco Horta enters the election knowing he will lose to interim president Rubens Lopes, in a process that bears other similarities to that of his predecessor.

In 2003, in what would be his last presidential election, Eduardo Viana was accused by the opposition party, led by Paulo Almeida, of controlling the voting system and the electoral college. Now, the opposition also accuses Lopes of advancing the elections to their advantage, publishing his election notice without disclosing the electoral college, and manipulating the registration protocol.

"I got several clubs to sign on, and they later signed the current slate. But they say theirs was filed first, and I can't prove it because Rubinho owns the protocol," Horta concedes, repeating an accusation made by Almeida four years ago.

These matching signatures led the electoral commission to challenge Horta's candidacy on Monday. The argument is that the clubs signed their support for the candidate in the interim election held in February and that they have now decided to support Lopes. Only yesterday did Horta obtain an injunction from the 18th Civil Court confirming his candidacy, claiming, among other things, that he obtained the signatures in February—thus, before Lopes.

Horta's lawyer, Pedro Trengrouse, also claims that the electoral commission lacks the necessary independence to organize the election. Its chairman is Elias Duba, one of Lopes's closest political allies. He also noted that the election was called on July 10th, just 20 days ago.

- Rubinho didn't want to give the opposition time to campaign and took advantage of the fact that all attention was focused on the Pan American Games - he said.

Horta only has the support of three 1st Division clubs.

Lopes said he would only comment after the election. But the federation's claim is that the election was brought forward to allow time to better organize the 2008 State Championship. This championship, in fact, was part of the interim president's electoral platform. He expanded the three divisions, which always guarantees votes. Furthermore, he has an ally that has always been on Viana's side: the fear of persecution.

"Since I know Horta won't be elected, I'm not going to pick a fight with Rubinho. Everyone knows he likes to retaliate," said the president of a club, who asked to remain anonymous.

In addition to his position, Rubinho inherited Viana's allies, even though he had become his political enemy. In the First Division, only Flamengo, Botafogo, and América support Horta, and the vast majority of leagues and smaller clubs also support the new Rio soccer powerhouse.

- King dead, king installed - summarizes a vice-president of the federation, Ronald Jarbas.

Twenty-six clubs from the Third Division, 26 from the Second Division, and 30 from the First Division, as well as 12 amateur clubs and 11 amateur leagues, are eligible to vote today. The weight of votes varies: six points (Serie A), four points (Serie B), two points (Serie C), and one point (amateur clubs and leagues). With this system, which he himself created, Viana always remained in office without difficulty. Even when he faced opposition from the major clubs, which rarely happened, he relied on the greater electoral strength of the smaller clubs. Furthermore, he granted voting power to several shadow clubs and leagues.

Sports Journal

Fábio Luciano is Fla's new defender

Flamengo continues to strengthen its squad to escape the relegation zone in the Brazilian Championship. This time, the good news is for the Flamengo defense. Defender Fábio Luciano will be presented next Thursday at the club's training center, Ninho do Urubu, in Vargem Grande. The player has signed a contract with Flamengo until the end of the year.

Fábio Luciano arrives to try to solve Flamengo's chronic problem in the center of defense. Since Juan and Gamarra, many have passed through the sector without success. Revealed by Ponte Preta, the 32-year-old has already played for the Brazilian national team after finding success with Corinthians. He is currently playing for Cologne, a team recently promoted to the German first division.

The reinforcements will be able to debut next Friday, when the CBF transfer window opens for players from outside the country. The Rubro-Negro is currently in 19th place in the Brazilian Championship, with 12 points from 12 matches. The team returns to action on Sunday against Santos at Vila Belmiro.

Flamengo does not fear threats from Vasco's president

Leo Schabbach and Thiago Bokel

Wallace Teixeira

Vasco is trying to throw a damper on Flamengo's hopes in the Brazilian Championship by preventing Flamengo's new signings Roger, Ibson, Maxi Biancucchi, and possibly Jônatas from participating in the rescheduled matches. However, Flamengo's board had already anticipated this issue and assured that all players would be able to play.

