THE GLOBE
For a competitive Flamengo, Joel trades experience for health
Cristian and Marcinho could be the new faces in the Copa Libertadores debut
JOEL TALKS to the players after the training session: the coach wants a physically fit team in Tacna
Fabio Juppa
Of the few phrases gleaned from the conversation between Joel Santana and the Flamengo players after the training session in which the youth players, reinforced by Gavilán, Maxi, and Marcinho, beat the first team 1-0 yesterday, one, "We're trying really hard to play," said by the coach with a disapproving expression, was a harbinger of what he would announce minutes later. Believing that, for the Libertadores debut against the unknown Coronel Bolognesi, health and chemistry are more important than experience, Joel revealed that he will likely make one or two changes to the team for tomorrow's game in Tacna.
Joel is so convinced of his ideas that he hasn't even made the traditional, well-worn mystery about where he intends to move. The defense will be the same, with Bruno, Léo Moura, Fábio Luciano, Ronaldo Angelim, and Juan. Jaílton, Ibson, and Toró are confirmed in midfield. Jônatas, who wasn't playing for Espanyol when he was hired and has been gradually introduced by Joel, is one of the coach's doubts.
Defender Leonardo arrives to replace Rodrigo
Despite his experience, his period of inactivity could weigh against him, as was the case with Kleberson. Cristian, a starter on the team that secured a Libertadores spot in last year's Brazilian Championship, is the first option. Up front, Diego Tardelli, another player who arrived at Gávea after about two months out, could be overlooked by Marcinho as Souza's attacking partner.
"You don't take four players out and put four in at once on a team like ours, which has had a certain style of play for six months," Joel explained. "We'll take the doubts of Jônatas, Kleberson, and Tardelli into account and field our best players at the moment. In these times, health matters."
The club registered 25 players—including Renato Augusto—for the first phase of the competition. Twenty-one will travel for the match against Coronel Bolognesi. Defender Leonardo, formerly of Palmeiras and Goiás, was signed to replace Rodrigo, who fractured his arm.
In the coming days, Flamengo will file a lawsuit with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) demanding that Comenbol comply with FIFA's decision to ban matches between clubs, not just national teams, above 2.750 meters. On April 9, the team will face Cienciano in Cusco, at an altitude of 3.360 meters. In a meeting with CBF president Ricardo Teixeira, representatives of Fluminense and the American company ISG, Flamengo signed a memorandum of understanding to participate in the Maracanã privatization bid, with no set date.
The result of the Fla-Flu game excites Peruvians.
Players claim rivals are careless in defense
Carlos Eduardo Mansur
TACNA, Peru. The fact that Flamengo rested almost its entire starting lineup was ignored. The thrashing suffered by the red-and-black team in the Fla-Flu match, broadcast live in Peru, ended up fueling Coronel Bolognesi's players. Suddenly, the tone of the discourse in Tacna changed. If previously the words were very cautious, now the Peruvians claim they have found the key to victory in their Copa Libertadores debut.
On Sunday, training only took place after the Fla-Flu match, behind closed doors. Yesterday morning, coach Juan Reynoso once again decided that the training session would be held in secret. Journalists already at the training center were evacuated. At the end, the Peruvians were optimistic. For them, despite being short-handed, Flamengo displayed a style of play that gives them a chance of victory.
"Flamengo has a good team, but they're sloppy at the back. The key is to counterattack, because their team comes out a lot. The defensive midfielders attack," said defender Balbín.
- The defenders are slow - added midfielder Jesus Chavez, referring to the reserve defense that played the Fla-Flu.
Mexican defender Ostersen set the tone for what Bolognesi will be like.
"We have to be organized. Flamengo is always looking for a goal, which creates space at the back. If we're careful in our marking, we'll take advantage," he stated. "But we'll have work to do at the back. The forwards are powerful. One mistake will result in a goal."
True to his controversial style, coach Juan Reynoso will only speak today, after two weeks of silence with the local press. In secret training sessions, he prepared the team in a 4-4-2 formation. Today, when he lands, even without any threat of hostility, Flamengo will have an escort from their arrival at the airport, at the hotel, and on their way to the stadium. A specialized logistics company hired by Flamengo is in Tacna.
Fernando Calazans
In terms of composure, Joel Santana's handling of Flamengo's 4-1 defeat to Fluminense was exemplary. Even after the game, when, as they say, coaches and players are still hot-headed.
But Joel, who I had been finding strange due to his nervousness and agitation on the sidelines, recovered on Sunday his calm, sober temperament, of someone who has lived in football for so long, and with so many victories, that he doesn't need to lose his head - whether it's hot or cold - because of a defeat.
He said he will study how to act tomorrow, in the opening match of the Libertadores Cup, and that he will once again field Flamengo's best team, thus transmitting security to the players.
To top it all off, he even praised Thiago Neves, Flamengo's tormentor. And who could fail to praise that impeccable performance?
SPORTS JOURNAL
Getting closer and closer
Romário has already met with Kleber Leite and Marcio Braga to agree on his move to Flamengo
Thiago Bokel and Nathan de Lima
Marcio Braga met with Romário at CBF headquarters
With each passing day, the club's board's dream of signing striker Romário becomes more real. After dinner with vice president of football Kleber Leite last Sunday, the player met with president Marcio Braga at CBF headquarters yesterday.
Also yesterday, Vasco's legal department announced that it will no longer defend the player against the doping charge for using finasteride, a drug used in a hair loss medication. Romário has already announced that he will have his own lawyer in the case.
"I chose Mário Pucheau to be my lawyer and anything related to my trial will be with him now. Due to the complications I've had, I don't want to talk about this matter anymore," said the striker.
The club's president denied having met with Baixinho at the CBF to discuss the player's transfer to Flamengo. According to him, the two met by chance.
"Romário had one matter to discuss with the CBF and I had a completely different one. But he confirmed to me that the only club where he holds the title of owner-partner is Flamengo. Not even Vasco, or any other club he's played for, has that. It's further proof that Romário is a Flamengo fan," the director explained.
Maracanã bidding
Marcio Braga also said yesterday that Flamengo has joined forces with Fluminense and ISG (International Stadia Group) to formalize their intention to manage the Maracanã. However, as the bidding process has not yet been published, no contract has been signed to formalize the agreement.
"We had a meeting today (yesterday), where we signed a letter of intent to manage the Maracanã. We can't sign the contract without knowing what the clubs will be responsible for managing and how much they will have to pay. We presented our intention, but depending on what is requested in the tender, this partnership may not even happen," said Marcio Braga.
Scheduled to take place in November and then December, the stadium's bidding process has not yet been released. The Fla-Flu duo had already announced their intention to form a partnership as soon as they learned of the possibility of managing the Maracanã.
