The Globe
Joel: 'We're putting together a team to get there'
Coach is thrilled with the signing of Paraguayan Gavilán and faces Flamengo's opponents in the Libertadores with optimism
Márcio Tavares
Dining with friends in the South Zone, coach Joel Santana didn't even watch the 2008 Copa Libertadores group draw last night. He learned that Flamengo was in Group 4, alongside Nacional, from Montevideo; the unknown Coronel Bolognesi, from Tacna; and Cienciano, from Cusco; and Wanderers, also from Montevideo. Convinced that Flamengo will be stronger and more solid in next year's Libertadores than this year, Joel said:
"A team like Flamengo can't just pick and choose its opponent. We're building a competitive team, and we have to trust ourselves, our strength. The Libertadores is a competition of the heart, and football is won on the field; theories are pointless. Defensor, who eliminated Flamengo and almost reached the final this year, came out of the playoffs in Uruguay. We're building a team to achieve this, and we have to show that we're hungry for titles," said Joel Santana.
Next year, Flamengo won't have Potosí's altitude of over 4.000 meters as an obstacle. The problem is smaller: Cuzco, Cienciano's home stadium, is 3.400 meters above sea level. In Uruguay, everything is the same: Montevideo is at sea level. And Tacna is located on the Peruvian coast, with a humid climate in winter and mild temperatures the rest of the year.
Rodrigo undergoes medical examinations and will be presented today
To shine in the Libertadores, Joel knows there's no point in playing pretty. That's why he was pleased with the signing of Paraguayan Diego Gavilán, the missing piece of the action to prevent the defense from failing as it did this year in away games.
"He's an experienced player, has won four Libertadores Cups, and played for his country's national team. I was very pleased when he was mentioned to me. He has personality and is a professional who will be very important to our group, which is very strong," said Joel.
Gavilán, 27 years old and 1,73'2008", has already signed a contract until the end of 26, but since he's getting married this Saturday in Asunción, he won't be in Rio until after Christmas, the XNUMXth, to undergo routine medical examinations. If approved, he'll be presented that afternoon at Gávea. Having emerged as a center-back at Cerro Porteño, he's now a defensive midfielder.
He has played for Newcastle (England), Tecos (Mexico), Internacional, Udinese (Italy), and Newell's Old Boys (Argentina). In the last Brazilian Championship, playing for Grêmio, he was suspended for 120 days for punching Palmeiras' Valdivia. The punishment ends in February, but Flamengo will fight in the Superior Court of Justice (STJD) to have the sentence reduced so he can make his State Championship debut on January 20th. In addition to Gavilán, midfielder Jônatas is on the way, as is a striker whose name has been kept secret.
While Gavilán is away, Flamengo will present defender Rodrigo today, who arrived in Rio this afternoon for medical examinations. Wearing a huge necklace with the letter R, Rodrigo immediately noticed the Flamengo fan's excitement. As soon as he landed, he became a major attraction at Santos Dumont Airport.
"I'm really enjoying it. The fans talked to me and supported me. Now it's time to face the crowd," said Rodrigo. "The fans impressed me with the way they pushed the team."
But the joy at Gávea over the signing of marquee reinforcements like Gavilán and Rodrigo narrowly escaped a court ruling that had been threatening Flamengo during this festive holiday season. Since the beginning of the week, the club had been living with the possibility of Petrobras' sponsorship quotas being seized, which are finally available—approximately R$15 million, most of which has been committed.
The seizure of R$6 million, intended for payment to Atlético de Madrid for the debt incurred when Gamarra was signed in 2000, was ordered by the 6th Civil Court and was even published in yesterday's Official Gazette. Flamengo, however, managed to pay the arrears for October and November, with only the 13th-month salary remaining.
Breathtaking Libertadores
Group draw puts Flu and Fla under threat of altitude already in the first phase
Sergio Pena
Despite FIFA's recommendation that football be played no higher than 2.600m, Flamengo and Fluminense must climb the hill to reach the top of South American football. The draw for next year's Copa Libertadores, held yesterday in the Paraguayan capital, placed Flamengo as the top seed in Group 8, where they will face Libertad (Paraguay) and the 2.800m of Quito, where they will face Ecuador's LDU. The third opponent will emerge from the match between Argentina's Arsenal and Venezuela's Mineros. The Rio de Janeiro team is expected to debut on January 13th, but the order of matches has not yet been announced.
Eliminated in the round of 4 last season by Uruguayan side Defensor, Flamengo will once again face a Uruguayan opponent, Nacional, this time in the group stage. Seeded in Group 560, Flamengo will also face Coronel Bolognesi, from the Peruvian city of Tacna (at an insignificant altitude of 2 meters), and the winner of Cienciano (Peru) and Wanderers (Uruguay). If the second Peruvian team qualifies, Flamengo will once again suffer from shortness of breath, as happened in the last Libertadores, when the team drew 2-4.000 with Bolivian side Real Potosí at an altitude of 3.400 meters. In Cuzco, Cienciano's hometown, the altitude is XNUMX meters.
On that desperate night in Bolivia, Flamengo players suffered hypothermia, and the lack of oxygen was only alleviated by balloons brought by Flamengo itself, as the local club did not provide equipment. A video of Flamengo's suffering was sent to FIFA and fueled protests against the altitude. Months later, the organization banned national team games above 2.700m and recommended that clubs respect the same limit. The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL), however, decided to keep the controversy at altitude. Like the presidents of Brazil, Bolivia, and Venezuela, CONMEBOL understands that local populations have the right to play sports and compete in their hometowns. Even without having to chase the ball, Justice Minister Tarso Genro recently fainted and required medical attention during a ceremony in La Paz.