The basis of Vasco's argument is that, since the postponed games were scheduled before August 3, when registration for players from abroad begins, these reinforcements would not have been able to play. Vasco president Eurico Miranda also questioned Flamengo's decision to play only against América-RN in Juiz de Fora, when it could have done so in the other games.

Kleber Leite, the club's vice president of football, explained that this happened because the club chose to play as many matches as possible at Maracanã, its home stadium. He also revealed that he consulted the CBF on the matter and that the reinforcements have been approved.

"He (Eurico) is causing confusion because he's thinking the games were postponed. The problem is, they weren't; the schedule was rearranged. Flamengo consulted the CBF, and any player whose contract is valid with the club will be able to play," he explained.

The attorney general of the Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD), Paulo Schmitt, also commented on Vasco's possible appeal.

"Their thesis is interesting, but I can't say anything yet. If it's accepted, we'd also have to consider the issue of cards, as the rule is equitable. If the Superior Court of Justice (STJD) accepts the request, the issue of players suspended at the time should be taken into consideration. If necessary, the Superior Court of Justice (STJD) and the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) will evaluate everything," said the prosecutor, also emphasizing that he must wait for an official Vasco da Gama position before making any decision.

Furthermore, according to him, there is currently no legal way to handle this type of situation. "I'll wait for Vasco to present its evidence first. There is no legal provision that determines how to act in cases of postponed games," he stated.

Joel defends Flamengo defenders and says the blame lies with the entire team.

Despite Flamengo bringing in a defensive reinforcement and fans being very unhappy with the situation, Joel Santana made a point of defending his squad's defenders. He believes the team's poor standing in the standings is the responsibility of the entire team, not just one sector.

"I've spoken to the defenders here, and I don't think we have a bad defense. Of course, the blame is falling on them, but it's also because the work up front isn't being done properly. Now, Fábio Luciano is certainly a great reinforcement," the coach stated, before commenting on the possibility of changes.

"There's always a new idea, but I intend to continue with the players who were already playing. Obviously, given Flamengo's current position in the table, changes will have to be made, but since I haven't had time to analyze the entire group yet, it's likely there will be a maximum of two changes."

Joel Santana also commented on the possibility of Jônatas, Ibson, and Roger playing together, with Renato Augusto playing up front. "In football, you can't make predictions. If they can perform as they've shown before, we'll have a strong team."

Ibson is eager to play for Rubro-Negro

One of Flamengo's reinforcements for the rest of the year, midfielder Ibson is expected to make his debut in Sunday's match against Santos at Vila Belmiro. The player admitted he's eager to wear the red-and-black jersey again.

"I really want to start playing and help my teammates get out of this situation. It's really bad to see the team struggling and not be able to step in and try to change things. I've had two weeks to work and I hope to last the whole game," the player explained.

Ibson will have a tough task ahead. Signed as one of the club's biggest hopes for a comeback in the Brazilian Championship, the player will form, alongside Cristian, Roger, and Renato Augusto, a completely revamped midfield compared to the one that started the year and won the Rio de Janeiro championship. Jônatas's almost certain return has the supporter dreaming of better days ahead.

"With Jônatas' return confirmed, I believe we'll be stronger. I hope we can demonstrate that on the field. He's a player who started alongside me and, besides being a great professional, he's an excellent player. We formed a defensive midfield duo in the youth team, and I hope to replicate that chemistry. But even without him, I think our team is very interesting," Ibson praised.

The two players' friendship began with Jônatas' arrival at the club in 2001, coming from Ceará. Ibson said that, although he doesn't talk to his former teammate often, he always tries to find out how his career is going.

Fábio Luciano arrives to bring order to Fla

Defender Fábio Luciano should be the new sheriff of the red-black defense

After admitting on Monday that Flamengo was in talks with a defender who played for the Brazilian national team, vice president of football Kleber Leite announced the signing of the experienced Fábio Luciano, who recently played for Cologne in Germany. However, the news continues to surface at Gávea. As reported in yesterday's edition of Js, midfielder Jônatas is another player who has already signed with the club.

