THE GLOBE
The defender who doesn't even look like a football player
Against Duque de Caxias, Ronaldo Angelim writes another chapter in his career
Photo caption: RONALDO ANGELIM in Gávea: simplicity as a personal trademark
Carlos Eduardo Mansur
Ronaldo Angelim has been with Flamengo for two years. During this time, the club has signed six other defenders. But Ronaldo Angelim has always finished each season as a starter, a position he will retain today at 18:10 PM at Maracanã Stadium against Duque de Caxias. The secret to his resilience, persistence, and success may lie in the defender's origins.
These origins perhaps explain why Angelim is the antithesis of the modern player. In Flamengo's squad, he's perhaps the only one who doesn't wear designer clothes. Recently, before buying a Vectra, he drove a Corsa. And he doesn't usually flaunt it. He prefers carpooling with Cristian. In interviews, he never praises himself. He's the opposite, for example, of Viola, who will score today.
His journey is reminiscent of many families of Northeastern migrants. Antônio Leite Angelim traveled from Porteiras, a city in Ceará 23 km from Fortaleza, to São Paulo 540 times. Hitchhiking or traveling by truck, he reached the supposed El Dorado. He worked, among other things, as a bus fare collector. He saved some money and returned to Ceará until drought and lack of funds forced him to embark on a new adventure. On one of these occasions, his wife, Francisca, gave birth to Ronaldo Angelim, one of the couple's nine children. Despite her son being only three days old, Francisca decided to make the long journey back to Porteiras.
At 18, Ronaldo Angelim moved to Juazeiro. He was up at 4 a.m. delivering bread. He was paid R$25 a week by farm owners to dig wells to find water in the dry land.
"Being at Flamengo is an achievement. I've never had an agent. My wife, Ricássia, and I negotiated the contracts. I'm not vain and I don't see any reason to change. Back home, I wear flip-flops," says Angelim. "At Fortaleza, they signed six defenders a year, and I played. Being a starter doesn't worry me. I just want to help."
Joel predicts a difficult game against Duque de Caxias
When he talks about winning, Ronaldo Angelim certainly remembers that, until he was 20, he had never joined a football club. His urgent needs prevented him from taking a chance:
"I was racing in Juazeiro, and I didn't even think about becoming a player. An Icasa coach spotted me, and I played a shift in the juniors. It was the only foundation I had."
On his debut for Flamengo in 2006, against Americano, he scored an early goal. In the locker room, he looked desolate. He thought he'd played poorly. At times, he seemed insecure in the eyes of his coaches. It was difficult to understand a player who, instead of talking about his accomplishments, praised his teammates with admiration.
"He's a rare creature in football. He once told a coach to give his spot to another because he thought his teammate was better. Those who don't know him mistake it for insecurity," says the club's psychologist, Paulo Ribeiro. "Sometimes he thinks there are things that are meant for people better than him. Even though he can do them."
Today, at Maracanã, Angelim will face Viola. The striker was a cause for concern.
"Football has no age, only health. There are 42-year-old players who are healthy, and 18-year-old players who are hollow, full of termites," said Joel. "This game is perhaps the most difficult."
Flamengo: Bruno, Leonardo Moura, Fabio Luciano, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Jailton, Jonathan, Ibson and Toro; Marcinho and Souza. Caxias: Fernando, Eduardo, Alessandro, Daniel and Alan; Silva, Marcelo Cardoso, Renatinho and Djair; Madson and Viola. Referee: Wagner Magalhães.
BROADCAST: Premiere and Rádios Globo and CBN
Flamengo fights to maintain 100%
The team faces Iguaçu, which resists without the support of its city
Claudio Nogueira
On one side of the court, the feisty Iguaçu team, whose payroll doesn't reach R$10. On the other, Flamengo, three-time state champion and undefeated leader of the National Men's Basketball Championship, with five wins. This matchup is scheduled for today at 11 a.m. in Gávea. If they win, Flamengo will achieve their best performance in the National Championship, with six wins in their first six games in the competition.