São Paulo is in good health to face a new challenge. Seeking its fourth title, the Tricolor was placed in Group 7, alongside Paraguay's Sportivo Luqueño, Colombia's Nacional de Medellin, and the winner of the match between Audax Italiano (Chile) and the third-place team from Colombia. In Group 6, Santos will face Bolivia's San José in Oruro, at 4.000m; Mexico's Chivas Guadalajara; and the second-place team from Colombia. In the Libertadores preliminary round, Cruzeiro must beat Paraguay's Cerro Porteño in two matches (January 30 in Belo Horizonte and February 6 in Asunción) to compete in Group 1, alongside San Lorenzo (Argentina), Real Potosí, and Venezuela's Caracas. The top two teams from each group advance to the round of 30. In this stage, Cruzeiro will follow the order of classification from the first phase. The team with the highest score among the top-ranked teams will face the team with the lowest record among the second-ranked teams, and so on. The Libertadores will be played from January XNUMXth to July XNUMXnd.
Sports Journal
Paraguayan claw in Gávea
Experienced in Libertadores competitions, midfielder Gavilán is signed by Flamengo
NATHAN DE LIMA AND THIAGO BOKEL
Flamengo's new wave of signings continues in full swing. After confirming the arrival of midfielder Marcinho, formerly of Atlético-MG, and defender Rodrigo, who was with Dynamo Kyiv in Ukraine, yesterday it was the board's turn to announce the arrival of Paraguayan defensive midfielder Diego Gavilán, who played for Grêmio last season. He will report next Wednesday for a medical and to sign a contract.
Gavilán, however, will not be present at the team's debut in the Campeonato Carioca, as he was suspended by the Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD) for 120 days for having assaulted Chilean supporter Valdívia, in Grêmio's 2-0 loss to Palmeiras on October 6th of this year. The punishment, however, only applies to regional and national championships, therefore, Gavilán is free to defend the Rubro-Negro in the Libertadores.
With this signing, added to that of Jônatas, Flamengo now has eleven defensive midfielders in the squad: Rômulo, Jaílton, Léo Medeiros, Ibson, Cristian, Vinícius Colombiano, Marcinho and Colace - the last three are not yet guaranteed for 2008, as they could be loaned out.
Gavilán didn't have a good time at Grêmio, never managing to establish himself as a starter. After his suspension, he felt out of place at the Rio Grande do Sul club. Another important factor in his departure was Gavilán's strong connection with Inter, where he played for two years. The fans' rejection was evident in his first few games.
Two to go
Now, according to the manager's announcement, only two more players are expected to arrive next year. One will be the striker to form a partnership with Souza. The other is still unknown.
Eight years ago, the club won the Mercosul Cup
Eight years ago, Flamengo won its last international title. The 1999 Mercosul Cup was won with a vengeance, defeating one of the greatest teams of the 90s, Palmeiras, the Libertadores champion that same year.
The atmosphere surrounding the final was one of revenge, as Flamengo had been eliminated from the Copa do Brasil by Alviverde in May. With a strong will, the team led by coach Carlinhos, who had already been fired in the final, played two wonderful matches and, with a goal from Lê in the 38th minute of the second half of the final match, secured the title.
In the first game, at Maracanã, Flamengo showed courage and secured an incredible 4-3 victory. The victory guaranteed the right to a draw at Parque Antártica, which they did. The 3-3 scoreline came thanks to the dedication of the Flamengo players, who put in a thrilling performance.
Flamengo played with Clemer, Maurinho, Juan, Celio Silva and Athirson; Leandro Ávila, Marcelo (Lê), Leo Inácio (Rodrigo Mendes) and Caio (Iranildo); Reinaldo and Leandro Machado. Palmeiras, led by Luiz Felipe Scolari, played with Marcos, Arce, J. Baiano, Cleber and Junior; C. Sampaio, Euller (Oséas), Alex and Zinho; Paulo Nunes (Rogério) and Asprilla.
Libertadores: Joel doesn't fear opponents
Flamengo fans already know who they will face in next year's Copa Libertadores. The competition's groups were drawn last night in Asunción, Paraguay, and Flamengo, the top seed in Group 4, will face Nacional from Uruguay, Coronel Bolognesi from Peru, and the winner of the match between Montevideo Wanders and Cienciano, also from Uruguay and Peru, respectively.
The draw, in theory, favored Rubro-Negro, as, except for Nacional, the other clubs lack much tradition in the competition. However, Cienciano won the Copa Sudamericana in 2003 and plays at an altitude of 3.360 meters, a fact that could be concerning, especially considering last year's trauma, when the team faced Real Potosí of Bolivia at an altitude of over 4.200 meters above sea level, and the players struggled to finish the match.
"We don't have to choose our opponents; the group is good. This is Flamengo, so they have to worry about us. We could play two Uruguayan teams, but that's okay. We're building a strong team for next season. I'd rather not talk about altitude yet, as Cienciano hasn't been decided as our opponent yet. They might not even make it past the first round," analyzed coach Joel Santana (photo).
Vice-president of football Kleber Leite, who was unable to travel to Asunción due to a problem with the plane that was supposed to take him to the Paraguayan capital, preferred not to argue about the group's level. Regarding the altitude, the battle is only just beginning.
"This group thing is very relative. The important thing is to have a strong team, to have a great campaign. As for altitude, there are no games above 2.700 meters. FIFA has already said that no one plays and no one will play. Anyone who says anything different is talking nonsense," he warned.
Even though Flamengo's group isn't as easy as last year's, it has no complaints about the draw. Despite potentially facing two Uruguayan teams, having eliminated clubs like Potosí, LDU from Ecuador, Colo-Colo from Chile, as well as Cruzeiro, the Argentine and Mexican clubs, is a good indication that the first phase shouldn't pose too many problems.