Espanyol, which holds the player's federation rights, has already released him. All that's left is for the paperwork to arrive before he can be announced. Despite receiving much praise during his time in Spanish football, the midfielder claims he no longer has the right mindset to continue because he hasn't adapted to Europe. Jônatas has even said he wants to return to Brazil, specifically to Flamengo.

Fábio Luciano, who played one match for the Brazilian national team, in the 3-0 victory over Nigeria, but has already been called up several times, arrives to be the team's point man in this area. Kleber Leite celebrated the signing.

"He's a well-known player, an excellent defender who already has a lot of experience, he's been captain wherever he's been and I believe he'll help us a lot," celebrated the director.

The only problem with Joel Santana's plans to use him immediately is his current period of inactivity. Fábio Luciano's last match was on April 20th, and since then, he has been complaining of pubic pain. The defender was very close to signing with Cruzeiro recently, but a possible interest from Genoa-ITA ended up cooling the negotiations. A return to Corinthians was also attempted, but it didn't materialize.

Joel wants to see the red-black reinforcements on the field

Roger, Ibson, Cristian, Maxi Bianchuccie, Fábio Luciano, and likely Jônatas are the board's reinforcements to pull Flamengo out of the relegation zone. However, Joel Santana, the team's new coach, wants to see the newcomers perform on the field.

"On paper, anything is possible, but now we'll see what happens on the field. It's impossible to predict how they'll perform. If they play as they're used to, we'll be in great shape," the coach stated.

Fla's basketball team seeks tri-state title and national title

Rafael Oliveira

Point guard Fred is one of the players from last season who will remain at Fla

Flamengo's poor performance in the last National Men's Basketball Championship still lingers in the red-and-black leadership's minds. The team from Gávea only had a 50% success rate in the first stage and was eliminated in the quarterfinals after a 3-0 loss to Franca-SP. With this in mind, the board decided to restructure the squad, which is brimming with new faces for the new season.

Only three players remain from the team that finished seventh in the National Championship. Point guard Fred and centers Coloneze and Maicon have renewed their contracts with the club and will be the only remaining players from the two-time state champions.

Coach Paulo Chupeta, who will remain at Gávea along with his assistant, former player João Batista, explained that the team had been in need of a makeover. "We decided to renew the group. These signings are part of a long-term plan we decided to adopt. They are all players with high physical and technical skills."

The new faces already have a date to be introduced. Next Monday, the new squad will meet in Gávea to begin training for the 2007/2008 season. Practically the entire group has already been defined. In addition to the three remaining players, Paulo Chupeta will have at his disposal point guard Hélio, who played for Uberlândia in the last National Championship, forwards Duda (Brasília), Marcelus (formerly of Vasco's youth team), Amiel (Saldanha da Gama) and Fernando Mineiro (Limeira), and centers Alírio (Brasília) and Wágner (Uberlândia).

Next week, the players will undergo physical exams and, on the 10th, they will begin preseason training, which, so far, has been held in Gávea. However, the club's basketball director, Arnaldo Szpiro, said he is in negotiations to hold the first training sessions in a city in the interior of the state.

Search for the Tri

With the National Basketball Championship only starting in January 2008, Flamengo's biggest challenge this semester will be the fight for its third state championship. Despite the strong chances of achieving this feat, no one at Gávea hides what the main goal is for the coming months. "We want to be Brazilian champions. It's a title we haven't won yet, and we've assembled a quality team precisely to fight for this unprecedented achievement in the club's history," stated Chupeta.

O Dia

Flamengo signs Fábio Luciano and Jônatas

Player was playing in the German Second Division

Rio - Flamengo's board confirmed on Tuesday the signing of defender Fábio Luciano, who played for Corinthians, Ponte Preta, and Fernebahçe in Turkey. The player has been out of action since April 20, when he was playing for Cologne in the German Second Division. Luciano, 32, will be officially presented next Thursday at Ninho do Urubu in Vargem Grande.

In addition, the club has finalized the loan return of defensive midfielder Jônatas, who transferred to Espanyol in Spain in 2006 but has not established himself since. Jônatas will remain at Gávea until mid-2008.

