The Globe
In the final stretch, bet on the fans
Flamengo is two steps away from paradise. To safely navigate its way back to the Copa Libertadores, it needs to win its next two home matches, against Santos and Atlético-PR, and hope for slip-ups from Palmeiras and Grêmio, its direct rivals in the fight for one of the spots. This way, it would reach the final round, against Náutico in Recife, practically qualified. The fans will be decisive in the final stretch, but there's a risk the club could lose its home-field advantage. On Friday, it will face a trial at the Superior Court of Justice (STJD) because, against Grêmio at the Maracanã, fans threw objects at the referee.
The board put around 80 tickets on sale for each of the games, and yesterday, 14 tickets were already sold for Sunday. Comfortable at Maracanã, their home stadium, where they haven't lost to teams from outside Rio since the first round, Flamengo is focused on nothing other than victories against Santos and Atlético-PR. Judging by yesterday's ticket sales, São Paulo's Brazilian Championship attendance record (69.874) is seriously threatened.
"Two home wins and a draw against Náutico will solve the problem. But if we make it to the final round without any problems, it will be wonderful," said Joel Santana.
Flamengo and Palmeiras have 55 points, while Grêmio has 54. With 59 and 57, respectively, Santos and Cruzeiro have practically secured their spots. Palmeiras hosts Fluminense, and Grêmio plays champion São Paulo at Morumbi Stadium. If the red-and-black team wins both at home, they'll reach 61 points. If Palmeiras draws with the Tricolor, loses to Internacional at Beira-Rio, and beats Atlético-MG in the final round, they'll finish with 59.
Grêmio has a tougher task. If they lose to São Paulo, beat América-RN away, and defeat Corinthians, they'll reach 60.
On Thursday, Flamengo's players will receive a blessing at the Church of their patron saint, Saint Jude Thaddeus. With the help of heaven, the Flamengo team awaits Santos' victory. They pray for an acquittal by the Superior Court of Justice (STJD).
A letter and nothing more
Former São Paulo president acknowledges Flamengo's fifth title, but says the trophy belongs to the Tricolor
Photo caption: MÁRCIO BRAGA, president of Flamengo, awaits a position from the CBF and the Club of 13, but asks for chivalry from São Paulo
Carlos Eduardo Mansur
In 1987, Carlos Miguel Aidar was president of São Paulo and the newly founded Clube dos 13. On behalf of the São Paulo club, he, along with Flamengo and the other 11 members of the organization, defended the thesis that the red-and-black team was the 1987 Brazilian champion. He also argued that Flamengo should not compete in the crossover between the Green Module, then equivalent to the First Division, and the Yellow Module, the Second Division, as the CBF wanted. Today, he maintains that Flamengo is, in fact, a five-time Brazilian champion. But he claims that São Paulo, of which he is a special advisor to the president, is the first five-time champion, both de facto and de jure.
Aidar believes that São Paulo should receive the trophy that the CBF intends to award it as the first five-time champion and says that, for many years, Flamengo has neglected the matter. He proposes that the club send a document to the club:
"If he doesn't receive the trophy, the São Paulo president will be killed by the fans. The CBF, having not recognized Flamengo as the 1987 champion, has no alternative: it will award the trophy to São Paulo, which should, at the very least, send a document to Flamengo, in the name of the Club of 13's ideal, congratulating and recognizing Flamengo as a five-time champion."
Sport pays tribute to São Paulo's fifth title
Aidar remembers that Flamengo fulfilled, in 1987, an agreement between all members of the Club of 13, according to which whoever was the champion and runner-up of the Copa União, would not play the crossover with Módulo Amarelo.
"By sending the letter to Flamengo and publishing it on the official website, São Paulo would put an end to the controversy. Giving Flamengo a replica of the trophy would be inelegant," said Aidar.
Aidar thinks that São Paulo cannot refuse to receive the cup.
"Flamengo is, in fact, a five-time champion. But it went all the way to the ordinary courts, with the support of the Club of 13, which I presided over, to try to have the title recognized. And they lost. So, São Paulo is the only five-time champion, de facto and de jure," Aidar assured. "I don't understand why Flamengo took so long to discuss this again. They're creating a smokescreen. They should focus their energies on pursuing a spot in the Libertadores."
Flamengo president Márcio Braga has changed his strategy. He will wait for a position from the Club of 13 and the CBF and then convene the club's board of directors to decide on a course of action.
"A cruel act by Nabi Abi Chedid (vice-president of the Brazilian Football Confederation in 1987) against Flamengo cannot create a division between us and São Paulo. We organized a championship, and the Brazilian Football Confederation, embarrassed, created the crossover to weaken the competition," Márcio recalled. "I defend chivalry, and Flamengo is not being reciprocated by São Paulo, of which I admire. The elegant attitude will be whatever they deem possible. We have seen an arrogance that is unbecoming of São Paulo. In 1992, we won the fifth title, recognized by 170 million people. It took 15 years for another club to win the fifth title, and the matter had been forgotten. We didn't even know this trophy was being kept."
The current board of directors at São Paulo, however, does not appear to be willing to reach a diplomatic solution.
"The trophy is ours, and we're going to receive it. I'm not convinced Flamengo waited 15 years to complain," said Carlos Augusto de Barros e Silva, the club's vice president.
The behind-the-scenes story of the controversial crossover's emergence is intriguing. Aidar recalls that, on the eve of the Copa União, the presidents of the Club of 13 members met in Rio late one afternoon. They all needed to return to their home states, and one of them was supposed to represent them at the CBF.
"We needed to sign the rules. If I'm not mistaken, Márcio Braga suggested we delegate the authority to Eurico Miranda. He was instructed to only sign if the rules preserved the Copa União. We had no idea a crossover would be proposed. The next day, Eurico informed us that he had signed the rules and that the crossover would take place. I urgently gathered the Club of 13, and we decided that no one would play the crossover," Aidar recalled.
Today, the Club of 13 finds itself removed from the discussion.
"I'm seeing the interested parties arguing in the press. If they wanted to seek a solution through the Club of 13, they should have provoked the organization to speak out. I'll only speak out if I'm provoked," said Fábio Koff. "In 1988, the Club of 13, in a General Assembly, understood that Flamengo was the champion. Since then, nothing has changed."