One of the favorites for the title, after the runners-up finishes in 2000 and 2004, Flamengo has the strength of the team assembled by coach Paulo Chupeta, something praised by Marcelinho:
"Our team has been homogeneous. One player comes in and another leaves, but the level doesn't drop. We have to maintain this momentum and extend our winning streak until the end."
A top scorer at every club he's been to, Marcelinho also helps out in defense:
"I use the defining characteristics, but I'm not the only one scoring. Nor are others the only ones grabbing rebounds. It's harder to neutralize a team where everyone does a little bit of everything. That's modern basketball."
Kilometers from Gávea, on the banks of the Via Dutra, in Nova Iguaçu, the sport survives in the green hope of the Iguaçu shirt.
"The city government doesn't support us. Only small businesses do. Our payroll is R$9,6, and we spend R$18 a month on travel. We own the home court, but the Olympic Village gymnasium is undergoing renovations, and we'll be playing at Gávea," said Keler Cardozo, Iguaçu's supervisor.
Baixada team has 250 children in the youth divisions
Last season, Iguaçu boasted some experienced players and won three matches in the National Championship. This time, they're still 0-0 in five matches. According to Keler, they lack more experienced players, but Iguaçu wants to strengthen for the National Championship. However, if they don't have support, why persist?
"The club was founded for basketball in the 50s. If we weren't there, the only one in the state would be Flamengo. We want to keep the basketball flame alive in Nova Iguaçu, and we have 250 kids in the youth divisions," Keler stated.
The Iguaçu grassroots work is praised by Marcelinho:
- When we played there in the State Championship, we saw that there is a serious project for children, and it is very important to bring them to basketball.
Also in today's round of the National, UTC/Uberlândia (MG) and Universo/BRB (DF) play, in Uberlândia, at 18 pm; and Univates/Bira (RS) x CISER/Univille/Joinville (SC), in Lajeado, at 20:30 pm.
Ancelmo Gois
Maraca is ours
The agreement between CBF, Flamengo and Fluminense for the Maracanã bidding process should be signed shortly after Carnival.
SPORTS JOURNAL
To muffle the sound of the guitar
Fla faces Duque de Caxias, whose main threat is the irreverent striker
Thiago Bokel
Photos by Wallace Teixeira
Fábio Luciano plays with his son Gianluca during training in Gávea. He's on a mission to stop Viola.
After comfortably defeating Boavista and Cardoso Moreira in the first two rounds of the Campeonato Carioca, Flamengo faces a more dangerous challenge today. The team faces Duque de Caxias at 18:10 PM at Maracanã, a team that has been surprising with its strong offensive prowess. And the main person responsible for maintaining this reputation of the Baixada Fluminense club is a longtime acquaintance of Rio fans, and it worries everyone in Gávea.
Striker Viola, who has played for Vasco, Corinthians, Santos, and Palmeiras and has always been known for his irreverence, once again made a point of livening up the atmosphere for the match. He also reiterated his admiration for the red-and-black coach.
"I have a lot of affection for Joel. I worked with him at Vasco and Guarani, and I don't know a single athlete who doesn't like him. He's a true father figure and an excellent coach. It's not just anyone who can take Flamengo from its position in last year's Brazilian Championship to the Libertadores. You have to take your hat off to him. But he's an emotional guy who cries for no reason, and with all the respect I have for him, I have a feeling he'll cry again tomorrow (today)," the forward stated.
Flamengo's coach, who knows well what Viola is capable of, avoided poking fun at the top scorer
"I'd rather not joke. He's a goalscorer, and for everything he's done in football, he deserves respect," said Joel.
Responsible for marking the striker, the red-black sheriff, Fábio Luciano, tried not to provoke him, but he couldn't contain himself when he learned that his friend said that despite winning more matches against the defender than he lost.
"I don't get hung up on numbers. The only game I remember against him was a very special one for me, when Corinthians won the Club World Cup at the Maracanã, beating Vasco," the defender joked, praising his rival this afternoon.
"If he's still playing, it's because he's capable. He had a good debut and seems to be doing very well, as is the Caxias team. He's a player who requires special attention," he warned.