NATIONAL
Name: Club Nacional de Football\ Country: Uruguay\ Date of foundation: May 14, 1889\ Stadium: Gran Parque Central, Montevideo, with capacity for 25 thousand spectators\ Titles: 41 times Uruguayan champion, three-time Copa Libertadores champion (1971, 80 and 88) and three-time world champion (1971, 80 and 88)\ Idols: Victorino, Hugo de León, Rúben Sosa, Rodolfo Rodríguez, Álvaro Recoba\ Curiosities: It was the first club in its country to be founded by Uruguayans, since those that had emerged before were founded by foreigners, mostly English\
COLONEL BOLOGNESI
Name: Coronel Bolognesi Fútbol Club\ Country: Peru\ Date of foundation: 1929\ Stadium: Jorge Basadre, in Tacna, with capacity for 25 thousand spectators\ Titles: Copa Peru (1976 and 2001), Torneo Clausura (2007) and Torneo Descentralizado - Southern Region (1985 and 87)\ Main players: Diego Penny (goalkeeper), Miguel Ostersen (defender), Mario Soto (playmaker) and Eric Martin (forward)\ Curiosities: The name of the club was given in honor of the defender of Arica in the War of the Pacific, Coronel Francisco Bolognesi\
WINNER 5
The match that will define Flamengo's third opponent in the first phase of the 2008 Copa Libertadores will be between Cienciano, from Peru, and Montevideo Wanderers, from Uruguay.
The Peruvian club, founded in 1901, plays at the Garciliaso de la Vega Stadium in Cuzco, with a capacity of 45 spectators. Its greatest achievements were the Copa Sudamericana (2003), the Recopa Sudamericana (2004), the Torneo Apertura (2005), and the Clausura (2001). The Uruguayan club, in turn, was founded in 1902. Its stadium, the Alfredo Victor Vieira (capacity 12), played for stars such as Obdulio Varela and Enzo Francescoli, and was Uruguayan champion in 1906, 1909, and 31.
'Sheriff' Rodrigo performs today
The Flamengo fans were already starting to demand it, and so today is another day of presentations at Gávea. Former São Paulo defender Rodrigo, who played for Dynamo Kyiv in Ukraine, will wear the Flamengo jersey for the first time at 16:30 p.m. at the Rogério Steinberg Auditorium in Gávea.
The player arrives with a starting lineup, but he'll have to fight to take the place of Ronaldo Angelim, who had an excellent season and, because he's left-handed, has a slight advantage in coach Joel Santana's tactical scheme. Rodrigo, who previously partnered with the sheriff Fábio Luciano at Ponte Preta, said that one of the reasons he joined Flamengo was the size and passion of the great Nação Rubro-Negra (Red-Black Nation).
"It may seem like a cliché, but every soccer player truly dreams of playing for Flamengo. Having the red-and-black fans on your side makes all the difference in decisive matches," said the defender, who confessed to being very excited about the presentation.
"I'm eagerly awaiting this moment when I can wear the 'Sacred Mantle' and join the biggest fan base on the planet. I hope that 2008 will be a victorious year and we will do everything we can to help Flamengo shine again on the international stage," Rodrigo added.
"He will be introduced tomorrow (today), we are very happy that we have agreed everything. As for Jônatas, God willing, he will be introduced next week," said vice-president of football Kleber Leite.
Flamengo pays salaries up to date
Flamengo is paying, this Wednesday afternoon, the salaries of all employees and athletes for the year 2007. The payments include all of November, December, the thirteenth salary and all overdue bonuses.
The club's financial management had to overcome several difficulties in order to carry out the operation, including a civil court seizure of 5 million reais by Atlético de Madrid due to the acquisition of defender Gamarra during the administration of former president Edmundo Santos Silva and a labor execution worth 1 million reais by midfielder Lê.
The revenue used for payments comes from the Petrobras sponsorship contract and was finally released due to the club's adherence to Timemania.
Kleber Leite optimistic about Jônatas
Flamengo's vice president of football, Kleber Leite, assured that Jônatas' return to the club is close to being finalized. The director said the only way the midfielder will be part of Flamengo's squad next season is if Espanyol agrees to release him on loan, which, by all indications, will happen.
"We want a 1-year loan. There are very few details missing, but everything is well underway. Eduardo Uram is managing this 'midfield' with great skill. Maybe tomorrow we'll have news," Kleber said on Rádio Bandeirantes this Wednesday.
2007 state champion could be known on Saturday
Saturday will be a day of excitement and decision-making on the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon course. The Debut Eight Race will begin at 9 a.m., valid for the 4th Regatta of the 2007 State Rowing Championship, which has been suspended by order of the Superior Court of Sports Justice.
So far, Clube de Regatas do Flamengo is leading the Championship with 250 points. Vasco, which held the lead until the last Regata, is right behind with 249 points.
If the red-and-black team wins the race, it will be officially declared the 2007 state champion. Otherwise, it will have to await a ruling from the Superior Court of Justice (STJD) regarding the Dois Com race, which is valid for the 2nd Regatta and is currently sub-judice. The hearing is scheduled for January 18th.
The Dois Com competition was taken to court by Flamengo, which alleged that Vasco's team competed with an unregistered athlete. This generated a huge controversy and left the champion uncertain.
In the first instance, Vasco won the case. Dissatisfied, the red-and-blacks took the case to the Superior Court of Justice (STJD), which scheduled the trial for January 18th.
The uncertainty in the Dois Com event led to the suspension of the Oito Com event. Both are events for newcomers (up to three wins), and Flamengo has athletes who will no longer be newcomers if the club wins the Dois Com event in court.
As an added spice for Saturday's race, it's worth remembering that Vasco da Gama will enter the Lagoon with the boat "Eurico Miranda", famous for never having lost a single race.
For the third consecutive year, the State Rowing Championships conclude with a rowing match. Rio de Janeiro rowing, however, is enjoying a positive moment and has qualified athletes for the Beijing Olympics, such as Vasco da Gama's Fabiana Beltrame in the sculls.
Julio Delamare welcomes Rio's elite swimmers
The Absolute State Swimming Championship, Dr. Rogério Carneiro Trophy, will be held this weekend in the 50m pool at the Júlio Delamare Aquatic Park. It will be the last competition of 2007 for Rio swimmers.
The red-and-blacks Thiago Parravicini and Mariana Brochado (pictured) will be in contention for medals. Both lead the rankings in their respective styles.