Ibson waits for his friend Jônatas

Íbson is ready. The player has already made himself available to Joel Santana for Sunday's match against Santos at Vila Belmiro. But that's not his only expectation at Flamengo. He's also looking forward to having an old friend, Jônatas, by his side.

The two met in 2001, while still in Flamengo's youth academy. But each went their own way: Íbson went to Porto; Jônatas, to Espanyol.

"When I meet 'Paraíba,' it'll be a one-off review. I haven't seen Jônatas in about a year and a half, but he's a friend who's always been in my heart. We've grown apart for a while, but I've always followed his work on television," said Íbson.

Because he knows Jônatas so well, Íbson already knows what position he should play in the team when he arrives at Flamengo. "I like him coming from behind. He has quality passing. He's an exceptional player. We'll have a good midfield," the midfielder stated.

Before playing alongside Jônatas again, Íbson hopes everything goes well in his return on Sunday. "I've worked hard all week. I'm ready to play and I hope to last the full 90 minutes. I think I can," said Íbson, declaring himself hungry for the ball.

Flamengo: Joel's motto is to win

Rio - The cold weather prevented Joel Santana from rolling up his sleeves. But he had plenty of work to do. He spent the day at the Gávea headquarters and even had lunch at the club. All of this for one goal: to secure two consecutive away wins, against Santos (Sunday) and Atlético-PR (the 8th). "We need to improve something, and we'll start with two away matches. We'll need an aggressive approach. It's better to take risks and go for the win, because in this championship, a draw is the same as a defeat," he stated, showing courage and ambition.

Joel can't even imagine a result other than a win. He's not afraid to say that a draw, even away from home, doesn't suit him. "We have to win two or three rounds. And this whole away game thing is relative. Sometimes, you can pass the buck to the home team," Joel emphasized.

The idea is to win or lose, and Joel Santana isn't giving anything away beyond an admission of his objective. He declined to reveal the team he'll take to the field. "I'll hold a training session this Wednesday and another on Friday. It's still too early to decide on the team. I intend to continue Ney Franco's work and will make some changes as needed," he said mysteriously, without giving many details about the formation he intends to use on Sunday.

EX-FRIEND

For victory, anything goes. Even calling a friend an enemy is fair game: fitness coach Antônio Mello, who works at Santos with Vanderley Luxemburgo, has become a rival.

"I worked with Mello for 10 years. We know each other very well. But now he's my enemy," quipped coach Joel Santana, who didn't even call Antônio Mello.

Sports Gazette

Ibson anxious about possible debut on Sunday

Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - With the expectation of making his Flamengo debut this Sunday against Santos, midfielder Ibson admitted he's anxious. The player, who was playing for Porto, hopes to help the Flamengo team escape the relegation zone in the Brazilian Championship. According to the player, coach Joel Santana doesn't need to worry about his fitness. "I've been working hard for about three weeks. I'm completely available to Joel Santana, despite my anxiety. But I'm even more excited," he stated.

Despite this, the coach has yet to announce the team that will face Peixe. According to him, the lineup will only be determined next Saturday at Gávea. It's worth remembering that even a victory would keep the Rio de Janeiro team in the relegation zone.

Flamengo confirms agreement with Fábio Luciano\ Gazeta Press\

Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Flamengo continues to unveil new additions this week. After reaching an agreement with coach Joel Santana, the Rio de Janeiro club confirmed the signing of defender Fábio Luciano on Tuesday afternoon. The player will arrive at Gávea next Thursday, where he will suit up and sign a contract until the end of the year. Fábio Luciano, who excelled in Brazil primarily with Corinthians, arrives to try to correct the many mistakes made by Flamengo's defense in this Brazilian Championship. Second-to-last in the standings, the team has already conceded 22 goals in 12 matches.

