Dedication is the key word in preseason
Players emphasize the importance of dedicating themselves in the first few days to reap the rewards throughout the year.
By Official website advisory and team - in
Time is short, so dedication must be doubled. It is with this mindset that the Flamengo team begins its preseason in 2010. With just nine days of training ahead in Porto Feliz before returning to Rio de Janeiro for the Campeonato Carioca debut against Caxias, the 2009 Brazilian champions know they will have to work hard and dedicate themselves to reap the rewards for the rest of the year, with the Copa Libertadores as their main objective.
Midfielder Kleberson, who missed the final stretch of the 2009 Brasileirão due to injury, is one of the players most excited about the start of the year. Still a little behind his teammates in terms of fitness, precisely because of the injury, the number 15 prepared individually during the holidays and says he will work hard to soon be on par with the rest of the group. For Flamengo and also for the Brazilian national team.
"Last year was difficult for me because of the injury, but I still won two titles. I'm a little behind the group physically, I know that, but I dedicated myself a lot during the holidays to get in good shape for this preseason. This is an important year for Flamengo, we have tough competitions, and so it's worth everyone's dedication so that 2010 will be even better than 2009. I have another big motivation, which is going to the World Cup," noted the five-time world champion in 2002.
David agrees. The young defender, who will make his debut in the Copa Libertadores, made his name in Flamengo's history by scoring one of the goals in the 2-1 victory over Grêmio in the final round of the 2009 Brasileirão. But he wants much more. He believes the board will replace the players who left the club and guarantees that, with dedication, the squad can achieve even better results this season.
"This will be my first Libertadores. I've always dreamed of competing in the competition, and I'm very motivated. I'll work hard in the preseason to be as good as possible in the competitions. Everyone made the most of their vacation, we had plenty of time to rest, but the preseason will be short, so it's important for everyone to dedicate themselves. It'll be hard work, intense training, but if the team does its part, they'll reap the rewards all year long," said David.
The South American competition is indeed Flamengo's top priority for 2010. Even Kleberson, who has won several titles under his belt, including a World Cup, is eager to give the Red-Black Nation this gift. He recalls the unexpected elimination in 2008, to América-MEX, and assures that the team will do everything possible to avoid a repeat of what happened that year and also in 2007, when the team lost to Defensor.
"The Libertadores is the most important competition the club is competing in this year. Last year, the team did well, winning two of the three tournaments it played in, not to mention the South American, and we hope to have a very good season in 2010 as well. The elimination against América-MEX in the 2008 Libertadores was very strange. Now we have to work twice as hard to win the title," he concluded.
Midfielder Kleberson, who missed the final stretch of the 2009 Brasileirão due to injury, is one of the players most excited about the start of the year. Still a little behind his teammates in terms of fitness, precisely because of the injury, the number 15 prepared individually during the holidays and says he will work hard to soon be on par with the rest of the group. For Flamengo and also for the Brazilian national team.
"Last year was difficult for me because of the injury, but I still won two titles. I'm a little behind the group physically, I know that, but I dedicated myself a lot during the holidays to get in good shape for this preseason. This is an important year for Flamengo, we have tough competitions, and so it's worth everyone's dedication so that 2010 will be even better than 2009. I have another big motivation, which is going to the World Cup," noted the five-time world champion in 2002.
David agrees. The young defender, who will make his debut in the Copa Libertadores, made his name in Flamengo's history by scoring one of the goals in the 2-1 victory over Grêmio in the final round of the 2009 Brasileirão. But he wants much more. He believes the board will replace the players who left the club and guarantees that, with dedication, the squad can achieve even better results this season.
"This will be my first Libertadores. I've always dreamed of competing in the competition, and I'm very motivated. I'll work hard in the preseason to be as good as possible in the competitions. Everyone made the most of their vacation, we had plenty of time to rest, but the preseason will be short, so it's important for everyone to dedicate themselves. It'll be hard work, intense training, but if the team does its part, they'll reap the rewards all year long," said David.
The South American competition is indeed Flamengo's top priority for 2010. Even Kleberson, who has won several titles under his belt, including a World Cup, is eager to give the Red-Black Nation this gift. He recalls the unexpected elimination in 2008, to América-MEX, and assures that the team will do everything possible to avoid a repeat of what happened that year and also in 2007, when the team lost to Defensor.
"The Libertadores is the most important competition the club is competing in this year. Last year, the team did well, winning two of the three tournaments it played in, not to mention the South American, and we hope to have a very good season in 2010 as well. The elimination against América-MEX in the 2008 Libertadores was very strange. Now we have to work twice as hard to win the title," he concluded.