Yesterday, the board of directors of Sport, recognized by the CBF as the 1987 Brazilian champions, announced that they are preparing a billboard to honor São Paulo for their fifth title. It will be displayed on the streets of São Paulo. The shirt with the inscription "Mengão é penta" (Mengão is five-time champion), worn by Flamengo players on Sunday at Mineirão Stadium, angered Pernambuco fans.
Just yesterday, Flamengo gained support from Fluminense and Botafogo.
"Of course Botafogo recognizes the title. If you need a little extra cash to buy another trophy, we'll help," joked Botafogo president Bebeto de Freitas.
Cariocas are now eligible to join Timemania
Club presidents signed a confession of FGTS debt
Three years and 11 months after the start of discussions between directors and the federal government to create Timemania, the lottery that will help Brazilian clubs pay off R$20 billion in tax debts within a maximum of 2 years, representatives of eight Rio de Janeiro clubs signed FGTS installment agreements yesterday at the headquarters of Caixa Econômica Federal in Rio. This was considered the final step toward joining the lottery, as all had already signed other debt confessions with the Federal Revenue Service, the INSS (National Institute of Social Security), and the Attorney General's Office.
In addition to the presidents of Flamengo, Márcio Braga; Fluminense, Roberto Horcades; and Botafogo, Bebeto de Freitas, who were the coordinators of the entire process; those of América, Americano, Bangu, Olaria, as well as the vice-president of Vasco, Amadeu Pinto da Rocha, also signed the agreement, seen as redemption for the clubs, since, in addition to fiscal realignment, it will allow them to receive certificates with a negative debt effect.
With these certificates, clubs are free from the threat of having their assets seized to pay debts and regain the right to take out bank loans. However, the certificates will only reach the directors' hands once all clubs in the country have completed the process the Rio de Janeiro club completed.
- I appeal to the presidents of Brazilian clubs to complete this bureaucratic process as soon as possible - said the vice president of government funds and lotteries at Caixa, Moreira Franco, who predicts the start of Timemania in February 2008.
STATE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
In the second round of the State Basketball Championship, Flamengo defeated Iguaçu/Praia Uberlândia 85-67 last night at the Vila Olímpica in Nova Iguaçu. It was Flamengo's eighth victory in as many games in the competition. Flamengo maintained its undisputed lead and remains undefeated. Now, they won't play again until the 16th, facing Vasco in the second-round classic that will mark the reopening of Maracanãzinho for basketball matches.
Fernando Calazans
The hunt and the hunter
The Flamengo reader warns me: midfielder Ibson, who, in his short time back at Gávea, became Flamengo's best player and one of the best in the league in two consecutive games, against Corinthians and Cruzeiro, fell victim to the cowardly and illicit tactic of rotating fouls, which the soccer referees, negligent and incompetent, fail to punish at all. They pretend not to see it.
Out on the field, just a few meters from the plays—that is, the fouls and the rotation of fouls—the referees cower, pretending not to notice, even though they themselves have been warned by the head of the refereeing committee. But they take no action, and everything remains as it is.
My beloved sports press doesn't care either. I think it should, because this isn't a problem involving Ibson, Valdívia (Palmeiras), Jorge Henrique (Botafogo), and so many others, let's say, "star players of their teams," who are hunted down on the field by violent and illegal means. That's not the issue.
It's much more than that: it's the loss of the quality of the game, the quality of the spectacle—and it seems to me that commentators, columnists, and ultimately, critics have something to do with the QUALITY of something. Or don't they?
Ah, if criticism has nothing to do with the quality of something - cinema, literature, football, theatre, volleyball, music - I'm sorry: the person who spoke is no longer here.
It's the most technical, skilled, and creative players on each team who suffer the relentless persecution of football's brutes and tactical fouls, as they're called by the football coaches who employ them. This contributes decisively to the decline in the quality of our football, which has declined year after year, until reaching the level we have now.
How can a soccer player showcase his game, create plays, organize his team, or enrich the spectacle if, every time he gets the ball, he and the game are stopped by a foul? Not even Pelé and Garrincha would have been Pelé and Garrincha if, in their time, there had been a rotation of fouls, the tactic of fouls, tactical fouls, or whatever coaches call it.
The CBF, its refereeing committee, the officials, and even the coaches (as long as their teams win) don't care at all about the quality of football. Just like the fake referees, it's not even about them.
Renato Mauricio Prado
The great ally
In the final stretch of this championship, which, as teammate Fernando Calazans aptly put it, has become an incredible lose-win situation, Flamengo's greatest ally in its fight for the Libertadores Cup has become Internacional de Porto Alegre. The reigning world champion, which is finally showing signs of finding its feet, faces Cruzeiro and Palmeiras at Beira-Rio. Flamengo couldn't get any better than this...
Under normal temperature and pressure conditions, Colorado could have even competed for the title - or at least placed among the top of the table.
The hangover from last year's glories and a series of injuries, however, prevented the Gaucho team from playing the football that was expected of them.
However, the potential of a team that, in the struggling Brazilian football world, can afford to field together Nilmar, Fernandão, Magrão, Iarley, Gil, Guiñazu, etc. is indisputable.
The excellent performance last Sunday, against Vasco, at São Januário, was a good example of what the group led by Abel Braga can achieve.
Unfortunately for Palmeiras and Cruzeiro...
Flamengo, however, needs to do its part. Its performance in the match against Cruzeiro was simply appalling.
Influenced, perhaps, by Grêmio's defeat on Saturday (which made a draw at Mineirão a great result), Joel Santana's team entered the field with a dreadful defense - a posture so defensive that it bordered on cowardice.
With Ibson having a terrible afternoon and full-backs Leonardo Moura and Juan stuck in defense, the Cariocas handed over the midfield to the Minas Gerais team, 2-0 was not enough in the first half.
In the second half, Joel decided to "go bold," bringing on Roger and Renato Augusto. But even then, his move was poor, as he was overly concerned with defense—in a game that was already lost!
He took off Máxi (who, like Obina, had done nothing in the first half because the ball had barely reached his feet) and - horror of horrors! - he created Toró on the left wing!
Losing 2-0, the correct thing to do would have been to take off at least one defensive midfielder (ideally two!) and open up the game down the flanks - a tactic for which, even without having a great afternoon, Juan, one of the team's main playmakers and top scorer, was essential.
The result was what we saw. And the Libertadores dream only remains alive because Palmeiras also stumbled and the goal difference, at the moment, favors Flamengo.