New coach seeks better Flamengo formation\ Gazeta Press\

Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - After much discussion on his first day at Flamengo, coach Joel Santana assured that his priority is finding the best formation for Flamengo. Although he admitted that he could make changes to every area of ​​the team, with the exception of goal and the full-backs, the coach stated that he doesn't yet know what the changes will be. "I have an idea in mind, but I haven't even worked it out properly yet. We'll train tomorrow, Thursday, and Friday, and I should have the team more or less ready," said the coach, who didn't hide his biggest concern about the defensive system. "In any team sport, if the defense isn't good, the results won't come. I know the position well, and it's not normal for us to concede goals like we have been. Sometimes we can correct things by paying a little more attention," Joel explained.

Joel Santana also dodged the question about the possibility of Flamengo signing former Corinthians defender Fábio Luciano. The coach assured that he would only discuss signings once they arrived at Gávea.

In addition to Fábio Luciano, whose transfer has not been confirmed by Flamengo's board, Flamengo may also introduce midfielder Jônatas in the coming days. The Rio de Janeiro club submitted an offer to Espanyol-ESP for the player on a one-year loan.

While he's without reinforcements, Joel Santana will have the peace of mind to work, something Ney Franco had been complaining about. The board confirmed that training sessions on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday will be held at the Ninho do Urubu training center in Vargem Grande.

Stadium – Flamengo is facing difficulties in realizing its dream of building a modern arena at its Gávea headquarters. Rio de Janeiro Governor Sérgio Cabral confirmed that he will heed a recommendation from the Attorney General's Office, suspending the club's authorization to begin construction on its headquarters.

Before announcing his decision, which should only happen within ten days, Sérgio Cabral expects Flamengo to respond to a document in which the Government requests clarification on the Gávea project.

Joel begins his work at Flamengo with a lot of conversation\ Gazeta Press\

Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Introduced the day before as Flamengo's new manager, coach Joel Santana began work on Tuesday morning at Gávea. In addition to training on the field, the coach took advantage of his first day to chat extensively with the Flamengo squad. First, a 45-minute meeting with the players in the locker room. Joel also spoke separately with forward Souza, and later chatted with the defensive players. "We're trying to get to know each other better, understand what's going on. We have to try to get out of this situation, and I hope that can happen on Sunday against Santos. Being so far behind in the table is something that bothers me and everyone here at the club. This isn't the time for pretty talk, but for action," commented the Flamengo coach.

Souza, who has scored only one goal this Brazilian Championship and has already been sent off twice, enjoyed his conversation with Joel Santana. "I explained to him some of the problems I've been having, and everything went very well," said Souza, who revealed he had worked with the coach before. "I've worked with Joel at Vasco da Gama, and he's a very talented coach; there's nothing bad to say about him. He's a guy who's won many titles and came to help us get out of this situation," added the striker, who will be tried next week for his red card against Grêmio.

PeléNet

Joel Santana wants to start hitting Fla through defense

Vinicius Barreto Souto\ In Rio de Janeiro\

As promised, coach Joel Santana began his work with Flamengo this Tuesday at Gávea, in two shifts. However, both in the morning and afternoon, the coach simply watched the players perform physical exercises on the field while chatting with his assistant, Andrade. In any case, the Flamengo manager already knows where he'll start trying to improve the team: defense.

"In any team sport, if the defense isn't good, the results won't come. It seems like Flamengo has conceded fifty-odd goals this year. That's not normal," commented Joel, who, however, avoids criticizing the red-and-black defense and comes to the defense of the players in that sector.

"I don't think the defense is that bad. The problems are just getting worse at the back. We need support from other sectors. The marking starts up front. I know the position well. Sometimes, you can fix things with a little more attention," continued the Flamengo coach.

In 36 games played this year, the Gávea team conceded 53 goals, an average of 1,47 per game. But in the Brazilian Championship, the team conceded 22 goals in 12 games, an average of 1,83.

As a result, all defenders, with the exception of Ronaldo Angelim, have been heavily criticized. The most vilified lately has been Irineu, who scored an own goal that sealed Flamengo's 1-0 defeat to Grêmio—a result that, at the time, sank Flamengo to last place in the Brazilian Championship.

Therefore, one of Joel Santana's first actions at the club this Tuesday was to have a conversation with the defenders, especially Irineu, who was very grateful for the coach's support.

