Eduardo Vieira and Thiago Barros

Sports Journal

Rio de Janeiro Flamengo's futsal problems are numerous. Both on and off the court, the team is experiencing difficulties. It lacks structure, salary on time, team chemistry, and match rhythm. The latter two, however, could be resolved soon. Coach Cid Escarlate will have two weeks to try to correct the team's mistakes in time for the next Metropolitano match, against Piedade, on the 26th, in Gávea. It's time to train and get things right. However, off-court issues always end up interfering with the coach's work. The two weeks of training, for example, are actually only five days, since Flamengo only trains on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at the Bradesco Esporte Clube gymnasium in Tijuca. And even then, because some players work, not all of them can attend all activities. But the players' confidence and commitment on the court remain unchanged. "We'll have plenty of time to fine-tune the team. It's good for us to gain more chemistry and also for those who are injured, like Fabinho and I, to try to recover in time," says winger Saulo, who has a right thigh injury. The match will be the Rubro-Negro's home debut of the season. This is an added motivational factor for the team, which has a special relationship with the Ginásio Hélio Maurício. The team has gone over a year without losing at home and wants to prove its strength with the support of the fans. "Playing at Gávea is different. The opponent comes there knowing they're in Flamengo's backyard and that it's very difficult to win there. We have our fans, who always show up and cheer us on. It's always great to play there," says Cid Escarlate. It's worth remembering that Flamengo's campaign in the Metropolitan Championship so far consists of one win and one loss. The team debuted with a 6-2 victory over Grajaú, away from home, and was thrashed in the second round by Vassouras, also away from home.\ With these results, Rubro-Negro is in third place in Group A, with three points, behind Vassouras, who has six, and PEC, with the same three points but with one game less than Flamengo.\