However, they cannot repeat such a dark afternoon in the next games - under penalty of losing their place, even if Inter gives them a good helping hand.
And the next opponent is Santos, with Vanderlei Luxemburgo...
Another team that can help Flamengo is Fluminense, who will face Palmeiras in the next round at Parque Antártica.
Most likely without Valdívia (who should be tried and suspended), Caio Júnior's team seems inferior to Renato Gaúcho's, which has won two consecutive matches and is ready to finish the championship as "the best in Rio" - it is currently tied with Fla, in points, but loses in the number of victories.
Tricolor also faces Santos in the last round, in another duel that interests the red-blacks.
Sports Journal
Goodbye is near
Midfielder Íbson's tenure at Gávea is difficult. Porto wants the player for next year.
Nathan de Lima, Thiago Bokel and Tiago da Costa
A standout player in the Brazilian Championship, Íbson is unlikely to stay with the club in 2008.
One of the key factors that helped Flamengo recover in this year's Brazilian Championship was the arrival of midfielder Íbson, whose excellent ball skills and fierce drive made him a perfect fit for coach Joel Santana's tactical scheme. However, to the dismay of Flamengo fans, the player's continued presence after his contract expires in June of next year is highly unlikely.
Íbson was loaned to Flamengo for a year, as Porto coach Jesualdo Ferreira disliked the player's style, despite the adoring of the fans, directors, and the Portuguese press. Flamengo's board has not yet begun talks to renew the player's contract, and according to his agent, Eduardo Uram, any attempt to do so would be detrimental to the club.
"Porto loaned Íbson for free for a year and it would be rude of Flamengo to ask them to extend the loan now. It would be like lending me a car and me thinking it's nice and asking to keep it for another month," said Eduardo Uram.
When he arrived at Fla, the athlete received offers from several clubs, such as Panathinaikos and Olympiacos, from Greece; Werder Bremen, from Germany; La Corunã, from Spain and the Brazilian clubs Santos, Grêmio and São Paulo, but because he was raised in Gávea, the player preferred to play for Flamengo.
"My agent is the one who takes care of that part, but in the middle of the year, I received great offers, but I preferred to come play here at Flamengo," confirmed the player.
Even though they're first in the Portuguese Championship, Jesualdo Ferreira is under threat at Porto, and the club's track record, which rarely retains a coach for more than two seasons, isn't favorable to him, which would complicate Íbson's slim chances of remaining at Gávea. The player, however, won't leave the club until the middle of next year and could play in the Libertadores if Flamengo qualifies.
"My mind is currently on Flamengo, but a lot can happen between now and June. I'm happy here, but my only problem with Porto is the coach, who said I don't fit into his tactical scheme," he said.
Fla x Santos: 14.527 tickets already sold
Aware of the importance of the fans in the final stretch of the Brasileirão, Fla's board has already made tickets available for the two remaining games that the team will play at Maracana: against Santos and Atlético-PR.
Apparently, the loss to Cruzeiro hasn't shaken fans' confidence. As of 17 p.m. yesterday, 14.527 tickets had been sold for the match against Santos next Sunday.
For the match against Atlético-PR, fans can participate in a promotion and exchange a 400g can of Neston for a green or yellow grandstand ticket, from the 18th to the 25th.
Club denies Renato Augusto's departure
In a statement to Flamengo's official website, vice president of football Kléber Leite denied that rumors about a possible interest from Chelsea, England, in luring midfielder Renato Augusto from Gávea are true. Since his promotion to Flamengo's professional ranks, the 19-year-old player has attracted interest from major European clubs. However, to date, all reports regarding his departure have remained mere speculation.
Despite guaranteeing that no one from the English club has approached him, the supporter has not ruled out the idea of playing on the Old Continent.
"Nothing was discussed with me. But this is a topic that needs to be studied. If it's good for me, Flamengo, and Chelsea, that's fine. It's no use being only good for me and bad for Flamengo, or good for Flamengo and bad for me. It has to be good for everyone," he said.
Renato is treated like a gem by the club's board. So much so that the release clause to buy him out of Gávea is US$30 million. Due to a series of injuries, the player was unable to replicate the strong performances that propelled him to star status in the Carioca championship and ended up losing his starting spot. However, with Maxi's drop in performance and his strong performance in the second half of the match against Cruzeiro, he's likely to receive another opportunity in the first team in the match against Santos next Sunday.
For Marcio, the fifth title belongs to Fla
The controversy surrounding the CBF, Flamengo, São Paulo, and the fifth-ever trophy continues. The organization does not recognize Flamengo's 87 Copa União title and will award the trophy for the first five-time Brazilian champion to the Tricolor. President Márcio Braga believes the club doesn't need to fight for the right to receive the award.
"Everyone considers us five-time champions, except the CBF, but, under pressure from public opinion, they will change their minds and award the trophy to Flamengo, as we are the club that truly owns it. They competed for 15 years to equal Flamengo. We will wait for the official bodies to award us the trophy," he said.
Adding spice to the dispute, São Paulo's vice president of football, Carlos Augusto de Barros e Silva, stated that it's hard to swallow the fact that the Gávea club waited 15 years to claim the trophy. Márcio Braga responded that the reason for the delay is that no one at the club knew about the trophy.
"The trophy was given to Júnior, but how it got from his hands to the CBF, I don't know. I didn't know that that trophy, among the many received by Flamengo, was the one that represented its fifth championship," he assured.
Planning for 2008 is postponed
Everything was planned. Flamengo was scheduled to beat Cruzeiro on Sunday, and today vice president of football Kleber Leite was scheduled to meet with coach Joel Santana to begin planning the 2008 season. But with the Rubro-Negro's unexpected loss to Raposa, the board decided to postpone the meeting until after the end of the Brazilian Championship.
On the agenda of the meeting was the permanence of Joel Santana, as well as the renewals of some athletes, such as defender Fábio Luciano, and the possible signings of reinforcements for the next season, such as striker Washington, who was offered to the club.
In a note on the club's official website, Kleber Leite justified the measure:
"The meeting that was scheduled for Tuesday with coach Joel Santana, aiming to discuss the Futebol-Fla 2008 project, was postponed to December 3, after the end of the Brazilian championship. This measure aims to concentrate all attention and energy on securing a place in the Libertadores," said an excerpt from the note.