Thiago will be representing Flamengo in the 100m freestyle, 100 and 200m breaststroke, and 200m medley events, as well as the 4×50m freestyle, 4×50m medley, 4×100m freestyle and 4×100 medley relays.
Mariana, the muse who returned to competition in style, will be competing in the 100, 200, 400 and 800m freestyle events, as well as the 4x50m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle and 4x100m medley relays.
In 2008, Mariana will attempt to qualify for the Olympics in the individual 200 and 400 m freestyle events, as well as the 4 x 200 m freestyle.
“I’m excited and slowly coming back,” she said, remembering that she is closer to the Olympic standard for the 200m, which is 1:59, compared to her own time of 29:2.
Rio de Janeiro swimming is going through a period of renewal, after losing many athletes, and, in addition to Flamengo, it has revelations from Marina Barra Clube, Botafogo, Tijuca, Olaria and Bangu
O Dia
Gavillan signs with Flamengo
Player stays in Gávea until the end of 2008
Rio - According to information released by Rádio Tupi, Flamengo signed 27-year-old defensive midfielder Diego Gavillan on Wednesday. The player was at Grêmio and had a stint at Internacional, but was not expected to be used in the 2008 season. The Flamengo board has not yet commented on the matter.
Direct from Paraguay, where he is spending his holidays with his family, the player confirmed the deal and revealed that he will be back in Brazil next week to undergo medical examinations and sign his contract.
"It's very important to play in the Libertadores, which is a very good competition. Furthermore, it's a very good time for everyone involved: the club, the player, and the fans. I'm happy and I want to get to Rio de Janeiro on the 26th to finalize the negotiations," said Gavillan, who will stay in Gávea until the end of 2008, in an interview with Rádio Tupi.
Defender Rodrigo is already in Rio de Janeiro to be presented at Flamengo
Rio - It was 15 p.m. this Wednesday when defender Rodrigo, formerly of São Paulo, arrived in Rio de Janeiro to undergo medical examinations at Flamengo. The official presentation of the club's newest addition will be this Thursday in Gávea. Upon arrival at Santos Dumont Airport, some fans recognized the defender and went to greet him.
"I'm enjoying it. Fans have come to talk to me. I'm being well received. Now it's time to face the nation and win titles," said the player, who was playing for Dynamo Kyiv in Ukraine.
Copa Libertadores
Kléber is rooting against a double trip to Peru
Flamengo's vice president of football, Kléber Leite, has been a fan of Montevideo Wanderes since yesterday. At the end of January, the Uruguayan team will face Cienciano of Peru in the Copa Libertadores preliminary round.
And Kléber prefers the Cuzco team to be eliminated. "I'll root for the Uruguayan team to win, because it's better to play twice in Uruguay than in Peru. The trip is less tiring," the director stated, noting that Nacional, from Uruguay, and Coronel Bolognesi, from Peru, are already in Flamengo's group.
Kléber watched the group draw on television and didn't consider the Rubro-Negro's opponents easy or difficult. He believes it's impossible to make predictions in the Libertadores: "There's no such thing as an easy group. I can only say that the trip to Potosi was hell for us."
For Kléber Leite, the secret to the Copa Libertadores is building a strong team. And that's exactly what Flamengo will have, in his opinion. "What matters in this competition is having a good team to win. You need to build a competitive team that wins matches. The rest is nonsense," he said.
Sports Gazette
In a calm group, Fla has Nacional as its main opponent
Asunción (Paraguay) - The Copa Libertadores group stage draw, held this Wednesday in Asunción at CONMEBOL headquarters, was favorable to Flamengo. Despite being in the same group as Nacional of Uruguay, the three-time champion of the competition, the Brazilian team will face two other opponents with little tradition. Flamengo was drawn as the top seed in Group 4. In addition to Flamengo and the Uruguayan team, Coronel Bolognesi of Peru was drawn in this group. The final member will be determined in the match between Peruvian side Cienciano and Uruguay's Wanderers.
Cienciano, Wanderers, and Coronel Bolognesi have never faced the Gávea club in a Libertadores. Of these, only the former will be able to use the altitude to its advantage if CONMEBOL continues to ignore FIFA's request that clubs also limit their games to 2750 meters above sea level. This is because Cienciano, if they overcome the Uruguayans in the preliminary round, will force Flamengo to climb to over 3000 meters.
Last year, Flamengo complained loudly about having to play at high altitude against Bolivia's Real Potosí. After the 2-2 draw, directors claimed the players were heroic and that they could have suffered serious health problems. The only club Flamengo has ever played against in the Libertadores is Nacional. In 1991, the Rio de Janeiro team faced the Uruguayans in the first round and won both times, 1-0 and 4-0. Even so, the team was eliminated in the quarterfinals by the mighty Boca Juniors.
This will be Flamengo's ninth appearance in the South American tournament. The team had its best performance in '81, when they won the championship against Chile's Cobreloa. In '82 and '84, the club reached the semifinals but was eliminated in both.
Flamengo announces Gavilán as new reinforcement
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Seeking more experience in the Copa Libertadores, Flamengo officially signed Gavilán this Wednesday. The Paraguayan midfielder signed a one-year contract – with the option to extend for another year – and will report to his new club on December 26th. Flamengo's board had planned to introduce him earlier, but since he has a wedding scheduled for the 22nd, the medical exams were postponed until after Christmas, when he will be presented at the Rogério Steinberg Auditorium.
"Things are well underway, with just a few minor details remaining. I'm scheduled to travel to Rio de Janeiro next week to sign my contract. Flamengo wanted me to travel now, but I have a commitment on Friday and asked to postpone it," Gavilán said in an interview with Rádio Tupi.
With the Paraguayan's arrival, coach Joel Santana will have a real headache when it comes to selecting his defensive midfield duo. The coach also has Kléberson, Cristian, Jaílton, and Léo Medeiros in the midfield.
Either way, the Rio de Janeiro club gains an athlete with international experience. This is because, in addition to speaking Spanish, the 27-year-old midfielder has already participated in four Copa Libertadores. In the last one, while playing for Grêmio, he reached the final, where he was defeated by Boca Juniors.