Joel doesn't know Bolognesi yet
When Flamengo's group stage in this year's Copa Libertadores was drawn, the Flamengo fans had one question on their minds: Who is this Colonel Bolognesi? Today, on the eve of the match against the Peruvian team, it's not just the nation that's unaware of the qualities of the red and white team from Tacna.
Last week, some players like right-back Leonardo Moura and striker Diego Tardelli had already confessed that they didn't even know the name of tomorrow's opponent, and yesterday, it was left-back Juan's turn to say that he also doesn't know anything about the opponent.
"We don't know our opening opponents yet, we'll only find out at the time. We're still going to find out what awaits us, but we already know that the match will be very difficult," said Juan.
To everyone's surprise, it's not just the red-and-black players who are unaware of the qualities of last year's Peruvian Clausura champion. Coach Joel Santana said that despite having already sought extensive information, he still hasn't been able to find out about Colonel Bolognesi and warned that he hopes to get something significant when he arrives in Peru today to use in his pre-match presentation.
"We haven't received any information about them yet. We don't know anything, we're looking into it, but it's very difficult. We're going to talk to our group and try to get through it as best as possible," the coach confessed.
The liberators defined
Fla announces the list of players who will compete in the first phase of the South American competition
Nathan de Lima and Thiago Bokel
Joel Santana talks to the group that will travel to Tacna today to face Coronel Bolognesi
Flamengo released late yesterday afternoon the list of 25 warriors who will defend the club's colors and the nation's honor in this year's Copa Libertadores. The Flamengo soldiers are preparing to travel to Peru today, where they will face the first battle of the competition tomorrow, against Coronel Bolognesi.
Coach Joel Santana's roster of players didn't have many surprises, the biggest of which was the exclusion of Rodrigo Arroz. In his place, the newly signed Leonardo was named.
The other changes were the jersey numbers, which are fixed in the competition. Despite being starters throughout the year, midfielders Jaílton and Toró received the numbers 14 and 21, respectively.
Unlike last year, the Gávea club didn't give up the number 24 jersey, and the one who kept it was third-choice goalkeeper Marcelo Lomba. Coach Joel Santana warned that he won't make any major changes to the team that has been playing since last year. The coach hinted that his only doubts are between Kléberson or Jônatas for the defensive midfield position and Marcinho or Diego Tardelli for the attack.
"I'm taking these issues into consideration. We need to field a healthy team. We can't rush things. I'm pleased with this group's performance. We'll change at most one or two players. The core will be the same, with Ibson, Toró, Souza, and the others who had a great campaign last year. We'll see if the players who arrived this year, like Tardelli, Jônatas, and Kleberson, can come in. I have these doubts because I'm still not completely satisfied with the team's current performance," explained Joel, who is aware of the difficulties the team will face throughout the competition.
"We have to know how to compete, I hope that Brazilian football is well represented, but we all know that it is a difficult tournament," added the coach.
Joel's starting eleven should be Bruno, Jaílton, Fábio Luciano and Ronaldo Angelim; Léo Moura, Ibson, Jônatas, Toró and Juan; Diego Tardelli and Souza.
Opponent brings several curiosities
Flamengo's opponent tomorrow, Coronel Bolognesi, is far from a traditional club, but it is full of interesting facts. One of its directors is Claudio Pizarro Dávila, father of striker Claudio Pizarro, of the Peruvian national team and Chelsea in England. The coach is former defender Juan Reynoso, who played 84 matches for the Peruvian national team. Another interesting fact is another Mario Soto who will be in Flamengo's path. In 1981, a Cobreloa defender with the same name was accused by Flamengo players of playing in the Libertadores final with a rock in his hand. Coronel Bolognesi's manager has already declared himself calmer than the Chilean.
Club signs new defender
To fill the absence of defender Rodrigo, who fractured his right forearm in the 2-1 victory over Volta Redonda last Thursday, Flamengo's board acted quickly. Since the deadline for registering players for the first stage of the Copa Libertadores ended yesterday at 19 p.m., it was unlikely the club would announce any reinforcements. However, defender Leonardo, who was in dispute with Goiás, was confirmed yesterday and has already been registered for the South American competition.
Leonardo Devanir de Paula, born on March 12, 1977, is a native of Juiz de Fora and was discovered by Tupi-MG. In 2000, the defender joined Palmeiras for the Copa Libertadores that year. Despite a strong start at the São Paulo club, he suffered several injuries and was eventually transferred to Goiás, where he remained until the end of last year. He was scheduled to report last night and sign a contract until December 31 of this year, with the option to extend for another season.
Coach Joel Santana celebrated the signing of the new reinforcement on the last day of registration:
"We had other options, but none at his level. He's a player who's above what we expected to sign and has already played in two Libertadores. I've heard great things about him, and he'll also be able to fill in for Fábio Luciano when he's unable to play," Joel Santana enthused.
Memory: At Obina's feet, routine continues
Claiton tries to steal the ball from supporter Morais in the 2007 semifinal
On February 25th of last year, history repeated itself. The opponent was the same, and the outcome was the same: qualifying for the Guanabara Cup final by defeating Vasco on penalties.
If in 2004 the hero of the qualification was midfielder Felipe, in 2007, striker Obina and goalkeeper Bruno, two idols of the current squad, shared the credit for the victory. Just three minutes into the match, a play divided the Red-Black Nation between joy and sadness: Obina, the darling who had been enjoying excellent form, opened the scoring at the Maracanã stadium and tore his knee ligaments as he shot. This injury sidelined the striker for about five months.
After this episode, the game continued to be lively. Flamengo, the superior team, had two chances to extend their lead, but Vasco was the one who scored. Marcelinho, currently with Botafogo, capitalized on a good cross from Leandro Amaral and tied the match.
In the second half, Flamengo came back stronger, and midfielder Juninho, who came on as a substitute, created some good plays for Flamengo. However, the tie persisted, and the tie was decided on penalties. It was Bruno's turn to step up. The goalkeeper, who had made a mistake in the previous game against Madureira, redeemed himself in the best possible way, saving two shots, thus securing Flamengo's place in the first-round final.
Memory: Vitória paved the way for the title
Pedro Cavalcanti
Supporter Felipe won the dispute with Rodrigo Souto in 2004 and took Fla to the final of the GB Cup
Flamengo has had an impressive record in the Guanabara Cup semifinals since the new format for the Campeonato Carioca was adopted. On February 15, 2004, the team won this stage by defeating its biggest rival, Vasco da Gama, 2-0. Flamengo was superior throughout the match, and with a technically superior team led by maestro Felipe, they played engaging football and deserved the victory.
With 18 minutes of play, the defender, who was impossible, made a great play on the left leaving the full-back Victor Boleta disconcerted, and even though he was left-footed, he opened the scoring with a shot with his right foot.
The number 10's show continued, but Flamengo's second goal eluded him. Veteran Zinho crossed to defender Henrique, who, with a striker's opportunism, doubled the lead for Flamengo. From then on, Flamengo managed their advantage effectively and faced no major challenges throughout the match.