And to defeat Caxias, the red-and-black athletes once again count on the support of their fanatical fans. Everyone expects them to push the team forward and, with their usual deafening noise, drown out the sound of the viola.
Joel on alert with the Duke of Caxias
Normally, facing an unknown team like Duque de Caxias might not worry the red-black fans too much.
But the team's excellent performance against Fluminense last Wednesday, when they were 2-0 up but ended up allowing a comeback at the end of the match, has already left coach Joel Santana scalded.
"I expect to face an aggressive team, as they've already scored seven goals in just two league games. They have strong firepower, but I don't believe it will be an open match. Caxias should play more defensively, exploiting counterattacks," predicted the red-and-black coach.
For Joel, Flamengo has already improved significantly since their debut last Sunday against Boavista. According to him, one of the key factors in this change was the team's increased use of the wings and no longer playing exclusively through the middle of the field. Even so, with the limited time he has to correct his mistakes, Joel made an admission.
"We're working very little, as the interval between matches has been short. We're adjusting things during the games, fixing any problems that arise, like what happened against Cardoso Moreira, when the team showed a lack of interest at one point but then improved," explained Joel.
Souza wants to surprise the 'professor'
Photo by Wallace Teixera
Striker Souza has already scored twice in this Carioca and will face off against 'professor' Viola in the top scorers' duel.
If at Duque de Caxias the threat goes by the name of Viola, at Vasco da Gama the reference is Souza. But the now-adversaries were once teammates, or rather, teacher and student. Flamengo's number 9 revealed he learned a lot from Viola during their time together at Vasco da Gama.
"I often sat on the bench watching Viola play and score goals. I really admire his style of play. He was one of my role models," Souza explained.
The good start, according to him, has a reason:
"I had an excellent preseason and I know that when I'm in good physical shape, it's hard to mark me," said the goalscorer, who scored six goals in the last Carioca. Even though he's already found the net twice this year, the top scorer in the 2006 Brazilian Championship, when he was with Goiás, sees another positive.
"I think that even more important than scoring goals is that my movement is very good. Against Cardoso Moreira, I scored a goal that demonstrated this well, winning the run and leaving the defender behind," he assessed.
This will be Souza's second time playing alongside Marcinho in attack. The midfielder has been playing improvised roles in the attack since Renato Augusto suffered a serious injury, fracturing his cheekbone in the team's Carioca debut. With Diego Tardelli expected to be cleared for Carnival Saturday, Souza will likely change partners.
Paulistano by birth, but Carioca by nature
There's no denying that the spotlight today, when Duque de Caxias enters Maracanã, will be on one player in particular. Striker Viola, a four-time World Cup winner with the Brazilian national team in 94, will be making his second appearance for the Baixada Fluminense team. Despite being born in São Paulo, he confessed in an exclusive interview with JORNAL DOS SPORTS that he is a fan of the Marvelous City.
"In São Paulo, the rivalry between clubs is very strong, but here it's different; there's more respect. Even if you play for a rival club, fans greet you on the street and ask you to join their team. I love Rio; the people are part of the healthy generation. São Paulo is my hometown, and it's impossible not to like it because of that, but my friends even say, 'Viola is from Rio, there's nothing Paulista about it.' I'm even thinking about settling here," the striker added.
Despite being 38, Viola still has ambitious career goals. Anyone who thinks he'll settle for playing in the Campeonato Carioca should think again.
"The idea is to always play for a big club. It's so hard to find a job these days that you can't think twice about playing for a well-established club like Caxias. I was very well received here, but if the opportunity to play for a big club again arises, you can be sure I'll be up for it," said Viola, who will be without Edivaldo in attack, as the player suffered a muscle strain in his right leg.
Although he knows that all the attention will be on him, the striker asks that the other Duque de Caxias players be watched, such as midfielder Djair, who makes his debut for the team today.
"This team has quality and is creating fear. We play with simplicity to achieve a great campaign," he added.
Ibson happy with Flamengo's strength
In 2008, Flamengo will compete in four major competitions: the Campeonato Carioca, the Campeonato Brasileiro, the Copa Libertadores, and the Copa Sudamericana. Therefore, everyone at the club understands the importance of having a large and qualified squad. The board made every effort to maintain the 2007 core and signed other promising talents such as Diego Tardelli, Rodrigo, Gavilán, and Marcinho.