Gavilán also became known for punching Valdívia during the match between his former club Grêmio and Palmeiras. For this, he received a 120-day suspension from the Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD).
In addition to the Tricolor gaúcho, the midfielder has also played for Internacional. Outside Brazil, he has had stints with Newcastle United, Udinese, Tecos of Mexico, and Newell's Old Boys of Argentina.
Flamengo already has Rômulo, Jaílton, Cristian, Colace, and Léo Medeiros to fill the new signing's position. Ibson and Kléberson are also already at Gávea, and Jônatas could also be announced.
Fla negotiates with Cruzeiro and buys Léo Medeiros' rights\ Gazeta Press\
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - While new reinforcements arrive to complete Flamengo's squad, the board is also struggling to retain the standout players from the 2007 season. The red-and-black club has managed to secure a partial purchase of midfielder Léo Medeiros's federation rights, who is expected to play at Gávea in 2008. Cruzeiro still holds part of the player's contract. Furthermore, Flamengo's board may negotiate a partial federation right to midfielder Renato Augusto with a group of agents, who would profit from a future transfer. With the amount received from this group of agents, Flamengo would be able to settle a debt related to the transfer of midfielder Kléberson from Besiktas to the Rio de Janeiro club. The Rio de Janeiro club must pay approximately one and a half million euros.
FLA-TV - One day after Flamengo president Márcio Braga expressed optimism regarding the club's economic recovery, the club's executive marketing director, Ricardo Heinrichesen, gave another piece of good news for the red-blacks: Fla-TV, which will give fans access to exclusive images of the team's training camp, training sessions and games, is scheduled to debut on January 3, the same date set for the red-black squad's return.
"Actually, the channel is already ready, but we decided that the ideal would be to launch it in conjunction with the team's return," Ricardo told Flamengo's official website. With Fla-TV, Flamengo hopes to further increase its monthly revenue, generating more income to be spent on football.
PeléNet
Fluminense falls into the toughest group in the 1st phase of the Libertadores
From UOL Esporte\ In São Paulo\
The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) held this Wednesday, in Asunción, Paraguay, the draw for the first phase and second phase group matches of the 2008 Copa Libertadores da América.
In the first round, Cruzeiro faces Cerro Porteño in a knockout match. In the second round, among the Brazilian teams, Fluminense was drawn into a more difficult group.
The Rio de Janeiro team will face, in group H, Libertad, from Paraguay, which has had good campaigns in the last two years, LDU, at the Ecuadorian altitude, and can also face Arsenal, from Argentina, current champion of the Copa Sudamericana, which in the first phase faces Mineros de Guayana, from Venezuela.
But Flu's football coordinator, Branco, downplayed the rivals. "I personally thought it was a good group, but we have to work to form a strong team. I thought it was a good group, I liked it," he said in an interview with Sportv.
If they beat Cerro Porteño, Cruzeiro will go to group A, with San Lorenzo from Argentina, Real Potosi from Bolivia, and Caracas from Venezuela.
In group D, Flamengo plays against Nacional, from Uruguay, Corobel Bolognesi, from Peru, and awaits the winner of Cienciano, from Peru, and Montevideo Wanderers, from Uruguay.
In group F, Santos will face San José, from Bolivia, the second representative from Colombia and Chivas Guadalajara, from Mexico.
In group G, São Paulo plays against Sportivo Luqueño, from Paraguay, Atlético Nacional, from Colombia, and the winner of the match between Audax Italiano, from Chile, and the third representative from Colombia.
The vice president of football for the São Paulo team, Carlos Augusto de Barros e Silva, celebrated the draw.
"São Paulo was given the opportunity to come and play here [in Paraguay] against Luqueño. It's very good for us, just like playing in Colombia [against Atlético Nacional]. Then we'll go back to Colombia or Chile to face Audax. The territorial conditions for São Paulo are favorable in this first phase, without a doubt," the director said on Sportv.
Defending champions Boca Juniors of Argentina are in Group C, along with Colo Colo of Chile, Unión Maracaibo of Venezuela and the winner of the clash between the third-placed representatives of Mexico and Bolivia.
Among the other Argentines, River Plate is in group E, along with San Martín from Peru and the number two representatives from Chile and Mexico.
Estudiantes faces, in group B, Danubio, from Uruguay, Deportivo Cuenca, from Ecuador, and the winner of Lanús, current champion of the Torneo Apertura, and Olmedo, from Ecuador.
Signed with Flamengo, Rodrigo highlights the strength of the red-blacks
From UOL Esporte\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Flamengo, through its vice president of football Kleber Leite, announced the signing of Rodrigo, who was playing for Dynamo Kyiv in Ukraine. Even before his presentation to his new club this Thursday, the defender spoke about the feeling of wearing the red-and-black jersey and being cheered on by his large fan base.
"It may seem like a cliché, but every soccer player truly dreams of playing for Flamengo. Having the red-and-black fans behind you makes all the difference in decisive matches. In Ukraine, I always followed the club online, especially in these last few weeks," he said through his press office.
Flamengo's deal with Rodrigo took a week. Before finalizing the deal, Flamengo had to "fight" with Santos, who were also interested in the defender.
"I hope 2008 is a victorious year and we will do everything we can to help Flamengo shine again on the international stage. Everyone's hope is to transform next year's squad into one of the most celebrated in the club's history," he concluded.
Flamengo announces the signing of Gavilán, formerly of Grêmio
From UOL Esporte\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Flamengo announced another signing for next season this Wednesday. The club's board has signed Paraguayan midfielder Gavilán, who played for Grêmio in the Brazilian Championship. The player will sign a contract that runs until the end of 2008, with the option to extend for another year.
Paraguayan midfielder Gavilán played in the 2007 Copa Libertadores final for Grêmio
As he is getting married on the 22nd, Gavilán will only arrive in Rio de Janeiro on the 26th, when he will undergo medical examinations and will be presented at 16:30 pm (Brasília time) at the Rogério Steinberg auditorium, in Gávea.