Of the players in the current red-black squad, Ibson and Jônatas were part of that team.
The former, alongside Felipe, had an excellent performance. The latter came on later in the match in place of Zinho, showing his usual skill, but fell for Vasco's Morais's provocation and was sent off.
Club renews sponsorship with Petrobras
After much uncertainty and discussion of values, president Marcio Braga announced yesterday that he had finally reached an agreement with Petrobras to renew the sponsorship — the state-owned company has been a partner of Flamengo for 24 years.
But despite asking to increase the sponsorship quota to R$23,5 million/year, the red-and-black board had to give in and accept the amount offered by Petrobras (R$16,2 million). But in 2009, the fight for increased revenue continues.
"We have a goal of reaching São Paulo's annual revenue level. In 2007, we raised R$80 million, while they raised R$110 million, not counting player sales. It's not the largest contract in the country, but Petrobras adjusts the amounts according to the annual monetary correction index. We just need to draft the contract," explained the club's president, who also confirmed that the club is trying to bring forward the renewal of its contract with Nike, which expires in June 2009.
Maracanã should belong to the CBF and the Fla-Flu duo
Letter of intent was signed this Monday
CBF, Fla and Flu sign agreement for Maracanã
The presidents of Fluminense, Roberto Horcades, Flamengo, Marcio Braga, CBF, Ricardo Teixeira and International Stadia Group (ISG), Ian Todd, signed, in a meeting held on Monday morning, in Rio de Janeiro, a protocol of intentions for the privatization of Maracanã.
The agreement is the first step for both clubs and the CBF toward becoming full owners of the stadium. ISG was the company that remodeled and refurbished Wembley Stadium in England.
Below is the full official statement issued after the meeting:
Official Note
The Brazilian Football Confederation - CBF, Clube de Regatas Flamengo, Fluminense Football Club and International Stadia Group - ISG, represented by their respective presidents, publicly announce the following:
1 - They signed on this date a protocol of intentions through which they formalized their purpose of joining together to participate in the privatization and/or concession process of Maracanã.
2 - The form of association will be discussed between the parties as soon as the rules and the respective notice are published by the Government of the State of Rio de Janeiro.
3 - ISG was chosen by the groups and the CBF due to its international experience in the financial structuring and commercial administration of sports arenas and football stadiums.
Rio de Janeiro, February 11, 2008.
Márcio Braga hopes to win the war against altitude
Rubro-Negro director says it's about preserving the athletes' lives
Flamengo president Márcio Braga continues his fight to prevent the club from playing at altitude. Cienciano, which plays in the city of Cuzco, 3.400 meters above sea level, is in the same group as Flamengo in the Copa Libertadores. According to the director, this isn't just about the club's interests, but also about the players' survival.
"We've already received the signatures of the presidents of São Paulo, Fluminense, and Cruzeiro. Only Santos's signature is missing. With this, Flamengo will emerge stronger. But we need to get this done by April 9th, when the match against Cienciano is scheduled to be played in a stadium at an altitude above the permitted altitude. This isn't about Flamengo players or any other club, but rather about preserving the lives of our athletes," said Márcio Braga in an interview with Rádio Tupi.
Regarding a possible return of Romário to the club, the president of the club is positive about Baixinho's arrival and says that the striker can bring benefits not only on the field.
"We're making a proposal for an understanding, which seems like a good one. I really like him and would like to see him wearing a Flamengo shirt again. Furthermore, he's a partner and owner of the club. The marketing department is working on that," he concluded.
Fabio Luciano defends teammates
Defender Fabio Luciano didn't play in the match against Fluminense, but he was at Maracanã to support Flamengo. Aware of the poor result, Fabio came to his teammates' defense. He emphasized that this isn't a time to criticize, but rather to support all the players in the squad.
"They're young players and they need to take this defeat as a lesson. They'll wake up in a bad mood, but they need to lift their heads because on Wednesday they can help us," says the defender, who returns to the Flamengo team next Wednesday against Coronel Bolognesi.
Mengão in the Libertadores of baskets
The red-black team debuts on the 25th in Uruguay, in the South American Basketball League
Pedro Ivo Almeida
Winger Marcelinho was a standout in winning the State Championship for the third time and with his experience he will lead Flamengo in the South American League
Holder of the most state basketball titles in Rio de Janeiro, 33 in total, and the best campaign in the current National Championship, Flamengo travels to Montevideo on the 24th in search of a title that is still missing from its extensive collection: the South American Club League.
The Gávea team was confirmed by the International Basketball Federation of the Americas (FIBA Americas) as one of three Brazilian representatives in the competition, alongside Universo/Brasília and Pitágoras/Minas TC, after inheriting the spot from clubs that would have been eligible to compete in the tournament but lost their spot due to not participating in the current National Championship. In the last international tournament it competed in, the Liga das Américas, last December, the team was unsuccessful, being eliminated in the first round.
According to coach Paulo Sampaio, known as Chupeta, his team is aware of the difficulties they will encounter, but that they are currently going through a very good moment and that the mistakes made in the last competition have been taken as a lesson.
"The team is well aware of the difficulties they will face in Uruguay, but they are well prepared. We know it's a high-contact game, with completely different refereeing practices, and that we'll also face pressure from the home crowd. But I'm sure my players have absorbed everything we discussed after the last tournament and won't make the same mistakes again," the coach commented.
The South American Club League begins on February 22nd. The tournament will bring together 12 teams divided into three groups with different venues.\ In Caracas, Venezuela, the local team Cocodrilos, Boca Juniors (Argentina), Brasíla and Regatas (Peru) will play on the 22nd, 23rd and 24th. Trouville (Montevideo), Libertad de Sunchales (Argentina), Flamengo and Millonarios de Tarija (Bolivia) will play in Montevideo, between the 25th and 27th. In Corrientes, from February 29th to March 2nd, Regatas Corrientes, Minas, Malvín (Uruguay) and Sol de América (Paraguay) will play.\
Quarries on the path of Fla
In the first phase of the South American tournament, everyone plays against everyone else in their groups, with the top two teams in each group and the two best third-placed teams qualifying for the next phase.
Despite the good form it is experiencing in the National Championship, Flamengo will not have an easy time in the South American competition, which usually has very balanced games, due to the rivalry.
The Gávea team will face Truville, the home team, Libertad Sunchales, the current champion and main opponent in this first phase, and the Millionarios team, one of the main forces in Colombian basketball, which usually has at least two good Americans in its squad.
The Moment of Truth - São Paulo teams Catanduva and São Bernardo open the second semifinal of the National Women's Basketball Championship tomorrow. The match will be at 20 p.m. at the Anuar Pachá gymnasium in Catanduva. The three Rio de Janeiro representatives in the competition have already been eliminated: Teresópolis, Fluminense and Botafogo.