Midfielder Ibson, who was in last year's squad, is pleased to see the strength of the red-and-black group in 2008. According to the midfielder, it is of utmost importance to have at least two good players for each position.
"I believe the group is very strong, with two or three high-quality players for each position. I hope it continues like this," said Ibson.
Joel Santana approves the start of the Fla season
Ursula Nery
Flamengo, like other major Brazilian teams, is still warming up for the 2008 season. So far, the Red-Blacks have played two official matches and won both. They currently lead Group A of the Guanabara Cup with six points.
Coach Joel Santana knows the team's performance isn't ideal yet, but he considers it normal for the team to fall short of its potential. According to Joel, all Brazilian teams are in the same situation, and he's very pleased with his players' performances so far.
"Flamengo is the leader. If I'm not satisfied with my team leading, when will I be? No team in Brazil is complete, they're all still developing and evolving, and so are we. But I'm satisfied," said Joel Santana.
Gavilán will be released in three weeks
In addition to trying to resolve the situation of supporter Kleberson, Flamengo's lawyer and acting vice president of football, Michel Assef Filho, is trying to resolve another obstacle that has been causing some fans distress. After registering the contract of Paraguayan midfielder Diego Gavilán last Wednesday, he is now seeking a reduction in his sentence with the Superior Court of Sports Justice.
Because the case is so sensitive, Michel has already set a deadline for the player's return. According to the lawyer, Gavilán will be fit to play in three weeks, or more precisely, on February 16th. This means he will miss the team's Copa Libertadores opener on the 13th against Coronel Bolognesi.
Flamengo in search of the record
The team faces Iguaçu and, if they win, they will reach the mark of six consecutive victories in the National Championship.
Pedro Ivo Almeida
Photo by Wallace Teixeira
Winger Marcelinho is Flamengo's biggest star in the National
Flamengo takes the court today at 11 a.m. against Iguaçu BC in Gávea seeking much more than a simple victory. The red-and-black team, which will have the return of winger Fernando Mineiro, is aiming to reach an unprecedented mark of six wins in the first six games of the competition.
The current record of five wins was set in the 2000 and 2004 seasons, when Unit/Uberlândia and Ribeirão Preto/COC, respectively, put an end to the red-and-black party. In both years, the Gávea team finished runner-up in the National Basketball Championship.
Trusted
With a victory over Iguaçu in this morning's match, coach Paulo Chupeta already believes that the outcome this year could be better than the previous two times.
"We're going to go out on the court looking for this milestone and another victory in the championship. I hope it's a good sign. Since the formation of this team, we've known the potential of these players and have always thought about titles. We won the state championship, and now we're very focused on this goal, which is the national title. It's the only trophy Flamengo doesn't yet have in basketball. We're working hard to be able to give this title to the club," commented Chupeta, who led Flamengo to its third state championship.
Astro
Another player who spoke about the importance of the milestone was winger Marcelinho, the team's standout player and the competition's top scorer. Like the coach of the Gávea team, the experienced player also believes that this positive start could be a harbinger of a happy ending.
"Any player who plays for Flamengo has to think about winning titles, always. And starting this way is a good omen. I hope this team can still bring much joy to the Flamengo fans," he said.
Winger Duda is doubtful for today's game, the player did not participate in most of the training sessions this past week after feeling pain in his right calf in the last game, in the victory over Londrina.
Flamengo: Fred, Hélio, Marcelinho, Coloneze and Wagner.\ Coach: Paulo Chupeta\
Iguaçu BC: Rafinha, Antonio, Tonon, Carlinhos and Jonny.\ Coach: Bruno Rodrigues\
THE DAY
Joel warns about Caxias, but says that the obligation to win is Flamengo's
Janir Junior
Rio - Joel Santana believes that after victories over Boavista and Cardoso Moreira, Flamengo faces its toughest challenge yet against Duque de Caxias at 18:10 p.m. at Maracanã. Besides highlighting Viola's goal-scoring instinct, the coach emphasizes that the Gávea team needs to demonstrate in practice that it can win titles in the 2008 season.