Fla will be judged this Thursday for raining glasses
Flamengo will be tried this Thursday for the rain of cups that fell on the Maracanã pitch during the first match against Vasco da Gama on September 16th in the Brazilian Championship. The STJD Plenary Court may revoke up to ten home matches for the Rubro-Negro and impose fines ranging from R$10 to R$200 on the club.
Fla was acquitted in the first instance, but the prosecutor's office appealed and again reported the club under article 213 (failure to take measures capable of preventing and repressing disorders in its sports arena) of the Brazilian Code of Sports Justice.
Ibson downplays defeat to Cruzeiro
Ibson believes in Fla's recovery
Like all Flamengo teams, midfielder Ibson didn't perform well in Sunday's loss to Cruzeiro at Mineirão Stadium. However, the player sees the full week of work as an asset in the team's preparation for the next two games, which will be at Maracanã: against Santos on the 11th and against Atlético-PR on the 25th.
"Football is like that. Unfortunately, we didn't get a good result, but we have a long week to recover. We're coming off a tough game against Corinthians, where we fell behind. Now it's time to work hard to put in a good performance against Santos," Ibson told Rádio Tupi.
Souza plays against Santos on Sunday
Striker Souza returns to Flamengo's starting lineup for next Sunday's match against Santos at Maracanã. He did not play against Cruzeiro at Mineirão Stadium, as he was serving an automatic suspension following his third yellow card.
The center forward, who scored five goals in the Brazilian Championship, will replace Obina, who didn't perform well against Raposa. Coach Joel Santana's only question is who will play alongside Souza.
Diego Hypólito arrives in Rio this Tuesday
Flamengo's official website
Flamengo gymnast Diego Hypólito arrives in Brazil this Tuesday after shining and winning three more gold medals (World Cup - Germany, Super-Final - Germany and Arthur Gander Memorial Tournament - Switzerland).
The gymnast's arrival is scheduled for 9:45 a.m. at Tom Jobim International Airport and will be welcomed by the drum section and dancers from Portela, the samba school where Diego was a standout performer last Carnival.
Mengão continues to be overwhelming
Flamengo beats Iguaçu and wins its eighth victory in the State Basketball Championship
Pivot Coloneze had a great performance and was decisive for the victory
After the beating applied last Saturday, Flamengo continued its winning streak by defeating Iguaçu, in Nova Iguaçu, by 85 to 67 (52 to 45). This was the eighth, which keeps the club as the only undefeated team in the State Basketball Championship.
Coloneze was the standout performer of the match. With 27 points, the center left the court as the game's top scorer. Marcelinho also played a key role, contributing 18. For the home team, Jazwin's performance stood out. The American was Iguaçu's top scorer with 23 points, followed by Manteiguinha, who scored 10.
Their strong campaign will be put to the test in their next match, when the red-and-blacks will face Vasco in the long-awaited derby. The match will be on the 16th. Iguaçu will not play again until the 22nd, when they host Fluminense.
With a long period of inactivity before the match against Vasco da Gama (10 days), the challenge now will be to maintain the players' performance. To avoid losing match rhythm, the board is planning a friendly match for next weekend.
IGUAÇU: Manteiguinha (10), Alexandre (9), Jazwin (23), Raul (3) and Ralf (4). Entered: Wellington (7), Rodrigo (6) and Leandro (5).\ Coach: Carlos Eduardo Romano.\
FLAMENGO: Duda (5), Marcelinho (18), Fernando Mineiro (10), Alírio (7) and Coloneze (27). Entered: Wágner (6), Fred (2) and Amiel (10).\ Coach: Paulo Chupeta.\
DUEL OF THE LATEST PLACES - Today, starting at 19 p.m., Volta Redonda hosts Municipal, seeking to recover in the championship. Last weekend, Volta Redonda suffered two consecutive defeats (to Flamengo and Campos), and in the defeat to the Rio de Janeiro team, the deficit was 60 points. The team currently sits in seventh place with 10 points. Municipal is in a similar situation, having lost last Saturday to Iguaçu and currently sits at the bottom of the table with just 9 points.
Sergio Du Bocage
Here's What You Wanted!
The gods are in favor
The soccer gods are helping Flamengo. It's true that the inconsistency of teams, even those at the top of the table, is largely to blame, but what's been happening to Cruzeiro, Grêmio, Palmeiras, and Santos, the closest rivals in the fight for three spots in the Copa Libertadores, is almost unbelievable.
There's no doubt that Flamengo's fans are assured of their spot. The team is in fourth place and will play two consecutive home games, where, with the help of its number 12—the fans—it can, and should, earn six crucial points on its way. Flamengo will then reach 61 points, still not enough for the spot.
But their opponents aren't even winning at home. What can we say about Palmeiras and Grêmio? Even Santos stumbled. Cruzeiro had everything it needed to qualify, but decided to slip up in the final stretch.
The loss to Cruzeiro wasn't in the plans, but it was expected. Not in the way it was, but it's no disgrace to leave Mineirão defeated, especially after Raposas left Rio de Janeiro thrashed by Botafogo 4-1. It was a matter of honor for the Minas Gerais team to win on Sunday. Of course, they can recover. If the gods are truly on the red-and-black side's side, Timbu can already celebrate remaining in the First Division.
I don't know, but I think Flamengo will avenge last year's Fluminense defeat. The Tricolor lost its Libertadores spot late on to Palmeiras. Who knows, maybe revenge will come now? Vasco and Botafogo were left behind. Miracles do exist, but neither of them deserves it. They lost through their own fault, making mistakes with players, coaches, and directors. And the fans are the ones paying the price. The only option will be to settle for a spot in the Copa Sudamericana, which no one likes to fight for.
O Dia
Fla: Who will be Souza's partner in attack?
Maxi is no longer a star in Joel's eyes and Roger confesses that he is still not 100%
Marluci Martins
Rio - No one doubts that the fans will be Flamengo's 12th man on Sunday against Santos at the Maracanã. However, it remains to be seen who will be the team's 11th player to take the field. Who will be Souza's partner in attack?
With five goals in the Brazilian Championship, Souza didn't face Cruzeiro because he was suspended for three yellow cards. He'll be back on Sunday, and that's the only certainty for Flamengo's attack.
Maxi Biancucchi, with just two goals in the competition, is already beginning to lose prestige at Gávea. He scored in the victories over Fluminense (1-0) and Juventude (4-0) and was compared to Argentina's Dorval, but he's no longer catching the eye of coach Joel Santana.