Sergio Du Bocage
With reservations
Sergio Du Bocage bocage@jsports.com.br
Sunday's Fla-Flu matchup perfectly reflected how we should view the Carioca Championship, and even the outcome of the match. With reservations! Neither the match's result nor the semifinals should be taken into consideration, which could give the impression that the four "big" teams are performing at a very good level, especially when compared to the São Paulo teams, where Ponte Preta, Guaratinguetá, and Noroeste are among the top four, leaving only São Paulo room to fight for a spot in the final stage.
A quick look at the results from Group B of the Carioca Championship further highlights the doubts: Madureira defeated Botafogo and Vasco and was eliminated from the semifinals. The Tricolor from the suburbs is the only team in the championship to beat two major teams and is eliminated. I suggest that, in the Rio Cup, Madureira play all matches at their own stadium, as they deserve to!
This regulation, already considered absurd before its introduction, proved absurd throughout the Guanabara Cup. It's unacceptable that Flamengo, Fluminense, Vasco, and Botafogo won't leave their stadiums to face the "smaller" teams. It's quite likely that, at the end of the championship, holding these big semifinal matches—yes, they should be repeated in the Rio Cup—will end up masking the many deficit-ridden matches, also caused by the inflation of teams in the current competition—16 is a joke! It's a shame the public is being fooled.
The fans deserve congratulations, once again. Also due to the regulations, the highly anticipated first Fla-Flu of the year turned into a reserve team match. Even so, more than 39 people attended the Maracanã, the largest attendance in Brazilian football this year. Even the Ba-Vi match, played on the same Sunday between two teams battling for the top spot in the Campeonato Baiano, drew far fewer people. But now I have a question: did he go to the stadium as a precaution? Yes, that's right. The regulations are so poor that Sunday's Fla-Flu match may have been the only one of the current championship.
THE DAY
Marcio with open arms
President remembers that Romário is a partner and still supports Rubro-Negro
Janir Junior
Rio - Flamengo president Márcio Braga highlighted the fact that Romário is a member-owner of the club, which, according to the director, hasn't happened with any other team the striker has played for. The director's speech is already a welcome one for Baixinho. "Romário still has a lot to give, even if it's not on the field. Furthermore, he's a Flamengo fan and has the title of member-owner, which hasn't happened with any other club, not even Vasco," the director stated.
Márcio said that the club's vice president of football, Kléber Leite, reached a good understanding at the Sunday night dinner with Romário. The president is now awaiting the agreement to learn more about the marketing project involving the striker. Yesterday, one day after meeting with Romário, Kléber commented on the dinner. "We showed Romário that we have a clear plan and talked to him about the project, but without elaborating on the details yet. The conversation was very good and friendly," the Gávea club director emphasized.
Yesterday, Márcio Braga even said that, if necessary, Flamengo would make its lawyers available to Romário during the appeal trial against the doping charge for using finasteride, scheduled for Thursday. However, according to Kléber Leite, the striker already has someone to defend him: lawyer Mário Pucheau.
Márcio also announced that Flamengo and Fluminense signed a memorandum of understanding yesterday for the privatization of Maracanã. He, Fluminense president Roberto Horcades, and CBF president Ricardo Teixeira, as well as Ian Todd (of the International Stadium Group), met yesterday morning. "The company is the same one that made the construction of the new Wembley Stadium possible. The contract can only be signed after the public notice is published," Márcio said.
Joel, worried about the team, lectures the group
Janir Junior
Rio - Flamengo's Copa Libertadores debut is tomorrow against Coronel Bolognesi in Tacna, Peru. After yesterday's training session, in which the team performed below expectations, Joel Santana expressed concern, saying the team isn't performing as he wants it to. In a conversation with the group, he used the analogy: after driving a Beetle, cruising in a Honda is much better.
The first conversation took place in the locker room before training; the second, on the sidelines, after the training session in which the starting team lost 1-0. Joel could be heard using profanity, strong phrases, and words like ambition, will, resilience, and grit: "It was a sermon on life. I said I used a Beetle, but I liked it when I could drive a Honda. Comparing the team, it's like this: we struggled last year in the relegation zone, then we were among the best in Brazil, we qualified for the Libertadores, and we're the best in the Guanabara Cup."
During the conversation, players took the floor. Jônatas and Souza debated at length, at times giving the impression of an argument. "It was a family conversation, between father and son, husband and wife. We have players who have been here longer and others who have just arrived and need to learn our customs," Joel explained.
Based on yesterday's practice, the starting lineup should be: Bruno, Leonardo Moura, Fábio Luciano, Ronaldo Angelim, and Juan; Jaílton, Jônatas, Toró, and Íbson; Marcinho and Souza. "I'm worried; the team seems to be trying hard to play. For me, experience in this game doesn't really matter; I think health is more important," said Joel, who knows nothing about Coronel Bolognesi. The team from Gávea travels to Peru today and will get to know the pitch tonight.
Márcio Braga announced that, alongside Fluminense and São Paulo, he will file a lawsuit with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (FIFA) to prevent games from taking place at altitudes above 2.750 meters. The manager is concerned about the altitude, while Joel is concerned about the team's slow pace.
Fla announces the signing of defender Leonardo
Genilson Junior
Rio - Flamengo vice-president Kleber Leite announced on Monday afternoon the signing of defender Leonardo, who is in dispute with Goiás.
"We managed to sign an experienced player, just what Joel wanted. The player comes highly recommended by Geninho, who is someone I greatly respect and admire," he praised.
The manager revealed how long the new reinforcement's contract will last.
"He is already registered for the Libertadores and has a contract with Flamengo until December 31st, with the club having the option to renew for another year," explained Kleber.
The new signing replaces the injured Rodrigo, who has already been released from surgery on his right arm and will not return to the field for another four months. Leonardo arrives in playing condition, having participated in the Goiás team's preseason.
Gymnastics: Jade loses election for best in the world
Brazilian comes in 2nd place, behind American Shawn Johnson, in IGHF vote
Rio - Brazilian Jade Barbosa was defeated by American Shawn Johnson in the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame (IGHF) election, which elected the best in the world in 2007. Besides her, other contenders were China's Cheng Fei, Romania's Steliana Nistor, and American Anastasia Liukin. Jade was the highlight of Brazilian gymnastics in 2007, with three gold medals at the Pan American Games in Rio: gold on vault, bronze on floor exercise, and silver in the team event. She also took third place in the individual all-around at the World Championships.
In the men's event, he defeated Germany's Fabian Hambüchen, the 2007 world and European champion on the horizontal bar. He finished ahead of American Jonathan Horton, Chinese Yang Wei, Japanese Hisashi Mizutori, and Slovenian Mitja Petrovsek.