"I was very pleased with what I heard from him. He seemed like a happy, interested, and friendly person. He was a defender and knows what we need. I think the conversation he had with everyone in the sector raised the group's self-esteem," said Irineu, who was dropped by former coach Ney Franco after scoring an own goal.

"He [Joel] spoke to me privately. He asked how I was doing and if I could be used. I think that when a new coach arrives, you're filled with hope and have everything you need to improve your performance," continued the defender, who is already looking forward to the possibility of regaining his starting spot.

Ibson makes himself available to debut for Fla

Vinicius Barreto Souto\ In Rio de Janeiro\

Legally cleared to play in Flamengo's next game - Sunday, against Santos, at Vila Belmiro, for the Brazilian Championship -, midfielder Ibson made himself available to coach Joel Santana to make his debut for the red-black team in this match.

Even without match fitness, the athlete not only believes he's ready to play but also believes he can play the entire match. "I feel good. I've worked hard for two weeks and I'm already going into the third. If the coach decides to play me, I think I can last the full 90 minutes," he stated.

Ibson has not played since the end of May, when he played his last match for Porto-POR, the club that loaned him to Flamengo until June 2008. As he came from abroad, the athlete can only play in this Brazilian Championship from August 3, two days before the match against Santos.

That's why Ibson can't hide his excitement about playing again, especially for Flamengo, where he began his career at the age of nine. "I'm eager to get back to playing. I've been training for almost three weeks, just helping out with the fans," he commented.

Coach Joel Santana hasn't yet decided whether he'll start Ibson in the match against Santos. "I already have an idea of ​​the team. Now, let's take it to the field. We'll do tactical work until Friday and hope to define the team on Saturday," said the coach, who declined to reveal the outline of the team he has in mind.

BalloonSport

Joel wants Fla to be Dunga's team

Coach says there's no point in having a magic quartet and not winning championships

Marcio Iannacca

Back at Flamengo, Joel Santana praises coach Dunga's team

Coach Joel Santana expects Flamengo to gel and deliver results in the upcoming Brazilian Championship matches. To illustrate what he expects from his team, the coach used the example of the 2006 World Cup team and Dunga's team, which won the Copa América two weeks ago.

"At the World Cup, no one imagined the team would be eliminated. There was this idea of ​​the magical quartet being unbeatable, but it didn't work out. It didn't fit. Now, Dunga's team took the field to face Argentina determined to keep their opponents from playing. The players achieved that, and it was easy. It was one of the easiest Brazil-Argentina matches I've ever seen," Joel analyzes.

The coach recalled that, in 2005, his Flamengo players clicked well on the field from the first game. For him, the Rubro-Negro has an excellent team on paper, but needs to showcase all of that quality on the field.

"On paper, anything is possible, but we'll see how they respond on the field. If the players here play as they're used to, we'll improve, and improve a lot," says the coach.

Horta says he will run for Ferj

Former president of Fluminense is in opposition to Rubens Lopes, from the government

The former president of Fluminense and opposition candidate for the presidency of the Rio de Janeiro Football Federation (Ferj), Francisco Horta, guarantees that he obtained this Tuesday an injunction granted by the judge of the 18th civil court so that his ticket can participate in the elections for the command of the entity against that of the current president Rubens Lopes.

Horta spoke about his expectations in participating in the election, which takes place this Wednesday at the Federation's headquarters.

"Unfortunately, I had to file a lawsuit in the common law courts. My desire is for a more democratic election. Elections are won on the day; there's no need to criticize your opponent. Those who want change, vote for my ticket. Those who are satisfied with the direction of Rio de Janeiro football, vote for Rubens' ticket," he analyzes.

Ibson eager to meet Jônatas again

Flamengo midfielder hopes to play alongside former youth teammates

Marcio Iannacca

Ibson is eager to return to playing alongside Jônatas at Flamengo

Midfielder Ibson hopes that Jônatas' signing with Flamengo will be finalized in the coming days. Teammates in Flamengo's youth system, the two players formed a protective duo for the defenders, especially during their youth team days.