“They thought the Argentine was one thing, but he’s not all that anymore,” complained a member of the coaching staff.
Substituted in the last two games, the Argentine's days appear to be numbered. He's counting on the recovery of Renato Augusto, who replaced him at halftime on Sunday. Having scored a goal in the Brasileirão, Renato Augusto, however, still needs to find his match fitness.
One outside striker is Obina, who started in the 3-1 loss to Cruzeiro, replacing the suspended Souza. With four goals in the Championship, Obina didn't do badly in Sunday's match, although he was isolated and not called upon.
Roger, a good option for the team, has improved his performance, scoring a goal in each of the last two games—Corinthians and Cruzeiro. But he's confided in Joel that he doesn't yet feel ready to play 90 minutes.
Therefore, the only certainty is the presence of fans on Sunday for the match against Santos, which is so important for two teams fighting for a spot in next year's Copa Libertadores. As of 17 p.m. yesterday, 14.527 tickets had already been sold. Sales continue this Tuesday, from 11 a.m. to 17 p.m.
Meeting with Joel is postponed
Hanging by a thread in the qualifying zone for next year's Copa Libertadores, Flamengo, fourth in the Brasileirão, is no longer experiencing the euphoric atmosphere of recent weeks. Yesterday's day off was maintained, but the meeting between coach Joel Santana and vice president of football Kléber Leite was postponed.
The two were scheduled to talk this week, but the loss that snapped Flamengo's five-game winning streak was so devastating that the coach and the director concluded it wasn't the time to make plans for next season. So the meeting was postponed until December 3rd.
"This measure aims to focus all attention and energy on securing a place in the Libertadores," the club's football department announced in an official statement.
On Thursday, Flamengo will be tried by the full court of the Superior Court of Justice (STJD) for the cups thrown by fans during Léo Moura's celebration in the match against Vasco da Gama on September 16. Flamengo risks losing up to 10 home matches.
In the first instance, Flamengo was acquitted, but the prosecutor's office appealed and again reported the club under article 213 (failure to take measures capable of preventing and repressing disorders in its stadium).
Flamengo will try again to sign Jônatas
Rio - Flamengo's board did everything possible to bring back defensive midfielder Jônatas from Espanyol in Spain in July of this year. However, the Spanish club's board refused to release the player on loan, and the deal fell through. Speculation is growing in Gávea about a possible new move by the Flamengo board in an attempt to secure Jônatas for 2008.
The player's name will be discussed in a meeting with coach Joel Santana this Tuesday, when the club's football leadership will begin discussing the football plan for the next season. Flamengo's vice president of football, Kléber Leite, will officially announce Joel Santana's appointment to remain in the position for 2008.
Sports Gazette
For Joel, victories at Maracanã guarantee a place in the Libertadores\ Gazeta Press\
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Flamengo has three games left in the Brazilian Championship, where they're fighting to finish in the top four and secure a spot in the Copa Libertadores. On Sunday, the team faces Santos, their direct opponent in this battle. For this match, Joel Santana will bring back striker Souza, who served a suspension against Cruzeiro. Another possibility is the return of defender Ronaldo Angelim, who has been sidelined for tests. Doctors are awaiting the results of these tests on Tuesday to decide whether the player will be cleared to play this weekend.
Changes made by the coach will only be decided later in the week. Joel wants to take advantage of the match against Peixe and then the match against Atlético-PR, both at Maracanã, to put Flamengo in a good position to achieve its goal.
"If we get these six points at home, we'll be in a position to compete with Náutico (last round, in Recife). For now, nothing is lost, and we'll have a week of work to get the team into the style we want to see at Maracanã," he said.
Midfielder Renato Augusto, who returned from injury and came on in the second half of the game against Cruzeiro, prefers not to demand a place in the team and says that now is the time for unity to seek a place in the Libertadores.
"I may have played well, but we need to focus on the team. It was a very bad loss for the team; we didn't have good posture on the field. The group's obligation now is to fight back and recover the points we lost. Our goal is to reach the Libertadores, and we only have three matches left to secure that qualification," Renato emphasized.
After the delay in the delegation's return to Rio de Janeiro, the group was given Monday off and will only return to training on Tuesday, when they work in Gávea.
Joel is expected to renew his contract, and Souza could stay. Reinforcements are on the agenda\ Gazeta Press\
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - The defeat to Cruzeiro last Sunday didn't change the Flamengo board's plans. Pleased with the team's progress in recent months in the Brazilian Championship, the Flamengo leadership is meeting with coach Joel Santana this Tuesday, when a contract renewal is expected to be finalized for the coach, whose contract was due to expire at the end of the year. Flamengo's management hopes that Joel Santana will qualify the team for the 2008 Copa Libertadores and lead the team in that competition. This year, under Ney Franco, the Rio de Janeiro team failed in the Libertadores and was eliminated early by Defensor-URU in the round of XNUMX.
With Joel Santana assured of his position, the board will likely give him the power to choose potential reinforcements for 2008. One of them is already confirmed and is already training at Gávea: midfielder Kléberson, who is just waiting for a FIFA-imposed suspension to end before he can play for the Rio de Janeiro club. Other names are on Joel Santana's agenda, including midfielder Jônatas, a Flamengo talent, and striker Washington, currently playing in Japan.
Other players, however, could take the opposite route and leave Gávea. One of them is midfielder Renato Augusto, who has been scouted by several European clubs and whose sale would serve to fill the club's coffers. The player's agent, Carlos Leite, said he was unaware of any possible negotiations.
"I don't see any obstacles to Renato Augusto staying. I don't think his injuries are a problem, and I think Flamengo wants to keep him," the agent said evasively in an interview with Rádio Brasil.
The person most likely to miss out on success in 2008 at the club is striker Leonardo, who arrived with high expectations at the start of the year but spent more time in the hands of the medical department.
Regarding contract renewals, the Flamengo board is also carefully approaching the matter. One of the priorities is retaining defender and captain Fábio Luciano, who has also expressed his desire to remain at Flamengo. Goalkeeper Bruno is another player whose directors will also pursue to secure his stay at Gávea. Striker Souza, whose contract runs until 2009, is expected to remain despite several inquiries.
"Souza is staying at Flamengo. We've had a lot of inquiries, but he's adapted very well to Flamengo and his intention is to stay. And he still has two years left on his contract," said Carlos Leite, who is also looking after the striker's interests.