SPORTS GAZETTE
Flamengo releases list of Libertadores entrants\ Gazeta Press\
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Flamengo released late this Monday afternoon the list of 25 players registered for the 2008 Copa Libertadores da América. The red-black team debuts next Wednesday, against Coronel Bolognesi, in Peru.\ Flamengo signs defender Leonardo\ Gazeta Press\
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - After stating that Flamengo would not sign any reinforcements to cover the absence of Rodrigo, who injured his arm and will be out for three months, the vice-president of football, Kléber Leite, confirmed early Monday evening the agreement with defender Leonardo, who was in dispute with Goiás.\ The 30-year-old player was registered for the Copa Libertadores, but will not travel with the group to Peru where, this Wednesday, Flamengo will debut in the competition, against Coronel Bolognesi.\
“We received great information about him, including from Geninho, who is someone I greatly admire,” said Kléber.
The experienced athlete began his professional career at Tupi de Minas Gerais in 1996. Three years later, he transferred to Coritiba, where he stood out and, in 2001, he went to Palmeiras, where he stayed until 2005. The following year, he was signed by Goiás and has remained there ever since.
Flamengo's marketing project awaits Romário's departure from Vasco
William Correia, special for GE.Net
São Paulo (SP) - Throwing Romário a glamorous farewell to football is in Flamengo's plans. The club, which had the short one between 1995 and 1999, has a marketing plan to organize the four-time champion's farewell. This proposal, however, will only be made once the striker has finalized his departure from Vasco. "Of course, we have a marketing plan for Romário's farewell, but it's not relevant to discuss it now. Romário needs to sort out his life at Vasco first. For now, there's no offer. I can only do that once he formalizes his departure from Vasco," said Flamengo's vice president of football, Kleber Leite, in a telephone interview with Gazeta Esportiva.Net.
The director even denied the information circulating in Rio de Janeiro about a dinner between him and Romário on Sunday night, when an offer was presented by the Gávea club for Baixinho to be a player, manager and commentator for Fla TV after the end of his career on the field.
"There was no such dinner. There's no way I can make an offer to Romário now. I'll only present an offer when he formalizes his departure from Vasco," Kleber Leite repeated.
After his sudden departure from his position as Vasco da Gama coach last Wednesday, Romário continues to serve his doping suspension due to the presence of Finasteride in a test carried out in November 2007.
The Superior Court of Justice (STJD) will hear an appeal filed by the 42-year-old striker on the 14th to decide on a reduction in his sentence, which is valid until March 30th. Flamengo may represent Baixinho in the case.
"This is already being discussed. The possibility of Flamengo making the defense is not ruled out, but it would be unethical of me to comment on this matter, because there is nothing concrete about Romário's possible arrival," Flamengo lawyer Michel Assef told the website Justiça Desportiva.
In any case, Vasco has already waived its defense of the veteran striker. "We informed the Superior Court of Justice (STJD) and the player that we will not defend him. If he doesn't have a private attorney, Vasco will be summoned by the court, as he is still a player for the club. If that happens, we will notify him without any problem," said Vasco lawyer Paulo Reis.
The dispute over organizing Romário's farewell party won't be the only clash between Flamengo and Vasco fans this week. The two rivals will face off this weekend in the Guanabara Cup semifinals, seeking a spot in the final of the first round of the Campeonato Carioca.
At the re-presentation, Joel is cautious when talking about reinforcements\ Gazeta Press\
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - The red-and-black squad returned to training on Monday afternoon, when the players who missed the match against Fluminense trained at Gávea. The trip to Tacna, Peru, takes place on Tuesday, on a chartered flight by the red-and-blacks. The return to Rio de Janeiro will take place immediately after Wednesday's match. "We're trying to do everything we can to ensure the team can return in time to rest before the match against Vasco," said the red-and-blacks' supervisor, Isaías Tinoco.
When it comes to potential reinforcements, the mood at Gávea is cautious. After losing defender Rodrigo for three months due to an arm injury, coach Joel Santana still doesn't know if he'll have any reinforcements in the midfield. "We have to look at this situation calmly. If someone of the caliber of Arroz (Rodrigo) or Sales (Thiago) is going to come, it's better not to. It would have to be a player of a higher level than we have here," commented Joel.
The red-black board, however, said that it does not intend to sign a new defender in the coming weeks.
At Flamengo, Joel forgets Vasco and focuses on the Libertadores\ Gazeta Press\
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - The first derby between Flamengo and Vasco da Gama is already scheduled for next Sunday, after the teams have qualified for the Guanabara Cup semifinals. But Flamengo coach Joel Santana is avoiding discussing the match against their biggest rival. This is because the Flamengo manager doesn't want to divert attention from this Wednesday's clash against Coronel Bolognesi of Peru, in the first round of the Copa Libertadores. "I know we have this game against Vasco, but before that, we have a Libertadores match that won't be easy, due to the travel and also because it's our debut. We're focused on this match and will focus on Vasco starting Thursday, when we return to Brazil," Joel Santana emphasized.
Flamengo's concern is to avoid a repeat of last year's poor Libertadores campaign, when the team was eliminated in the round of 16. Therefore, everyone at the club is keen to get started in the international competition as soon as possible.
"It's going to be a super important game. I'm looking forward to a great performance on Wednesday. We'll do our best to get off to a good start. Last year we were knocked out early, and this year we'll fight to win the title," commented right-back Leonardo Moura, who recently made his debut for the Brazilian national team.
Last Sunday, Joel Santana rested all the starters and saw Flamengo thrashed by Fluminense 4-1. Even so, the red-and-black squad guarantees that the result will not influence the Libertadores debut.
"Of course, everyone is upset by a result like this, especially those who played, but our group is very strong and none of this will shake us. I'm sure we can put in a great performance on Wednesday," said defender and captain Fábio Luciano, one of the starters rested for the derby.
Kléberson, who scored Flamengo's only goal in last Sunday's derby, agreed with the defender. "The Copa Libertadores is a high-level competition. If we get a positive result, we'll start our journey well. Therefore, I hope this result doesn't affect us in the middle of the week," he stated.
Despite suffering a thrashing, the Flamengo midfielder made it clear he wasn't disappointed with the team's performance. "The team performed well, but we lacked composure. Personally, I'm very happy to be participating in a classic. Of course, I didn't want it to end like this, but we have to make the most of it," he added.
PELENET
Supported by São Paulo, Cruzeiro and Flu, Fla goes to TAS due to altitude
From UOL Esporte\ In Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Belo Horizonte\
Flamengo confirmed on Monday that it will file a lawsuit with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland against the holding of games in cities with altitudes above 2.750 meters. São Paulo, Cruzeiro and Fluminense support the case, and only Santos has not yet signed the document.
"As it is the South American [CONMEBOL] that organizes the Libertadores, we are filing a lawsuit with the Court of Arbitration for Sport to show how inhumane it is to play in a situation like this. São Paulo, Cruzeiro, Fluminense and Santos can help us in this matter," said the president of the red-black club, Márcio Braga.