In addition to maintaining the team, Joel Santana demands results: "In football, the proof comes in the moment of victory. We already know the team on paper, but we have to be competitive and win titles."
After Duque de Caxias beat América 5-2 and played hard in the 3-2 defeat to Fluminense (they were winning 2-0), Joel issued a warning: “It will be a tough opponent, but the responsibility to win is 100% Flamengo's.”
Íbson, who has yet to repeat last year's strong performances, hopes to shine. "I believe I'll perform better as the matches progress," he said.
Joel warned the defense about Viola's firepower, which, even at 39 years old, is still scary.
"Age doesn't mean anything, but health does. There are players in their forties who score a lot of goals. Others, 18, are hollow, with termites inside," joked the red-and-black coach.
LATERALS IN ATTACK
Fearing a congested Duque de Caxias midfield, Joel Santana wants to capitalize on the good form of full-backs Juan and Leonardo Moura to find the opposing goal. But the coach also issued a warning to the defense, as the Baixada team has scored seven goals in two matches. To keep up with Viola's rhythm, Joel wants to score goals, without conceding.
Flamengo Funk: the team has already rehearsed for the new dance, against Duque de Caxias
Janir Junior
Rio - The music is frenetic, the beat is strong, and you can't miss the dancing. Instead of samba, which has been the soundtrack of many soccer teams, the trendy rhythm in Gávea is Mengão's funk. Not only during the players' celebrations, but also at the training camp, where goal-scoring dances are rehearsed, and on the bus to Maracanã.
Leading the Flamengo squad are Souza, Leonardo Moura, Íbson, Egídio, and Toró. The soundtrack features Funk do Créu, DJ Frank, Os Ousados, and other MCs. "We joke around a lot, deciding what the stepinho will be in the training camp or even on the spot. Everyone likes funk; it's the hottest rhythm at Flamengo," jokes Léo Moura, who let loose after scoring against Cardoso Moreira.
“It was the Encaixa Nela dance,” the full-back jokes, referring to the song by the group Os Magrinhos, which goes: “Go on, fit her; fit her; take it, naughty girl.”
The trend began after Souza celebrated his goal in the GB Cup opener against Boavista with funk dances in honor of his friend MC Frank. When he performed the "Passinho do Babalu," the striker also mixed in a bit of the "dança do créu" (the sky dance).
Leonardo Moura said that "créu" is among the most requested. The full-back guarantees he's great at the song, whether slow or fast.
Besides listening to music on their laptops during training camp, the players head to Maracanã stadium to share the beats with friends or each with their own headphones. "We really enjoy it. It's a fun game; the idea really caught on," Íbson notes.
He even watched a TV show to better practice the "Michael Jackson Passinho," which could be used in this Sunday's game. To the funk beat, Flamengo makes "créu" their opponents without losing their groove.
SPORTS GAZETTE
Flamengo hosts the dangerous Duque de Caxias\ Gazeta Press\
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - In its third match of the Campeonato Carioca, Flamengo faces a tough opponent this Sunday at 18:10 pm (Brasília time) at the Maracanã. After beating Boavista and Cardoso Moreira, the Rubro-Negro faces Duque de Caxias, who thrashed América-RJ in their debut and narrowly avoided causing trouble against Fluminense, when they were leading 2-0 and allowed the comeback. At Flamengo, coach Joel Santana is well aware of the opponent's dangers, having worked with striker Viola at Vasco in 2000, when they won the Copa João Havelange and the Copa Mercosul. Now at Duque de Caxias, the veteran striker still deserves special attention. "Viola is a great player and always gives a hard time, but I trust my players and know they are ready to put in a great performance," he commented.
The Flamengo coach is also concerned about leaving his team no room for slip-ups before the final round of the Guanabara Cup, when Flamengo faces Fluminense in the derby on February 10th. "Our goal is to go into the match against them with a slight advantage in points, but we know that will be difficult. And we have to keep doing our part," Joel emphasized.