PeléNet
Flamengo president "pins" CBF over fifth-placed title controversy
From UOL Esporte\ In Rio de Janeiro\
The battle between Flamengo and São Paulo for recognition as the first legitimate five-time Brazilian champion continues. This Monday, it was Flamengo's president, Márcio Braga, who spoke out about the matter, directly targeting the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF).
"Flamengo doesn't have to fight. Does anyone in Brazil not consider us five-time champions? Of course not. Only the CBF, but under pressure from public opinion, will not resist and will hand us the trophy. It's our right and one that society has already recognized," the director said in an interview with Rádio Brasil.
On Saturday, the club's legal vice-president, Michel Assef Filho, sent a notification to São Paulo's president, Juvenal Juvêncio, in an attempt to put an end to the controversy once and for all.
In the letter, Assef suggested that the tricolor leader, as a member of the Clube dos Treze, not accept the definitive trophy from the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) for the fifth national title.
The controversy over the "true fifth" arises because of problems that arose in the 1987 Brazilian Championship. At the time, Flamengo beat Internacional in the final and was champion of the green module of the Copa União, organized by Clube dos Treze.
However, the CBF decided that the Rio de Janeiro team would have to compete for the title against Sport, the champions of the yellow module. The Rio de Janeiro club refused, and so the organization considers the Pernambuco Lion the champion.
Renato Augusto admits to listening to offers to leave Flamengo
Bruno Rousso\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Renato Augusto's agent, Carlos Leite, denied the possibility of the midfielder leaving Flamengo next season. However, the player himself didn't rule out a possible deal with a European club. Despite prioritizing Flamengo, the young talent from Gávea admitted to evaluating all offers.
"For now, I don't know anything. In fact, I'm not even thinking about that, but rather about securing a place in the Libertadores. But of course, I'm always open to talking and seeing what's best for all parties," said the midfielder, who has a contract with Flamengo until July 30, 2011.
Among the many speculations, the one that caused the most impact was Chelsea's possible interest in Renato Augusto. However, to date, there has been no contact.
Throughout the year, several European clubs expressed interest in the player. Offers from Lyon in France and Palermo in Italy were made public, but ultimately fell through. The main obstacle was reportedly the high release clause: US$30 million (approximately R$53 million).
Almost 15 thousand tickets have already been sold for Fla x Santos
From UOL Esporte\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Flamengo fans promise to once again pack the Maracanã stadium for Sunday's match against Santos at 18:10 pm (Brasília time) for the 36th round of the Brazilian Championship. According to the club's press office, 14.527 tickets had already been sold by the end of Monday. A total of 79.894 tickets are available to fans, with advance sales beginning last Thursday.
The red-and-blacks' main goal in this match is to regain the competition's largest crowd, currently held by São Paulo, who brought 69.874 Tricolor fans to Morumbi Stadium in their 3-0 victory over América-RN last Wednesday in the 34th round. With this result, the São Paulo team secured the national title in advance.
Flamengo, however, has seven of the ten largest attendances in the competition. Including the second largest (63.189), achieved in the 2-0 victory over Grêmio, on October 21, in the 32nd round.
Rio's biggest clubs take the final step towards Timemania
From UOL Esporte\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Rio de Janeiro's four major clubs (Botafogo, Flamengo, Fluminense, and Vasco), along with América, Americano, Bangu, and Olaria, signed a debt acknowledgment agreement with the Severance Indemnity Fund (FGTS) on Monday. This was the final prerequisite for joining Timemania.
Previously, the clubs had already signed an agreement with the Federal Revenue Service, the National Social Security Institute (INSS), and the National Treasury Attorney General's Office. The lottery is scheduled to begin in January 2008.
"I remember the beginning, when Márcio Braga (Flamengo president), Bebeto de Freitas (Botafogo president) and I went to Brasília to talk to the then Minister of Sport, Agnelo Queiroz," said Fluminense president Roberto Horcades in an interview with the club's official website.
The lottery will feature the emblems of 90 clubs from Brazilian soccer's A, B, and C series. In the coming days, members from other states will also sign the FGTS debt confession.
Flamengo goes to trial twice this week
From UOL Esporte\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Flamengo will go to trial twice this week alone, and if they are punished with the maximum penalty, they could lose 20 home matches. The first hearing will be held on Thursday and will refer to the classic against Vasco da Gama on September 16th (1-1). The second, on Friday, will refer to the match against Grêmio (2-0) on October 21st. Both games were played at the Maracanã.
In both cases, the red-and-black club is subject to Article 213 (Failure to take measures capable of preventing and suppressing disorder in its sports arena) of the Brazilian Code of Sports Justice (CBJD). The penalties include a fine of R$10 to R$200 and the loss of home-field privileges for one to ten games.
In the first accusation, Flamengo will be held responsible for plastic cups thrown onto the pitch, at the moment Leonardo Moura celebrated the goal that ended up guaranteeing the 1-1 draw. This trial, in fact, was initially scheduled for the 18th, but was removed from the agenda by the then President of the Plenary, Virgílio Val, who exceptionally was in place of Rubens Approbato Machado.
The incident involving the 2-0 victory over Grêmio occurred during halftime. As São Paulo referee Sálvio Spinola Fagundes Filho was leaving the field, a firecracker and a full beer can were thrown at him from the stands.
Renato Augusto leaves his return to Fla in Joel's hands
Bruno Rousso\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Midfielder Renato Augusto has a good chance of regaining his starting spot for Flamengo next Sunday, when the team faces Santos at 18:10 PM (Brasília time) at Maracanã Stadium in the 36th round of the Brazilian Championship. The player's hopes were boosted by his strong performance in the 3-1 loss to Cruzeiro this Sunday at Mineirão Stadium. He came on for striker Maxi Biancucchi at halftime and delivered a performance worthy of praise from coach Joel Santana.
However, despite his return being a strong trend, the young talent from Gávea prefers not to rush. According to the supporter, his role is being played in the best possible way, and it's now up to the captain to make the decision he deems most appropriate.
"That's up to Joel. Obviously, I want to play, but I can't interfere directly. I've been doing my best and proving my quality. But the coach is the only one who can decide. In the meantime, I'll keep trying to always play my best football," he said.