Fluminense not only supports Flamengo on the issue, but its president, Roberto Horcades, will prepare a dossier with "technical subsidies".
"I'm a cardiologist, a member of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology and the FIFA Executive Committee, and I'm giving more than just my support. I'm substantiating with technical material to make it clear that the human race cannot withstand sporting effort at altitudes like these," the director explained.
"FIFA has already given a favorable opinion regarding matches between national teams. And by analogy, a national team player is no different from a club player. This is a technical, legal, and human issue," Horcades added.
The teams from Minas Gerais and São Paulo admitted they joined Flamengo's initiative. "We hope FIFA learns that we have a clear position and will not accept playing under these conditions. We will not remain silent and accept the imposition of Brazilian clubs' participation in situations like this," said Cruzeiro's communications director, Guilherme Mendes. He believes Santos will also join the cause.
São Paulo's presidential advisor, João Carlos de Jesus Lopez, echoed the sentiment. "São Paulo will support Flamengo's legal action with FIFA because we find it absurd that FIFA is preventing national team matches at altitude, when clubs are obliged to play," the club official explained.
The Rubro-Negro debuts in the Copa Libertadores next Wednesday against Coronel Bolognesi in Tacna, Peru. But the club's discontent stems from the match against Cienciano, also from Peru, in Cusco, at 3.400 meters above sea level, in the first phase of the competition.
"Flamengo has been showing its dissatisfaction with playing matches at altitude since last year. FIFA's medical committee has already agreed with us. At its FIFA meeting, the South American Confederation voted to ban matches above 2.750 meters, and now it refuses to comply," Braga concluded.
Flamengo signs Leonardo, ex-Palmeiras and Goiás
From UOL Esporte\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Flamengo surprised everyone by signing defender Leonardo, formerly of Palmeiras and a former Goiás player. The defender has already been registered for the Copa Libertadores, which the Red-Blacks debut in on Wednesday against Coronel Bolognesi in Tacna, Peru.
The player will replace Rodrigo, who underwent surgery last Friday after suffering a fracture in his right arm in the 2-1 victory over Volta Redonda, and is only expected to return to the team in three or four months.
"We did some research, worked yesterday after the game, stayed up all night, and secured an extremely qualified player. We received the best references, including from Geninho, who coached him at Goiás, and he's someone we trust deeply. Leonardo completed the entire preseason and will be available in a week," said vice president of football Kleber Leite. The defender signed a contract until December 31, with an option for another season.
Leonardo de Paula, 30 years old, was born in the Minas Gerais city of Juiz de Fora on March 12, 1977. He began his career at Tupi-MG and later played for Coritiba, Palmeiras and Goiás, where he had been since 2005. At Alviverde Paulista, he participated in the team's relegation campaign to Série B of the Brazilian Championship.
Referee does not include objects thrown on the field in the Fla-Flu match in the report
From UOL Esporte\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Flamengo will most likely not be charged with the objects thrown by its fans onto the Maracanã pitch during the celebration of one of the goals scored by Fluminense's Thiago Neves in this Sunday's derby. The match referee, João Batista de Arruda, made no mention of the incident in the match report. In his "Occasional Observations" about the match, he wrote that "Nothing unusual occurred."
TJD Attorney General André Luis Valentin had said earlier that he wasn't ruling out the possibility of filing a complaint. "I'll wait for the match report to arrive to see if the referee reported it. If not, the match tape may be requested," he told the Justiça Desportiva website.
If Flamengo is still reported, it could be held liable under Article 213 of the Brazilian Code of Sports Justice (Failure to take measures capable of preventing and repressing disorders in its sports arena), which provides for a fine of R$10 to R$200 and loss of home field advantage for one to ten games.
Fla, Flu and CBF are united for the privatization of Maracanã
FROM UOL Esporte\ In Rio de Janeiro\
A meeting was held this Monday morning between Flamengo, Fluminense, and the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) to outline plans for the privatization of Maracanã. The three parties involved and the company International Stadia Group (ISG) signed a memorandum of understanding (memorandum of understanding) to acquire control of the stadium. In attendance were the presidents of Flamengo, Roberto Horcades; of Rubro-Negro, Marcio Braga; of the Brazilian Football Confederation, Ricardo Teixeira; and of the company, Ian Todd.
Since Vasco has São Januário and Botafogo has Engenhão for the next 20 years, Flamengo and Fluminense were left to team up to manage Maracanã. The CBF's interest arose after the 5-0 match between Brazil and Ecuador in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers in October 2007.
Monday's meeting was held at the law firm Barbosa, Müssnich & Aragão and an official statement was released.
GLOBOESPORTE
Brazilian clubs unite against altitude
Led by Flamengo, Fluminense, Cruzeiro and São Paulo will file an appeal with FIFA
Eduardo Peixoto
Since the 2007 Libertadores, Marcio Braga has declared war on games at altitude
The fight against high-altitude matches, initiated by Flamengo's board, has gained support from other Brazilian clubs competing in the 2008 Copa Libertadores, according to Flamengo president Marcio Braga. Fluminense, São Paulo, and Cruzeiro have reportedly already committed to fighting for the cause, and only Santos has yet to comment. By the end of the week, a petition requesting that matches not be held in a city with an altitude above 2.750 meters will be submitted to the FIFA Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Marcio Braga wants to convince the court members that playing at very high altitudes is inhumane to the players.
"Flamengo has been expressing its dissatisfaction with playing matches at altitude since last year. FIFA's medical committee has already agreed with us. At its FIFA meeting, the South American Confederation voted to ban matches above 2.750 meters, and now it refuses to comply. Since the South American Confederation organizes the Libertadores, we are filing a lawsuit with the Court of Arbitration for Sports to demonstrate how inhumane it is to play in such a situation. São Paulo, Cruzeiro, Fluminense, and possibly Santos are joining Flamengo in this fight," he states.
In January, Flamengo's legal advisor, Pedro Trengrouse, had already said the club was considering filing an appeal with FIFA. But last Friday, Michel Assef Filho, the club's lawyer, expressed concern that there wouldn't be enough time to escape the altitude this season.
Fla prepares rematch against the creditor
One of the 'choreographers' of the red-black team, Egídio promises to invent something new
Eduardo Peixoto
The Flamengo jersey became the butt of internet ridicule. The Flamengo players learned of the parody after the 4-1 rout of Fluminense and, secretly, prepared a counterattack.
Left-back Egídio, one of the team's choreographers alongside Souza (watch the video of the duo in action below), strays a bit from the topic. But he leaves the possibility of rematch in the air.
"I'd rather keep quiet about this subject. But we invented it, and he went with the flow. But that's okay. We'll come up with something else," he promises.