One of the standout performers in last Thursday's rout, right-back Leonardo Moura hopes to put in another strong performance to catch the attention of the Brazilian national team duo of Dunga and Jorginho. "I know it's important to maintain consistency here at Flamengo if I want to achieve my dream of making the Brazilian national team," the full-back stated.
Flamengo's once again missing midfielder Renato Augusto, who suffered a bruised cheekbone and is only expected to return to action in March. This means Marcinho will likely get another opportunity to partner with Souza, who scored in the first two rounds of the Carioca Championship. "I started the year well and hope to maintain this rhythm in the upcoming games. It's always good for a striker to be scoring goals," Souza emphasized.
At Duque de Caxias, the team is expected to repeat its performance in the first half of the match against Fluminense. The players are uncomfortable with some comments they say they read and heard in the Rio de Janeiro press before last Wednesday's match. "Many thought it would be a training match for Fluminense, but on the field, it wasn't quite like that. We're going to fight and cause a lot of trouble," stated Edivaldo.
Kléberson's debut postponed again\ Gazeta Press\
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Midfielder Kléberson left Gávea on Friday night certain that he would make his official debut for Flamengo in this Sunday's match against Duque de Caxias at the Maracanã stadium, in the third round of the first half of the Campeonato Carioca. When he arrived home, he received a call from Flamengo's lawyer, Michel Assef Filho, informing him that his dream had been postponed. The Flamengo lawyer said he had received a call from the CBF giving the go-ahead for the end of the 120-day suspension imposed by FIFA on the player, but felt it was risky to release Kléberson to coach Joel Santana without having the necessary documents in hand, which is only expected to happen next Monday.
Kléberson has been at Gávea since October of last year, but has not yet been fit to play after being suspended by FIFA for unilaterally breaking his contract with Besiktas, from Turkey, in 2007. Flamengo's board hopes that he will be fit to face Macaé next Wednesday.
Flamengo's lawyer is now trying to resolve the issue of Paraguayan Gavilán, who had his contract registered and is now hoping for a reduction in his 120-day sentence with the Superior Court of Sports Justice.
According to the lawyer, Gavilán will be fit to play in three weeks, or more precisely, on February 16, which would leave him out of Flamengo's debut in the Copa Libertadores, on February 13, against Coronel Bolognesi.
PELENET
Cautious, Flamengo faces Duque de Caxias
From UOL Esporte\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Flamengo played at training pace in the first two matches of the Guanabara Cup, the first round of the State Championship (victories over Boavista, 2-0, and Cardoso Moreira, 4-1). This Sunday, however, the Rubro-Negro will not be able to repeat this attitude, as they will face a much more complicated challenge: at 18:10 pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã, they face Duque de Caxias, who thrashed América 5-2 and gave Fluminense a hard time, who only managed to turn the game around (3-2) in the second half.
With six points, the Gávea team sits atop the Group A standings, boasting a goal difference advantage over second-place Fluminense. But this situation isn't expected to continue. Tricolor faces Macaé, third with four points, at 20:30 pm this Saturday.
Regarding the team's lineup, there's nothing new, much to the delight of coach Joel Santana. The lineup will be exactly the same as the one that took the field in the last match.
"This is very good. I don't have any new suspension or injury problems and I can repeat the team. With this, the team is getting stronger," assessed the commander.
The opponent may not be the most traditional, but they've been treated with great respect by everyone at Gávea. Especially because of one player in particular: the experienced 39-year-old forward Viola.
"He's a great finisher, world champion (1994) and he can't be bothered enough. Age in football means nothing, there are 42-year-old players who look healthy and there are 18-year-olds who are all hollow, full of termites," warned the commander.
"It's always dangerous. He's a guy with experience in football and knows how to score goals. But we have to be careful with the entire Caxias team, which has already proven to be a tough team," said right-back Leonardo Moura.
Fourth in Group A with three points, the Baixada team's experience isn't limited to the controversial four-time champions. Another veteran, midfielder Djair, will be on the field. He will replace Edivaldo, the team's top scorer in the competition with three goals, who suffered a left thigh injury.
GLOBOESPORTE
Joel studies playing with three defenders
Coach, however, says the plan is only for the Libertadores and away games.