The defensive midfielder arrives as a key player for the Copa Libertadores da América. Throughout his career, Gavilan has competed in the competition four times. The last time was in 2007, when he finished runner-up with Grêmio.
"This year I came close to winning with Grêmio. I'm sure, given Flamengo's greatness, that we'll fight for the title. Playing in the Libertadores was one of the things that made me accept the offer," the player said in an interview with Rádio Tupi.
So far, Flamengo has already announced midfielder Marcinho, formerly of Atlético Mineiro, and defender Rodrigo, formerly of Dynamo Kyiv (UKR). Midfielder Kleberson, who arrived at Gávea this year and has yet to play due to a FIFA suspension, is also considered a reinforcement for next season.
BalloonSport
X-ray of Flamengo's group
The club faces Nacional and Coronel Bolognesi in the first round. The third opponent is still undecided.
Eduardo Peixoto
Flamengo paper draw for the Libertadores, in Paraguay
No Brazilian, Argentine, or Mexican team will stand in Flamengo's way in the first round of the Copa Libertadores. On Wednesday night, in a draw held in Asunción, the red-and-black club, the top seed in Group 4, learned that its opponents will be Nacional-URU, Coronel Bolognesi-PER, and the winner of Match 5 of the Libertadores Preliminary Round (Cienciano-PER or Montevideo Wanderers-URU).
In any case, the group will have either two Uruguayans or two Peruvians.
"There's no analysis. Those who are prepared will enter the Libertadores and do well. One positive for Flamengo is playing two Uruguayan clubs. Traveling is less stressful," says the club's vice president of football, Kléber Leite.
Nacional, at first glance, is the toughest team. The Uruguayan capital has already won the Libertadores three times—the same number of world titles. However, it's not in the best of times.
"This year Nacional performed poorly and ended in crisis. But they promised to strengthen and build a good team," Peralta told GLOBOESPORTE.COM by phone.
The midfielder has played for both Flamengo and Nacional. He jokes:
- I think I'll ask for a spot so I can face Mengão.
Coronel Bolognesi is from the southern Peruvian city of Tacna. The team was runner-up in the local championship and plays in the cramped Jorge Basadre stadium, which seats 18.
"Coronel is a young club, only three years old and two in the First Division. They won the Clausura tournament this year. Bolo considers playing Flamengo very difficult, as it's a club with a lot of tradition. There's enormous respect for Brazilians," says Gloria Dioses Villalba, a journalist from the newspaper "La Razón."
Cienciano or Wanderers?
If Cienciano advances in the Libertadores Preliminary, Flamengo could regain the altitude that so hampered them in 2007. But instead of Potosí, at 4.200 meters above sea level, the city would be Cuzco, at 3.400 meters. According to Kléber Leite, this possibility doesn't exist.
"FIFA has set a 2.750-meter limit for international matches. Beyond that, there's only a 21-day acclimatization period. One less problem for people," declares the Flamengo official.
The other possible opponent is the small Montevideo Wanderers. The team usually plays at Parque Alfredo Victor Viera, but there's a possibility of using the Centenario stadium, where Flamengo won the 1981 Copa Libertadores final (2-0 over Cobreloa of Chile).
"Good team, but new. Their number 10, Julio Rodriguez, is the best. He's already played in Brazil," says Peralta.
Guaranteed opponents\ Nacional (Uruguay)\ Name: Club Nacional de Football\ City: Montevideo\ Foundation: 1899\ Stadium: Gran Parque Central (20 seats)\ Uniform: White shirt and blue shorts\ Participations in Libertadores: 34 (the last in 2007)\ Strong point: It has a lot of tradition in Libertadores\ Weak point: Financial problems still exist, making it difficult to sign reinforcements\ Official website: www.nacional.com.uy\
Coronel Bolognesi (Peru)\ Name: Coronel Bolognesi Fútbol Club\ City: Tacna\ Foundation: 1929\ Stadium: Jorge Basadre (25 seats)\ Uniform: Red shirt and shorts\ Participations in Libertadores: none\ Strong point: Confidence in team football\ Weak point: The irregularity and inexperience of the squad\ Official website: www.bolognesifc.com.pe\
Possible rivals
Montevideo Wanderers (Uruguay)\ Name: Montevideo Wanderers Fútbol Club\ City: Montevideo\ Foundation: 1902\ Stadium: Alfredo Victor Vieira (12 seats)\ Uniform: Shirt with vertical white and black stripes and black shorts\ Participations in Libertadores: 5 (the last in 2002)\ Strong point: Enters the tournament without responsibility and, therefore, without pressure\ Weak point: The club is small and has a modest squad, despite being financially balanced\ Official website: www.mwfc.com.uy\
Cienciano (Peru)\ Name: Club Sportivo Cienciano\ City: Cuzco\ Foundation: 1901\ Stadium: Garcilaso de la Vega (42 thousand seats)\ Uniform: Red shirt and white shorts\ Participations in Libertadores: 5 (the last in 2007)\ Strong point: The altitude of 3,4 thousand meters in Cuzco\ Weak point: The squad is weak\ Official website: www.cienciano.com\
Gavilán is a Flamengo player
Paraguayan expected to arrive in Rio de Janeiro after Christmas to sign one-year contract
Eduardo Peixoto
Gavilán, Flamengo's new player
Flamengo finalized the signing of Diego Gavilán on Wednesday afternoon. The midfielder, who was previously at Grêmio, had been negotiating with the club in recent weeks and agreed to a one-year contract with the option to extend for another season.
At 27 years old, the player is in Asunción, Paraguay, and is getting married on the 22nd. He arrives in Rio de Janeiro on the 26th to sign the contract.
In the last Brazilian Championship, Gavilán was suspended for 120 days after punching Palmeiras' Valdivia. He will be released from the suspension in February, but there is a possibility that the sentence could be reduced.