Commenting on the third goal in the Fla-Flu match, Thiago Neves spoke about his dribble on Egídio. According to him, "I had one leg open and I got past Egídio." The full-back acknowledges that the Tricolor has the right to make fun of themselves.
"He was having his day and ruined the game. He can say whatever he wants. Leave it alone," Souza's partner says.
'Romário is a member of Flamengo', says Márcio Braga
The president is optimistic about the player's return: 'He still has something to give here'
Eduardo Peixoto
The rapprochement between Flamengo and Romário has a curious twist. According to Flamengo president Márcio Braga, Baixinho is a partner-owner of the red-and-black club.
"He's like any other Flamengo fan. For those who don't know, Romário is a member-owner of the club, just like me. He's not a fan of América, Vasco, or Barcelona... he's a Flamengo fan and he told me so," says the president.
In fact, Romário and Flamengo's executives met twice recently. First, they had dinner on Sunday night. On Monday morning, they ran into each other for breakfast with CBF president Ricardo Teixeira.
The proposal for Baixinho to end his career at Gávea remains valid. However, Flamengo is waiting for the player to decide his situation with Vasco before signing the contract.
- I think he still has something to give here - says Márcio Braga.
Romário was signed by Flamengo in 1995, after being named the world's best player. After a few back-and-forths, he was released by the club at the end of 1999. However, the club's directors constantly insist that he is a "card-carrying Flamengo fan." His membership status attests to this.
Cruzeiro supports petition against the attitude
According to Raposa's press office, the club will sign the document that will be sent to FIFA.
Cruzeiro's board confirmed that it supports Flamengo president Márcio Braga's decision to file a petition requesting that matches not be held in a city with an altitude above 2.750 meters. According to the club's communications department, the Raposa directors are willing to sign the document, which will be sent to the FIFA Sports Tribunal in Lausanne, Switzerland (watch the video with a report from Globo Esporte about the risks of this decision).
Fluminense and São Paulo have already committed to fighting for the cause, and only Santos has not yet spoken out.
CONMEBOL has already spoken out against the ban. In January, Flamengo's legal advisor, Pedro Trengrouse, had already said the club was considering filing an appeal with FIFA. But last Friday, Michel Assef Filho, the club's lawyer, expressed concern that there wouldn't be enough time to escape the altitude this season.
Fla: Leila and Sandra perform on Wednesday
The duo will represent the Rio de Janeiro club during the stages of the Brazilian Circuit.
Leila and Sandra Pires will represent Flamengo in the 2008 Brazilian Circuit
The duo Leila and Sandra Pires, who will represent Flamengo in the Brazilian Circuit stages, will make their official presentation to the club next Wednesday in Gávea. The partnership between Flamengo and the players was agreed for the 2008 season.
Immediately after the presentation, Leila and Sandra will travel to Rio Grande do Sul, the venue for the first stage of the Brazilian Championship. The city of Xangri-lá will host the season's opening tournament, from the 14th to the 17th, on Atlântida beach.
Fla signs defender Leonardo
The 30-year-old player played for Palmeiras and, more recently, for Goiás.
Eduardo Peixoto
Leonardo celebrates Goiás' goal
Flamengo's board acted quickly and strengthened its squad for the Campeonato Carioca and Copa Libertadores. Leonardo, formerly of Palmeiras and Goiás, arrives to fill the void left by Rodrigo, who underwent arm surgery and will be out for four months. His contract runs until December 31st, with an option for an additional year. The presentation is scheduled for this Thursday at 18 pm in Gávea.
Flamengo's vice president of football, Kléber Leite, said the negotiations were swift. Leonardo, 30, will be registered for the Copa Libertadores. Coach Joel Santana approved the signings, noting that the athlete has already competed twice in the continent's most prestigious competition.
"He's at a higher level than we expected to sign. He's a player who's had good reviews. I've spoken with three coaches and received good information about him. He's already played in two Libertadores Cups," he says.
Leonardo arrives in Rio de Janeiro and stays at a hotel in Barra da Tijuca, in the west zone. He doesn't travel to Peru with the rest of the cast.
Fla and Flu sign intention regarding Maraca
Presidents of both clubs take another step towards making the stadium the home of the teams
Presidents of Flu, CBF and Fla at Maracanã
On Monday morning, Flamengo and Fluminense signed a memorandum of understanding for the privatization of Maracanã. This was another step by the clubs toward making the stadium truly their home. Flamengo president Márcio Braga, Fluminense president Roberto Horcades, CBF president Ricardo Teixeira, and Ian Todd (Internacional Stadia Group) attended the meeting, held at a law firm. A joint official statement was drafted at the meeting.
THROW
Romário, Flamengo and CBF have coffee in Rio
The issue is the participation of the club and the CBF in the privatization of Maracanã
Romário has not yet decided which club he will end his career with.
Michel Castelar RIO DE JANEIRO
Top scorer Romário, Flamengo president Márcio Braga, and Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) president Ricardo Teixeira met Monday morning at a private club in Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro's South Zone. The meeting was also attended by Flamengo's vice president of football, Kléber Leite.
According to Márcio Braga, the meeting was held to discuss details of the club's and the CBF's participation in the Maracanã privatization bid. Afterwards, everyone headed to a law firm in downtown Rio to continue negotiations with Fluminense.
Leaving the meeting, Márcio Braga explained that Romário's presence had nothing to do with negotiations to return to the Red-Blacks. The striker had gone to speak with the CBF president about a private matter.
"Regarding Romário's arrival at Flamengo, Kléber (Leite) met with him on Sunday night. But since they haven't told me anything, I believe they're still negotiating," the president stated, adding:
- Kléber told Romário that this Monday we would be meeting with the president of the CBF and he showed up here to talk to Ricardo about a personal problem.
Flamengo's president will hold a press conference on Monday afternoon to discuss, among other topics, the club's participation in the privatization of Maracanã and the Copa Libertadores.
Flamengo may lose home field advantage
Objects thrown onto the field during the Fla-Flu would be the reason for the punishment\ LANCEPRESS!\
It was reported this Monday on the Justiça Desportiva website that Flamengo would be punished for throwing objects (plastic cups) onto the field by its fans during the match between the club and Fluminense, this Sunday, at Maracanã, in the last round of the Taça Guanabara.
According to the website, when asked about the matter, the Attorney General of the Rio de Janeiro Sports Justice Court (TJD/RJ), Dr. André Luis Valentin, argued that measures will only be taken after analyzing the game report and/or its videotape.
The Rio de Janeiro Football Federation (FERJ), however, released the match report on Monday, which, in its content, does not contain any mention by the first referee, João Batista de Arruda, of the incident that occurred.
If the club is in fact accused of the crime, it will respond to article 213 of the Brazilian Code of Sports Justice (Failure to take measures capable of preventing and repressing disorders in its sports venue), and may lose home field advantage for up to ten matches, in addition to receiving a fine of R$10.000,00 (ten thousand reais) to R$200.000,00 (two hundred thousand reais).