Renato Augusto, however, isn't just competing with Maxi for a spot on the team. Roger, who has been performing well in recent games, is also in contention. He even secured the red-and-black team's 2-1 victory over Corinthians last Wednesday at Maracanã and also scored the only goal in the 3-1 loss to Cruzeiro.
Flamengo's board tries to end speculation about Renato Augusto
From UOL Esporte\ In Rio de Janeiro\
In an official statement, Flamengo's vice-president of football, Kleber Leite, denied speculation that the club was negotiating midfielder Renato Augusto with Chelsea, in England.
Flamengo denies it, but Renato Augusto himself has already admitted a new address\ FLA FIGHTS FOR THE FIFTH CUP\ The "rumor" emerged early Monday morning. The director also assured that the Rubro-Negro has not started any movement already thinking about next season.\
According to Kleber Leite, names of possible reinforcements will only be discussed from December 3rd, when a meeting is scheduled with coach Joel Santana to discuss the "Futebol-Fla 2008" project.
Despite the vehemence with which Renato Augusto's departure has been denied, the possibility is real. The athlete himself has already admitted to sitting down and discussing possible offers.
Flamengo concludes its Brazilian Championship campaign on December 2nd, facing Náutico at Aflitos Stadium. Before that, the team hosts Santos at Maracanã Stadium next Sunday and Atlético-PR on the 25th.
Globo Sport
Fla also goes to the STJD on Friday
The club will have a difficult week, with two trials that could take away home advantage.
Flamengo will have a difficult week ahead of it at the Superior Court of Justice (STJD). While the club will be tried on Thursday for incidents in the match against Vasco, on Friday the Rubro-Negro will be charged again. This time, the charges are for events that occurred in the match against Grêmio on October 21st.
As he was leaving the field during half-time of the game between the Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Sul teams, referee Sálvio Spínola alleges in the report that a mortar and a beer can were thrown in his direction.
Flamengo was charged under Article 213 (Failure to take measures capable of preventing and suppressing disorder in its sports arena) of the Brazilian Code of Sports Justice (CBJD). The penalties include a fine of R$10 to R$200 and the loss of home-field privileges for one to ten games.
Flamengo's defense strategy is simple. The club intends to file a police report with the Superior Court of Justice (STJD) detaining the two men accused of throwing the objects onto the field.
Homero: 'Zico and Renato Gaúcho are laymen'
Sport director says he forgives statements made by former Flamengo players, but attacks Márcio Braga
Rafael Cardoso
Zico said that Guarani and Sport played a fake final in 1987
Sport's board of directors was not at all pleased with the recent statements made by two former Flamengo players: Zico and Renato Gaúcho. Both players, who were present at the 1987 Copa União, protested the ongoing confusion surrounding the final trophy for the five-time Brazilian champion.
The Pernambuco club's vice president of football, Homero Lacerda, expresses his dissatisfaction with Flamengo fans, but forgives them for their "ignorance of the matter." His main target is the Flamengo presidency.
"Zico and Renato Gaúcho are laymen; they don't know what they're talking about. But that's okay, they don't need to know about these legal issues. I admit they say these things out of lack of knowledge. Now, the president of Flamengo is acting in bad faith. He knows everything; he was the president at the time. He can't claim innocence," he says.
Sport can take legal action against Fla
The Pernambuco board does not accept that the 1987 title is questioned by the Rio de Janeiro team
Rafael Cardoso
Replica of the cup that Flamengo won in 1992 and now wants the original
The dispute between São Paulo and Flamengo over the final possession of the five-time Brazilian champion's trophy is angering Sport's executives. The Pernambuco club refuses to accept the 1987 title being questioned and may even take legal action against the Rio de Janeiro club. The club's vice-president, Homero Lacerda, is outraged by the Flamengo executives' latest statements. He believes the intention of declaring the team from Gávea five-time champions is an insult to Sport's history and tradition.
"Everything that's being said is frivolous, an attack on a respected institution like Sport. Flamengo doesn't deserve these people who are exposing the club to ridicule. It's a respected team, but what's being done is absurd and an affront. In fact, it's even a crime under the Code of Civil Procedure. They're disobeying the law. I'm discussing with my lawyers what can be done," says the vice president of football.
The '87 title is a source of pride for Pernambuco fans. Supported by a Federal Regional Court (TRF) ruling (issued on May 2, 1994), which officially declared the club the Copa União champion, Sport refuses to be denied. Homero Lacerda asserts that of all the Brazilian titles, the only undisputed one belongs to Leão.
"There's no chance they'll take away our trophy. They can even question São Paulo's title, alleging anything, an irregular player, something like that. But Sport's title was determined by court order. There was a trial, and we won in every instance. And the same case can't be tried twice," he says.
Fla aims for vacancy and postpones meeting about 2008
The club's focus is on the Libertadores. The meeting between Kléber Leite and Joel has been rescheduled for December.
Joel and Kléber Leite talking about reinforcements? Only on December 3rd
Flamengo decided to focus solely on securing a spot in the Copa Libertadores. Therefore, secondary matters, such as the team's planning for 2008, were put off the agenda. For now.
The meeting between vice president of football Kléber Leite and coach Joel Santana was scheduled for this Tuesday. The meeting would outline the club's future for next year. The preseason, for example, is expected to take place at Granja Comary in Teresópolis.
However, these and other decisions were postponed until December 3, the day after the final round of the Brazilian Championship. In an official statement, Kléber Leite explains the reason for the change: "This measure aims to focus all attention and energy on securing a spot in the Libertadores."
Flamengo's squad is off this Monday. They'll return to training on Tuesday morning in Gávea.
Ibson leads the Flamengo Fans' Star
The red-black midfielder is far ahead, followed by goalkeeper Bruno and full-back Leonardo Moura
Voting for the Brasileirão Player of the Year award began on November 1st, and among Flamengo fans, midfielder Ibson is currently the winner, with about 65% of the vote. Bruno has 16%, Leo Moura 13%, Fábio Luciano 3%, and Juan 2%. The players were chosen by the GLOBOESPORTE.COM editorial team and will participate in the first phase of the 2007 awards.
Until November 7th, internet users can choose from the five nominees who will be named Flamengo's Star Player of the Brazilian Championship. The winner will be included in the general selection process, along with the other 19 nominees. From this list, the three nominees will be chosen to participate in the final selection.