"Jônatas and I were a defensive midfield duo in the youth teams. I hope the chemistry from that era carries over to the professional ranks as well. If he comes, I hope he'll be a great addition," says Ibson, hoping for a favorable outcome to the negotiations.

When asked if with the arrival of Jônatas Flamengo would form a team that would be difficult to beat, Ibson didn't think twice.

- Even without him, our team is interesting - says the midfielder, who will make his debut next Sunday, against Santos, at Vila Belmiro.

Kléber talks about the agreement with Jônatas

Manager says he is waiting for Espanyol's release to announce the midfielder

Marcio Iannacca

Jônatas awaits clearance to return to the red-black team

Flamengo's vice president of football, Kléber Leite, is waiting for clearance from Espanyol in Spain to announce the signing of midfielder Jônatas. Everything has already been agreed between Flamengo and the athlete.

"We're just waiting for the Spanish club to release Jônatas. That could happen in the next few hours," says the club's director.

Jônatas will sign a contract with Flamengo until June 2008. The player did not adapt to the Spanish club and will not stay in Barcelona.

Fábio Luciano signs with Fla

Defender signs contract until the end of the year and will be presented on Thursday

Marcio Iannacca

Fábio Luciano, former defender of Colônia, is Fla's new signing

Defender Fábio Luciano is Flamengo's newest addition to the Brazilian Championship. The player will be presented on Thursday at Ninho do Urubu in Vargem Grande. He signed a contract with the club until the end of the year.

Fábio Luciano is 32 years old and has played for the Brazilian national team and Corinthians, and recently had a stint with Cologne in Germany. He was developed by Ponte Preta.

Vice-president of football Kléber Leite praised the new signing, who last played on April 20th in the German Championship, and revealed that he is a long-standing dream of the club.

"The name was approved by Joel Santana, and Ney Franco also wanted him at Flamengo. He's a strong name for our defense," says the Flamengo director.

Joel: 'Fla doesn't have to choose a stadium'

Coach says team needs to win games, regardless of home advantage

Marcio Iannacca

Coach Joel Santana arrived at Flamengo determined to lift the team out of last place in the upcoming rounds. Unconcerned about his opponents' home advantage, the Flamengo coach stated that the team needs to win at any cost, regardless of the stadium they'll play in.

"Right now, wherever they put us, we'll play. We don't have to choose a stadium; we just have to win. Of course, our home ground is the Maracanã, but wherever they put us, we'll respond with a bang," the coach states.

In the next two rounds, Flamengo faces Santos at Vila Belmiro and Atlético-PR at Arena da Baixada. For the coach, these two games are crucial for the team to start a run.

"It's important to win both games to start working our way out of that relegation zone. There are 26 games left, but we can't think we have enough games to play to leave the relegation zone. We have to win from now on," he analyzes.

Throw

Flamengo signs defender Fábio Luciano

Former Corinthians player played his last match in April for Cologne, Germany

Fábio Luciano played his last game on April 20 (Credit: Eduardo Viana)

LANCEPRESS!

Flamengo finalized the signing of 32-year-old defender Fábio Luciano on Tuesday afternoon. He will be presented this Thursday at Ninho do Urubu and will stay until December of this year.

Fábio Luciano played in the Second Division of the German Championship for Colônia and had played his last match on April 20th.

The defender was on loan and his rights belonged to Fenerbahçe, from Türkiye, but the contract ended in the middle of this year.

Joel doesn't take his feet off the ground with reinforcements

Flamengo coach wants to wait to see the players on the field

LANCEPRESS!

Despite the arrival of Flamengo's new reinforcements, coach Joel Santana remains grounded in his approach to the new team he'll form. He knows things are different on the pitch.

"On paper, anything is possible, but now we'll see what happens on the field. It's impossible to predict how they'll perform. If they play as they're used to, we'll be in great shape," the coach revealed.

So far, Flamengo has signed Roger, Ibson, Cristian, Maxi Bianchuccie, and Fábio Luciano. In addition to Jônatas, who is about to finalize his return to Gávea.

Souza explains Joel's approach to Fla

LANCEPRESS!