This article has already caused problems for the club. The Rio de Janeiro team lost home-field advantage in the first match of the 2008 Brasileirão after being found guilty in a lawsuit involving the same article 213 late last year.
When contacted by the L!NET team about the possible accusation, Flamengo's legal vice president, Michel Assef Filho, could not be found to comment on the matter.
Brazilian beer, Peruvian carnival
The excitement is growing in the city that will host Flamengo in the Libertadores
Peruvians celebrate Carnival in Tacna
Rodrigo Benchimol SENT DIRECT FROM TACNA, PERU
While Flamengo's reserves were being thrashed by Fluminense, parts of Tacna, Peru, the site of the club's first Libertadores match, were celebrating. Not because of the result itself, but because Sunday was still Carnival in the Peruvian city. However, the celebration is quite different from the Brazilian one, except for the beer crowd.
In Tacna, the traditional dance takes place in the middle of the street and is called Lurigayo. It's a festival originally held by the Uricachio people of Puno, a Peruvian region known for Lake Titicaca and bordering Bolivia. Their descendants, who live in Tacna, have been celebrating Carnival in February since the 80s. With a mix of three types of music (tarcadas, charcalladas, and mocelladas), revelers brought traffic to a standstill in the city's commercial district with their traditional dances.
Amidst the Peruvian "batucada", the crates of beer consumed by the revelers caught everyone's attention - most of them adults and dressed in traditional costumes: scarf in hand, hat (sombrero) on head and clothes known as awayo and pollera.
"Beer is a must, and we've organized ourselves accordingly. People buy part of the beer, and the festival organizers the rest," explains Juan Ochoa, the beer collector, who also guarantees a meal with local foods after the festivities.
Interestingly, the crates are left in the middle of the street and consumed at room temperature—quite unlike in Brazil, where it's practically a rule to serve beer ice cold. The only thing they have in common is their fondness for the brand: Brahma was the most popular beer among Peruvians in Tacna during Carnival. To give you an idea, the organizers estimate that 12 crates of beer were consumed (each containing 630 7500ml bottles). That's a little over XNUMX liters.
The hangover must have been severe. Much like the one Flamengo had on Monday.
Flamengo announces the signing of Leonardo
New reinforcement has already had spells at Palmeiras, Coritiba and Goiás
Leonardo played for Palmeiras for five years
LANCEPRESS!
Flamengo announced on Monday the signing of 30-year-old defender Leonardo. The acquisition was made due to the club's need for the position, as recently signed Rodrigo had to undergo surgery on his right arm. He will be registered for the first stage of the Copa Libertadores.
Leonardo had a long stint with Palmeiras—from 2001 to 2005—and also excelled at Goiás, where he was sidelined by a financial dispute. He will sign with the club tonight and will have a contract until the end of the year, with the option of a one-year extension.
Coach Joel Santana approved the arrival of the new defender, about whom he had excellent references:
"We had to announce this signing quickly. He's already played in the Libertadores and has good experience. The group gave its approval, and he'll be introduced to the players at the training camp."
Fla will file an appeal against altitude
The club will go to the TAS and will have support from Flu, Cruzeiro, São Paulo and possibly Santos\ LANCEPRESS!\
Flamengo is still trying to avoid playing at an altitude of 3.360 meters in Cusco. President Marcio Braga announced that the club will file an appeal with FIFA's Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland.
In a resolution last year, FIFA recommended that matches not be played at altitudes above 2.700 meters. However, it ultimately decided that the measure would only apply to international matches.
Back in 2007, Flamengo submitted a medical report against FIFA's decision, requesting that the recommendation be followed. However, FIFA decided to let CONMEBOL make the decision.
"The recommendation had to be followed. Isn't the risk the same for national team and club players? That's why we decided to file a lawsuit with the CAS," said Marcio Braga.
Flamengo's president confirmed that São Paulo, Cruzeiro, and Fluminense will also file a lawsuit with the TAS. All that's left to do is talk with Santos.
– If we bring together the five Brazilian clubs, Flamengo will emerge stronger in this competition – he said.
Marcio Braga didn't say what the club will do if it doesn't win the lawsuit. He prefers to wait for the decision and then decide whether to play against Cienciano in Cuzco. He noted that Justice Minister Tarso Genro fainted while visiting Bolivia.
Kléberson evaluates the Fla team
Supporter believes the team played well and lost by details\ LANCEPRESS!\
Supporter Kléberson doesn't think Flamengo played poorly in Sunday's derby against Fluminense, losing 4-1. According to the player, the Rubro-Negro squad is strong, has the confidence of coach Joel Santana, and lost the match due to details that determine the outcome.
tv l! - Nobody expected it. They deserved it from set pieces. The two free kick goals weren't in our plans. But the team positioned itself well - he assesses. (Click and see)
Flamengo trains for its Libertadores debut
Training was carried out against a 'additivated' youth team\ LANCEPRESS!\
The players who did not participate in the defeat against Fluminense, this Sunday, carried out the first training session on Monday afternoon to define the team that will debut in the Copa Libertadores, this Wednesday, against Coronel Bolognesi, from Peru.
In a training match against the youth team, which included reserves Maxi, Éder, Gavillan and Marquinhos, the starting team took to the field with the following formation: Bruno, Leonardo Moura, Fabio Luciano, Ronaldo Angelin and Juan; Jailton, Jonathas, Ibson and Toró; Souza and Diego Tardelli.
One detail caught the attention of everyone present at training: the red-black team normally enters the field at 16 pm and forms a circle in the middle of the lawn for a conversation with coach Joel Santana before training, but, this Monday, the squad decided to give this talk hidden from the public, entering the field only at 16:25 pm to immediately begin the training match.
Few tickets sold to see Fla
For cultural reasons, Peruvians leave their purchases until the last minute.
Rodrigo Benchimol TACNA (PERU)
Tickets for the match between Flamengo and Coronel Bolognesi, next Wednesday, in Tacna, Peru, went on sale this Monday and demand is still low.
However, the weak movement does not mean a lack of interest from Peruvians: for cultural reasons, fans leave buying tickets until the last minute - either the day before the match or even on the day of the game.
The city's stadium has a capacity of 20 fans, but 18 tickets have been put on sale. Prices range from R$12 to R$41—see below.
Popular sector: 20 soles (Peruvian currency), which is equivalent to approximately US$7 or R$12.
Eastern sector: 40 soles, which is equivalent to approximately US$14 or R$24.
Western side sector: 55 soles, which is equivalent to approximately US$18 or R$32.
Western sector: 70 soles, which is approximately equivalent to US$23 or R$41.
The amounts quoted are not exact. One dollar is equivalent to approximately three soles; the conversion from dollars to reais was based on the exchange rate for the US currency last Friday.
Maracanã's Memorandum of Understanding is signed