Eduardo Peixoto
Joel Santana speaks at Flamengo training
In the match against Cardoso Moreira, Flamengo coach Joel Santana took off Ibson and brought on Rodrigo, ending the match with three defenders. More than a coincidence, the change represents an experiment.
The coach is considering the possibility of leaving Rubro-Negro with a three-defender system in some games.
"Maybe I'll use that in away matches in the Copa Libertadores. In the State Championship, I don't think so," he says.
Currently, Fábio Luciano and Ronaldo Angelim form the center-back duo. Jaílton is playing the role "undercover." Rodrigo's impressive improvement, however, makes him a candidate for a starting spot.
The proposal to add an extra defender has another explanation. Joel is concerned that the changes to the midfield formation will undermine the defensive strength that existed at the end of 2007.
- That's why I say that if it doesn't work out, everything goes back to how it was before - he warns.
THROW
Agreement will reduce Maracanã prices
Rio leaders meet during Flu match and decide to reduce ticket prices for Fla and Flu\ LANCEPRESS!\
As the president of Suderj and Secretary of Sports, Eduardo Paes, announced to TV LANCE!, ticket prices for games at Maracanã will be reduced.
In this Saturday's match between Fluminense and Macaé, Eduardo Paes, Rubens Lopes (president of the Rio de Janeiro Football Federation) and Fluminense president Roberto Horcades met and decided to reduce the number of tickets at Maracanã.
The official announcement of the new prices for Rio fans is expected to be made next Tuesday.
Souza: 'Physically well, it's difficult to mark me'
Striker promises no special celebration if he scores this Sunday
Souza scored in the first two games (Credit: Julio Cesar Guimarães)
Fred Gomes RIO DE JANEIRO
Happy with the good phase he is going through at Flamengo, Souza attributed his two goals scored in the State Championship to the good pre-season carried out by Rubro-Negro.
radio l! – We work well in Teresópolis, and I'm physically strong, so I'm a difficult player to mark – said Flamengo's number 9, without modesty. (Click and hear more)
After celebrating his goals in the "Babalu passinho", the striker doesn't promise to rehearse if he scores in this Sunday's game against Duque de Caxias:
"If you give me a little light in the room, it will be a surprise. But I must celebrate in killer style again."
Joel points to improvement for the red-black team
Coach is excited about players' improved performance
LANCEPRESS!
Coach Joel Santana is excited for Flamengo's match against Duque de Caxias this Sunday at Maracanã. According to the Flamengo coach, the team is improving technically and tactically. He also highlighted other highlights:
radio l! - More players are getting into shape. Rodrigo has already improved significantly, Kleberson is on point, Marcinho has improved significantly, and the biggest surprise was Maxi, who came in fighting and wanting to play - he says. (Click for more details)
Fla takes on Duque de Caxias from Viola and Djair
Flamengo is coming off two wins. Caxienses has the best attack.
LANCEPRESS!
After victories over Boavista and Cardoso Moreira that secured them the lead in Group A of the 2008 State Championship, Flamengo will face Duque de Caxias this Saturday, boasting the best attack in the competition (with seven goals, along with Cabofriense). The match, valid for the third round of the competition, will be held at Maracanã, at 18:10 p.m.
The powerful front line of the Caxiense team, whose main figure is the experienced Viola, was the subject of concern for defender Fabio Luciano, moments after the Rubro-Negro's 4-1 victory over Cardoso Moreira.
- The important thing is that we managed to win another game (against Cardoso), but we have to pay attention to Duque de Caxias, who have a good team and know how to score goals - warned the red-black captain.
If Duque de Caxias' attack is scary, the red-black defense is also worthy of respect, as it has the second fewest goals conceded in the competition, with only one goal conceded - only Macaé didn't have their nets shaken.
Manoel Neto, coach of the Baixada Fluminense team, spoke with LANCENET! about the game, interrupting the tape of the red-and-black team's 4-1 rout of Cardoso Moreira. Neto explained that his team's concerns aren't limited to one area.
"The concern with Flamengo is about the whole. First, because they don't play with 11 players; they have a 12th player, which is their immense fan base. We have immense respect for Flamengo," the coach declared.