For Santos fans, the game against Flamengo is the final
With Peixe and Fla stumbling, next Sunday's clash at Maracanã became a decisive one
With eight wins in their previous nine matches at Vila Belmiro, Santos was favored to earn another three points against Atlético-MG last Sunday. A result that would have virtually guaranteed the team's spot in the Copa Libertadores. But the team stumbled and ended up drawing 2-2. Santos' top scorer, Kléber Pereira, concludes that Flamengo will have to pay the price. The Rio de Janeiro team will be Santos' next opponents on Sunday at Maracanã, at 18:10 pm (Brasília time).
- We have to recover against Flamengo the points we missed out on at Vila - says the striker, who scored both goals for the black and white team in the draw with Galo (watch the goals from the match in the video).
The match promises to be one of the most important for both teams in the 2007 Brasileirão. With three rounds remaining, Peixe is second in the standings with 59 points. With the loss to Cruzeiro last Sunday, Flamengo dropped to fourth place with 55 points and is still at risk of not qualifying for the Libertadores.
"We wanted to seal this (the spot) as quickly as possible because the pressure is so intense. Now we have the chance to decide against Flamengo and we need to take advantage of it," Pedrinho declared.
Santos coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo's calculations show that 64 points will be needed to finish in the top four. If they beat Rubro Negro, Santos will need two more points from the six they will play for against Paraná (away) and Fluminense (at home).
Throw
Rio presidents praise Timemania
Lottery will help in the administration of clubs
Eight Rio de Janeiro clubs—América, Bangu, Americano, Olaria, Vasco, Botafogo, Fluminense, and Flamengo—signed a contract this Monday at Caixa Econômica Federal headquarters to pay off their FGTS debts in installments, a prerequisite for participating in Timemania. The presidents of Flamengo, Botafogo, and Fluminense spoke to Rádio Brasil about the importance of the Sports Lottery for the maintenance and management of their soccer clubs.
"It's important to change the management model of all Brazilian clubs. The moment we signed with Caixa Econômica Federal and then with the INSS (National Institute of Social Security) and the Federal Revenue Service, our brand began to be exploited. We already received a positive debt certificate to mobilize assets and change the management of the clubs so that debts no longer arise and to try to keep the athletes in the country," said Flamengo president Márcio Braga.
"It's a fight that Bebeto, Márcio, and I have been involved in for three and a half years. Without Timemania, no club can be managed," said Roberto Horcades, president of Fluminense.
"We hope for immediate success. It's a huge responsibility, as commitments to the government must be kept. The first test could take place in February, and we hope it's a success. Fans who play for their club have the opportunity to contribute even more," said Bebeto de Freitas, president of Botafogo.
'Only the CBF doesn't recognize the fifth title,' says president
For Márcio Braga, public opinion will change the CBF's position
Márcio Braga says society recognizes Fla's fifth title (Credit: Paulo Sergio)
The debate surrounding Flamengo's and São Paulo's achievements intensifies daily. The Rio de Janeiro club claims to be a five-time Brazilian champion, while São Paulo claims to be the only club to have won the Brazilian Championship title five times. Flamengo president Márcio Braga believes that everyone except the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) considers the Gávea club the first five-time champion.
"Flamengo doesn't have to fight for anything. Doesn't anyone in this country consider Flamengo a five-time champion? I think only the CBF, pressured by public opinion, will hand the trophy to Flamengo, as it is the club's right. Another team had to wait 15 years to become a five-time champion. Flamengo will wait for an official statement, but society has already recognized it," he said in an interview with Rádio Brasil.
Joel: 'We have to win our home games'
Coach says the first half for the red-black team was different from normal
After the 3-1 loss to Cruzeiro, Joel Santana tried not to lose his cool, being adamant about a goal set by the red-and-black coach: winning both home games – Santos and Atlético Paranaense. Regarding the Minas Gerais team's victory over his team, Joel points to the first half as the main reason for the failure.
"We had a very poor first half, completely different from what Flamengo had been playing in recent games. In the second half, we got things right, but ended up losing," explained the Clipboard Man.
Joel sees Rubro-Negro's next two games as crucial to maintaining their hopes of qualifying for the next Libertadores.
- We have two games at home and we have to win them - he simply said.
Souza and Renato Augusto will stay at Flamengo
Agent denies players' departure
As the end of the Brazilian Championship approaches, speculation about who will stay and who will leave Brazilian clubs is growing. However, the red-and-black fans have no reason to worry. According to Renato Augusto e Souza's agent, Carlos Leite, the players will remain at Gávea next season.
"Souza will stay at Flamengo. There are many inquiries, but he wants to stay. He's adapted to the club. Souza still has a two-year contract, and only a strong move from European football would lure him away from Brazil," he said in an interview with Rádio Brasil.
"Renato Augusto has had offers from a few clubs, but we talked, and Flamengo wants to keep him, and he wants to stay. I don't see any problem with him staying, even with the injuries he's had."
The football market will undergo a change
FIFA approves article prohibiting partnerships in players' economic rights
Carlos Monteiro RIO DE JANEIRO
The FIFA Executive Committee, meeting on the 29th and 30th of last month, made a decision that could change the economic and power relations in world football. According to the approved article, which is only awaiting regulation to be included in the player transfer statute, clubs will, in theory, be prohibited from negotiating the economic rights of their players with third parties.
Cases like Tevez, whose rights belong to MSI, and Thiago Neves, who is divided between Leo Rabello (68%), Luiz Alberto (22%) and Traffic (10%) will no longer be able to occur.
An expert on FIFA and international transfers, lawyer Eduardo Carlezzo, in an article published on the Migalhas website, which specializes in legal issues, believes that a bomb has been dropped.
"In theory, this rule, which is expected to come into effect in January, would prohibit clubs from carrying out this type of negotiation. The provision is open-ended, so from its interpretation, it could be said that several deals would be prevented from taking place. However, depending on the legal engineering used, they could be carried out," analyzes Eduardo Carlezzo in his article.
Marcelo Penha, special advisor to the Tricolor president, believes that businesspeople will eventually be able to circumvent the rules.
Brazilian clubs that are training clubs negotiate a portion of their players to advance revenue. This decision eliminates that possibility. You can be sure that many investors will be in a difficult situation and will immediately look for a way to avoid losing their investment.
Aware of the changing scenario, businessman Márcio Bittencourt has the recipe for getting around the rule:
– The investor will quickly rent a club.