Gavilán plays in defense and has played for Newcastle (England), Tecos (Mexico), Internacional, Udinese (Italy) and Newell's Old Boys (Argentina).
He'll be the eighth defensive midfielder in the red-and-black squad. Joel Santana already has Rômulo, Jaílton, Ibson, Kléberson, Leo Medeiros, Cristian, and Colace available for the position. There's still a huge chance for Jônatas to expand the roster.
Reinforcements\ Gavilán is Flamengo's fourth signing for the season. Previously, the club had signed defender Rodrigo, defensive midfielder Kléberson, and midfielder Marcinho.\
Espanyol agrees to loan Jônatas
Flamengo remains optimistic and should announce the midfielder's return soon
Jônatas is getting closer and closer to Fla
Resistance to Jônatas's departure from Espanyol has practically ended. The club's sporting director, Paco Herrera, acknowledged that the player will likely be loaned out soon.
- I'm talking to his representative (Eduardo Uram) to see if the player could be loaned to a team - he said, in a statement published in the newspaper "Marca".
He avoided mentioning Flamengo by name. But it's known that the red-and-black club has everything lined up with the midfielder. Vice president of football Kléber Leite hopes to complete the entire process in the coming days.
- Everything is going very well - he says, maintaining the speech of the last few weeks.
Outside of the Espanyol coach's plans, Jônatas arrives in Brazil next week for the end-of-year festivities. However, it's likely he'll be carrying a heavy load. After all, the chances of him returning to Barcelona are slim. His loan deal with Flamengo was reportedly for 18 months.
Rodrigo lands in Rio de Janeiro
Player will be presented by Flamengo this Thursday afternoon, in Gávea
Eduardo Peixoto
Rodrigo, Flamengo's new signing, arrives in Rio de Janeiro
At 15 p.m. sharp, Flamengo's new defender stepped onto Rio de Janeiro soil. Wearing a huge necklace emblazoned with the letter R, Rodrigo felt the warmth of the Flamengo fans within minutes. He was greeted and cheered by spectators at Santos Dumont Airport.
The player went to Gávea for medical examinations. The official presentation will be on Thursday at 16:30 p.m. in the Rogério Steinberg auditorium at the club's headquarters.
"I'm enjoying it. Fans have come up to me. I'm being well received. Now it's time to face the nation and win titles," declares Rodrigo.
The crowd impresses
Flamengo has yet to release details of the agreement with Dynamo Kyiv of Ukraine. However, the contract was initially scheduled for one year. The defender underwent knee surgery in August and completed his treatment at Santos. However, when it came time to choose a destination, he chose the Rubro-Negro.
"I followed the final stretch of the Brazilian Championship, and the Flamengo fans impressed me with the way they pushed the team. I also liked the project Kléber Leite showed me. My goal is to make it to the national team," says the 29-year-old former São Paulo player.
Gamarra almost complicates Fla's finances
Defender wins action and the red-black club narrowly avoids running out of money
Eduardo Peixoto
Gamarra causes damage to Fla
Flamengo's positive run has been shaken in the sixth civil court of the Rio de Janeiro Court of Justice. There, Atlético de Madrid and defender Gamarra won another stage of their lawsuit against the club.
The compensation is R$6 million, and to pay it, the courts would freeze the club's Petrobras contributions. However, the board managed to obtain payment of R$15 million from the sponsor and paid part of the overdue salaries. The month of November was paid, but the 13th-month salary and some bonuses remained.
In 2008, with the Negative Debt Certificate in hand, Rubro-Negro should not have any problems receiving the R$16 million from the sponsorship contract with the state-owned company.
Boca beats Flamengo with chaos at the end
Point guard Marcelinho and referee exchange shoves after the game in the gym in Belo Horizonte
Despite a strong comeback in the final period, Flamengo lost to Argentina's Boca Juniors 77-76 in Belo Horizonte, the venue for Group C of the Basketball League of the Americas. The unfortunate incident stemmed from a brawl between Flamengo's point guard Marcelinho and one of the match officials. The two shoved each other and had to be separated by other players and officials from the Rio de Janeiro club.
The result leaves Group C in a tight spot, as the four teams (Flamengo, Boca Juniors, Minas, and Defensor) have one win and one loss. Flamengo's point guard Marcelinho led the way with 23 points, grabbing eight rebounds and dishing out three assists. For Boca Juniors, Gustavo Orona stood out with 20 points.
On the final day of matches, this Thursday, Minas faces Boca Juniors, while Flamengo faces Defensor. The winners will qualify for the next stage of the Basketball League of the Americas.
Ibson approves Flamengo's group in the Libertadores
Rubro-Negro player watches the draw and comments on his first phase rivals
Eduardo Peixoto
Ibson followed the group draw
Ibson interrupted his vacation on Wednesday night to watch television. But no movies or cartoons. The midfielder intently watched the group draw for the first stage of the 2008 Copa Libertadores.
Flamengo is the top seed in Group 4 and will face Nacional-URU, Coronel Bolognesi-PER and the winner of Montevideo Wanderers-URU and Cienciano-PER.
"I liked the group. Nacional has more tradition, but I don't know the team. I don't know anything about this other team (Coronel). We'll have to look for information to avoid surprises," the player declared.
There's a FIFA ruling prohibiting games above 2.750 meters without an acclimatization period. Even so, Ibson prefers to play it safe and will root against Cienciano in the Libertadores preliminary round. The Peruvian team is from Cuzco, a city at an altitude of 3.400 meters.
"I wouldn't like to play at altitude. I've never played, but I've been told it's tough. But regardless of the opponents, we'll have to prepare ourselves to have a good campaign," declares the athlete, who is enjoying his days off in Niterói.
On the 26th, he will organize, alongside goalkeeper Diego, a charity game in Niterói.
Leonardo attends Zico's party\ Milan director confirms his presence at the All-Star Game, on the 27th, at Maracanã\
Leonardo will be missing the ball at the game organized by Galinho. Former player Leonardo, now a director at Milan, is another distinguished guest confirmed for the All-Star Game. The match organized by Zico will be held at the Maracanã stadium on the 27th. All proceeds will go to charities in Rio de Janeiro.