If respect is the watchword at Duque de Caxias, Manoel Neto guarantees that the team will not change its style of play.
"We'll play the same way we played against Fluminense. Unfortunately, we lost to Fluminense due to our own mistakes. We were well-marked in the first half. However, in the second half, Renato Gaúcho made two changes that confused our marking. But conceding a goal the way we did, in the third minute, due to a huge lack of focus, certainly contributed to the poor result," he explained.
Edivaldo—Duque de Caxias' top scorer in the competition with three goals—will be out due to a left thigh strain. Veteran Djair, formerly of Botafogo, Flu, and Fla, has been chosen to replace him.
Neto gives his recipe to try to surprise Flamengo:
"We'll play on the wings, because the midfield is very crowded. We'll try to exploit the advances of Juan and Léo Moura," he concluded.
Joel says he is proud of Romário's praise
Baixinho considers Natalino the best coach he has worked with
Fred Gomes RIO DE JANEIRO
Considered one of the top coaches of the 2007 Brazilian Championship, Flamengo's Joel Santana was praised by his colleague Romário, who also plays for Vasco da Gama, who considers the Man with the Clipboard the best coach he's ever worked with. Natalino warmly welcomed the praise.
"I'm proud, because it comes from someone I greatly admire. We've worked together for several years, we were champions together. I already told him, 'You can take my clipboard, because you deserve it,'" the Flamengo manager laughs.
When asked if he was helping Vasco by giving tips to Romário, Joel refuted the possibility, explaining that it was simply a matter of helping a friend.
"He's a friend in need. If it were the other way around, he'd do the same. We exchange advice, because he's a good observer," the coach explains.
Fabio Luciano asks that Viola's 39 years be ignored
According to the defender, attention must be paid to the Duque de Caxias striker
Fred Gomes RIO DE JANEIRO
Viola's advanced age - 39 years old - is not seen as a reason for relaxation for Flamengo's defense, according to Fabio Luciano, captain of Rubro-Negro.
"If he's playing, it's because he's still capable. He had a good debut, as did the entire Duque de Caxias team. We need to pay attention to all their players," he preached.
To show his respect for the Duque de Caxias striker, regardless of his age, Flamengo's number 3 used another four-time world champion for the national team: striker Romário, who will turn 42 next Tuesday.
"Romário is 41 years old and still scores goals. So we have to treat him seriously, marking him like a kid," he concluded.
Baroninho visits his son-in-law Cristian at Flamengo
The midfielder's father-in-law was world champion in 1981 with the club
LANCEPRESS!
Flamengo midfielder Cristian received an honorable visit at Flamengo's training session this Friday. Baroninho, who won the 1981 World Cup with the club, is the player's father-in-law and gave him his first opportunity at his academy in Bauru, in the interior of São Paulo.
"He's my father-in-law, but I consider him my father. He's my greatest advisor and helped me a lot in getting to Flamengo," Cristian said.
Flamengo defenders become top scorers in training
Fábio Luciano (two), Rodrigo (two) and Niltão score in a kickabout
Fred Gomes RIO DE JANEIRO
In the traditional pre-match training session, Flamengo's defenders were the standouts. In a lively and lively training session this Saturday morning, at Gávea, Fábio Luciano, Rodrigo, and Niltão became the "top scorers for a day."
The team wearing vests defeated the team without vests 5-4 in a spectacular comeback after trailing 4-3 in the final minutes. And then Fábio Luciano's killer instinct came to fruition. He, who played forward for the team wearing vests, scored two goals. But on the other side, Rodrigo didn't let it go unpunished. Even though he left the field defeated, he also scored twice against "goalkeeper" Rodrigo Arroz. Niltão scored once.
The activity lasted 34 minutes, conducted in a great atmosphere, mainly due to the two victories that Flamengo achieved in the first two games of the State Championship.
The atmosphere was so relaxed that Ibson and Fábio Luciano brought their children to practice, and kids from the club's youth academy also cheered the players on. Obina, as usual, received the loudest ovation, even though he hadn't scored a single goal.