Carlos Eduardo Mansur

Off the field, the club is struggling to strengthen its infrastructure and finally build its Training Center in Vargem Grande and move forward with the revitalization plan for Gávea. For the first time, the board sees a concrete possibility of securing the resources. In a recent meeting with representatives of the Rio de Janeiro government, Flamengo and Fluminense directors, as well as the president of the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation), directors of IMG and Odebrecht, received clear signals that the consortium formed by them should win the Maracanã tender, whose bidding process has not yet been launched. The clubs requested concessions in exchange for joining the consortium. In Flamengo's case, there will be no injection of money into the club, but rather works on the Training Center and in Gávea. \ In Europe, President Márcio Braga is seeking agreements to begin construction immediately. Last week, he presented the club's Board of Directors with a new project for the Gávea headquarters. The model alters the initial idea, which included a stadium for 28 people and a complex of shops, but was rejected by public authorities. At the time, the Rio de Janeiro State Government and the City Hall signaled to Flamengo that they would immediately authorize the construction if the project's dimensions were reduced. \ According to the new project, Gávea will have a stadium for 10 people, used for junior games and training sessions. The new gymnasium would have a capacity for almost 6 people, reaching 7.700 for concerts. The project also includes the modernization of the social area, a convention center, a theater, and almost 2 parking spaces. \ "Under these terms, we would not need an additional license," said Márcio Braga. \ Flamengo's decision to begin the project now takes into account the warning issued by the president of the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation), Ricardo Teixeira, to the Rio de Janeiro government: the Maracanã stadium needs to be ready in 2012, when FIFA will conduct an inspection for the 2014 World Cup. Therefore, construction should begin in 2009. During the construction, Flamengo is discussing sharing the Engenhão stadium with Botafogo. \ The club maintained the original project for the Vargem Grande training center, budgeted at R$25 million. \