Flamengo is welcomed with a party at Londrina City Hall
Mayor and council members pay tribute to the club and coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo
By Direct from Londrina (PR) - From the official website team - in
For about 40 minutes, Londrina's city hall felt like it had come to a standstill. Red-and-black shirts and cameras gave way to formal wear and computers. The traditional pad and pen were for autographs, not notes. And it was no surprise. The Flamengo delegation, staying in the city, was there to receive a tribute.
Mayor Barbosa Neto, accompanied by Londrina's council members, did the honors and expressed his excitement and satisfaction at welcoming the Flamengo squad. According to him, the fact that Flamengo's preseason training is taking place in the city is yet another incentive to use sports as a tool for social inclusion, a policy that is very strong in Londrina.
"I'm very happy to welcome Flamengo and Vanderlei Luxemburgo, who has been to Londrina before, and to be able to set an example for the city's young people who are interested in sports. The entire northern state of Paraná is very happy, and I can tell you that Londrina is lucky. You'll see that throughout the year," said Barbosa, who presented a plaque to Vanderlei Luxemburgo and another to Leonardo Moura.
The Flamengo coach, who trained the Brazilian pre-Olympic team in the city and was also on the field at the inauguration of Estádio do Café as a player in 1976, expressed his gratitude for the partnership between Flamengo, Londrina, and SM Sports. He highlighted the city's quality of life, the facilities of the training center, and the benefits that this decision to train in Paraná could bring to Flamengo.
"I'm friends with Sergio (Malucelli, owner of SM Sports), but that's not why I came here. I came because I know the city. It was a great opportunity, which reduced Flamengo's preseason costs, and because the structure we're being given is excellent. This is a great partnership. I'm very satisfied, I have good memories here, and I hope I can forge a path of new victories after these days here," he added.
Mayor Barbosa Neto, accompanied by Londrina's council members, did the honors and expressed his excitement and satisfaction at welcoming the Flamengo squad. According to him, the fact that Flamengo's preseason training is taking place in the city is yet another incentive to use sports as a tool for social inclusion, a policy that is very strong in Londrina.
"I'm very happy to welcome Flamengo and Vanderlei Luxemburgo, who has been to Londrina before, and to be able to set an example for the city's young people who are interested in sports. The entire northern state of Paraná is very happy, and I can tell you that Londrina is lucky. You'll see that throughout the year," said Barbosa, who presented a plaque to Vanderlei Luxemburgo and another to Leonardo Moura.
The Flamengo coach, who trained the Brazilian pre-Olympic team in the city and was also on the field at the inauguration of Estádio do Café as a player in 1976, expressed his gratitude for the partnership between Flamengo, Londrina, and SM Sports. He highlighted the city's quality of life, the facilities of the training center, and the benefits that this decision to train in Paraná could bring to Flamengo.
"I'm friends with Sergio (Malucelli, owner of SM Sports), but that's not why I came here. I came because I know the city. It was a great opportunity, which reduced Flamengo's preseason costs, and because the structure we're being given is excellent. This is a great partnership. I'm very satisfied, I have good memories here, and I hope I can forge a path of new victories after these days here," he added.