When Flamengo resumed its adult futsal activities in 2007, it aimed to return to its rightful place in any sport: the top. It took just one year for the team to overcome many difficulties and win the state title. This result gave it the chance to compete in the 36th Brazilian Adult Futsal Cup, which began this Wednesday in São Paulo. The red-and-blacks, however, want much more than just participating in this competition.

Brazil's most traditional futsal tournament is a great opportunity for Flamengo to prove its worth at the national level. The sport hasn't been gaining prominence in Rio de Janeiro in recent years, and a team performing well in a championship so highly regarded by indoor soccer fans could be a great motivation for the locals. The red-and-black team, despite its youth, is well aware of the challenges it will face in this competition, but has worked hard to reap the rewards.

"Our team is aware that it will face a difficult championship, we know that we will face professional teams, but we will face them as equals. We work hard and we have the conditions for this," said winger/defender Michel Marques, state champion with Flamengo in 2008 and who returned to the club in the second half of the year after playing in the Futsal League, at the beginning of the year, for Vasco da Gama.

Flamengo is in Group 2 of the Taça Brasil, alongside São Paulo, Limoeiro, São José, and Minas Gerais, against whom the Flamengos play their first game this Thursday night at 19 p.m. at the Presidente Ciro II Gymnasium. The Minas Gerais team, five-time state and metropolitan champions, is coming off a strong result in their debut in the competition: with a late goal from Pixote, they defeated São José 1-0 and have already jumped to the top of the group.