A Brazilian champion with Flamengo alongside Zico in 1987, Leonardo will join other big names in the festive match. Besides him, greats like Seedorf, Nakata, Gamarra, Edmundo, Ibson, Leo Moura, Vagner Love, and others have also confirmed their attendance.
Throw
Vinícius Pacheco will not stay at Flamengo
Striker could sign with Corinthians next season
Vinícius Pacheco, who is sought after by major Brazilian clubs, will not stay at Flamengo in 2008, according to businessman Eduardo Uram. The player, whose contract runs until December 2010, will be loaned for a year and there is a possibility that he will go to Corinthians, a desire of coach Mano Menezes. Vice President of Football Kléber Leite confirmed the player's departure.
According to LANCE!, the club that signs Vinícius Pacheco on a one-year loan will only have to pay the player's salary.
Kleber Leite: 'Now we just need a striker'
Flamengo's vice president of football is looking for a partner for Souza
LANCEPRESS!
Flamengo has already announced defensive players (Rodrigo) and midfielders (Kleberson, Gavilán and Marcinho) for next season, but to please coach Joel Santana, the directors still have to bring in a fast striker, who should play with Souza.
According to vice-president of football, Kléber Leite, this is the only piece missing for the club to complete the 2008 signing cycle.
"Now we just need a striker. We're looking for a player who can solve the problem. It's not easy to find one, and we're not going to sign someone just for the sake of it. I hope to have a solution by the end of the year," the director explained.
Goalkeeper Bruno will renew his contract for another five years.
Investors accept proposal for player and only need to sign contract
Bruno was one of Flamengo's highlights in 2007 (Credit: Cleber Mendes)
Rodrigo Benchimol RIO DE JANEIRO
Once again, the traditional saga of Bruno's stay has had a happy ending. Now, however, the situation is much more comfortable, as the investor group has accepted Flamengo's offer. All that's left is for the goalkeeper to sign his five-year extension.
The board is buying 75% of Bruno's rights for approximately €2,5 million (approximately R$6,4 million). The amount will be paid in installments, and the money Flamengo expects to receive from the launch of Fla-TV in January will be used as collateral.
This was the proposal accepted by the investors, who retain 25% of the goalkeeper's rights. Furthermore, they recoup the investment they made in him when they paid Atlético Mineiro two million euros (approximately R$2 million).
Once this arduous first stage is overcome, the second is simpler. All that's needed is to sign the contract that had already been verbally agreed upon between the club's board, agent Eduardo Uram, and the goalkeeper.
As Bruno has already publicly stated that his interest is to remain in Gávea, the commitment for another five years will be signed as soon as he returns from his vacation in Belo Horizonte.
"All that's missing is his signature. The investors accepted Flamengo's proposal, and the situation is resolved," said Uram.
Traffic will pay R$3,8 million for Renato Augusto
The team's good relationship with the company will yield a young left-winger
LANCEPRESS!
The club's board confirmed that, to acquire Kleberson for five years, it is selling 20% of Renato Augusto's rights, as LANCE! reported this Wednesday. Traffic will pay €1,5 million (approximately R$3,8 million) for the sponsor's percentage, and the money will be used to pay off the club's debt with Besiktas (TUR).
"I can't confirm the amounts due to contractual issues. But we are indeed carrying out this operation. Those who don't have money have to be creative," said Kléber Leite, vice president of football.
The director's good relationship with the Traffic investment fund will bring Flamengo a young left-winger.
Moacir, 18, is currently playing for Desportivo Brasil. He will compete in the São Paulo Junior Cup for São Bento de Sorocaba, but an agreement has already been reached for him to transfer to Flamengo at the end of the competition.
"He has excellent references and is here to mature. I have this agreement with Traffic. But Moacir isn't the young prospect I also want to bring in," said Kléber.
Kléber Leite is not afraid of the Flamengo group
Manager trusts in the ability of the red-black team
Cassius Leitão IN RIO
Flamengo's vice president of football, Kléber Leite, was indifferent when talking about the group in which the club was drawn for the 2008 Copa Libertadores. For the director, the Rubro-Negro has every possibility of doing well.
Kléber says that the most important thing in a competition like this is to have a good squad, which, in his opinion, Flamengo has in abundance compared to most of the participating clubs.
"The important thing isn't the group you're drawn in, but rather having a good team. We have one that's capable of fighting for a bigger goal in the Libertadores," said Kléber, who doesn't have a preference for the third-placed team. "It doesn't matter either. The only advantage of facing the Uruguayan team is the fact that the trip is quicker and spares the players from greater wear and tear," he said.
Flamengo is the top seed in Group 4 and will face Nacional-URU, Coronel Bolognesi-PER and the winner of Cienciano-PER and Montevideo Wanderers-URU.
Flamengo falls into the group of a three-time champion
Rubro-Negro will have Nacional, from Uruguay, as its toughest rival
CONMEBOL held the draw for the next Copa Libertadores this Wednesday. Flamengo is the top seed in Group 4 and will face Nacional-URU, Coronel Bolognesi-PER, and the winner of Group 5 (which will be determined by the winner of Cienciano vs. Montevideo Wanderers).
Flamengo's most dangerous opponent is Nacional. The Uruguayan club has won the Libertadores three times, the same number of world titles.
A veteran of the Libertadores, Gavilán is modest
Paraguayan midfielder does not consider himself a starter due to his experience in the competition
LANCEPRESS!
Announced this Wednesday as Flamengo's new signing, midfielder Gavilán was modest when asked if he has an advantage over his teammates due to his experience in the Copa Libertadores.
"I don't have an advantage. I'm not guaranteed a spot; I'm just one more in the group. Everyone on the squad is important, and the coach will decide who plays, regardless," he declared.
Gavilán has already participated in the Copa Libertadores on four occasions, the last of which was this year, wearing the Grêmio shirt.