Flamengo striker Souza shared his thoughts on the new Flamengo coach Joel Santana's approach to working. According to the player, Joel talks extensively with every member of the squad. Souza also said that, for the coach, there are no substitutes or starters, and everyone always has a chance to play.

Ibson praises Jônatas' technical quality

The two played together in Flamengo's youth teams.

LANCEPRESS!

If Flamengo signs defensive midfielder Jônatas, the team could recreate the defensive midfield duo that proved successful in the Gávea youth academy. Ibson believes Jônatas would be a huge boost for the red-and-black team.

"Jônatas' arrival would be a big help, so I hope he can return. We've played together since the youth academy, and he has excellent technical quality," the player assured.

Jônatas has a contract with Espanyol until 2011. According to the club's proposal, he would stay at Gávea on loan until the middle of the 2008 season.

Joel Santana will only select the team on Saturday

Coach will wait to analyze the squad in training sessions during the week

LANCEPRESS!

Coach Joel Santana will wait until next Saturday to name the Flamengo team, which faces Santos the following day at Vila Belmiro. The coach will also observe two training sessions that will be held during the week. This Tuesday's training session consisted of extensive conversation with the new coach and only light physical training.

"I'll continue Ney's work. Here we talked with everyone to make a decision. We can't change everything. Only the team's needs," Joel Santana emphasized.

The first training session led by the new coach will be this Wednesday, at Ninho do Urubu.

Joel Santana praises Fla's new defender

Coach says Fábio Luciano has the CV to play for Flamengo

LANCEPRESS!

Coach Joel Santana has barely arrived at Flamengo when he's already approved the first signing of his new era, defender Fábio Luciano. According to the coach, the 32-year-old has enough talent to wear the Flamengo jersey.

"He's an experienced player with the potential to play for Flamengo. We'll see how he performs, but I know he's not prone to gaining weight due to his physique, and I've already told him to speed up his arrival because we need him," the coach emphasized.

The defender was on loan to Cologne, in Germany, and his rights belonged to Fenerbahçe, in Türkiye, but the contract ended in the middle of this year.

Elias Duba explains the situation in Horta

Rubens Lopes' ticket is the only candidate for the election\ LANCEPRESS!\

Francisco Horta's candidacy was rejected by the Rio de Janeiro Football Federation (FERJ) for the election that will determine who will lead the organization for the next four years. Elias Duba, president of the electoral commission that will conduct the election, explained the situation of the two slates:

"Two slates were presented, one by Rubens Lopes and the other by Francisco Horta. I think he (Francisco Horta) was unaware of the slate he put forward, such were the irregularities. With all this, the committee concluded that only four clubs were eligible to be on Francisco Horta's slate, and the rest were not eligible to vote," he told Rádio Brasil.

The election will be held this Wednesday from 12 p.m. to 16 p.m. Since there is only one ticket, it will be elected by acclamation.

Horta wins injunction and will run for president of Ferj

Former president of Tricolor will compete with Rubens Lopes, current president

HANRRIKSON DE ANDRADE

The former president of Fluminense and opposition candidate for the presidency of the Rio de Janeiro Football Federation (Ferj), Francisco Horta, obtained this Tuesday an injunction granted by the judge of the 18th civil court so that his ticket - Seriousness and Transparency - can participate in the elections for the leadership of the entity.

In a telephone interview with LANCE!, Horta spoke exclusively about his expectations of participating in the election, which takes place this Wednesday at the Federation's headquarters.

"Unfortunately, I had to file a lawsuit in the common law courts. My desire is for a more democratic election. Elections are won on the day; there's no need to criticize your opponent. Those who want change, vote for my ticket. Those who are satisfied with the direction of Rio de Janeiro football, vote for Rubens' ticket," he analyzed.

Horta went further and questioned Rubens Lopes's history as a leader, drawing a comparison between his past as president of Fluminense - an activity he performed during the 70s - and that of Rubens Lopes as president of Bangu.

"I want the right to run, to compete. It's up to me to win fairly. I see the election from a quality perspective: what did he do at Bangu and what did I do at Fluminense? There's a need to compare our track records in the football world," he said.