The Senior Men National Team had itsfirst practice in the Topsport Center, located in the city of Rotterdam, wheretomorrow (17h00) and Sunday (13h00) will be played the 2013 World League playoffmatches. The Topsport Center, which is located right next to the Feyenoordstadium, has already hosted matches with Portugal, meaning the European Leaguein 2009 and the European
Championship qualification tournament in 2010.

Although the Portuguese team main goal continuesto be the qualification for the 2013 European Championship, the matches against the Dutch are being cautiously prepared, thus a 2013 World League spot in onthe line. So, some favoritism could be in the Dutch side, 2012 European League winners, but Flavio Gulinelli has already made a promise: “This playoff is going to be tough for both teams”.

The Senior Men National Team is undergoing through a renovation stagethat started this year, after some of the most experienced players departures and the arrival of Italian coach Flavio Gulinelli. From the selection of players that achieved the most significant results in the last years (8thin 2002 World League, 5th in 2005 World League) only remains Rui Santos, Marco Ferreira (absents in Argentina 2002), André Lopes and João José, team’s captain since 2004 and on his way to the 10th participationin the World League.

Recently, the 2010 European League victory showed some emerging values which today are a devoted presence in the National Team.

One of those examples is Alexandre Ferreira, Marco Ferreira’s younger brother, which is considered a rising star in Portugal, since his first stepsin Gira-Volei – FPV development program which moves annually thousands of youngsters – to his call to the National Team and his transfer to the Italian League for the 2012/2013 season.

Meanwhile, Alex was also involved in a federative innovative process regarding the National Teams permanent training camp, from where, several young players came out to be natural selections for the Portuguese teams.

“My career in volleyball started in Gira-Volei, which it’s a mean toacquire the love for the game, and where volleyball is learned in its most simplified way. That love grew with me, and it made me want to develop myselfin volleyball, so I’ve j0oined a team. During my evolution as a player, I tookpart in the youth and junior teams which were maintained in permanent training camp, and in a path that made me want new challenges which allowed me toachieve my main goal, reaching the Senior National Team.

At club level, the Portuguese Wing Spiker, has moved along a path thatallowed in to become National Champion this year and climb another step towardsthe Italian League.

“I’ve had the opportunity of being part f a great team [SC Espinho]filled with good players, some of who are part of world’s and Portuguese volleyball’s history. Players and coaches formed a united group with a common goal, being that the key for success.

My performances with SC Espinho as with the National Team allowed me to receive some good proposals. The most challenging one is definitively the opportunity of being part of an Italian League club, one of the strongest and prestigious leagues around the world.”

Portugual
N.	Nome	D. Nasc.	Altura	Ataque	Bloco
1	Marcel GIL	08-05-1990	206	332	310
5	Marco FERREIRA	04-10-1987	202	332	327
6	Alexandre FERREIRA	13-11-1991	203	319	299
7	Ivo CASAS	21-09-1992	182	290	278
8	Tiago VIOLAS	27-03-1989	193	326	303
12	João JOSE	07-06-1978	195	352	345
13	Valdir SEQUEIRA	22-11-1981	196	351	344
15	Rui SANTOS	24-03-1984	203	339	334
17	Miguel RODRIGUES	02-03-1993	191	305	293
18	André LOPES	12-09-1982	193	342	332
21	José GOMES	21-10-1994	198	327	307
24	João COELHO	24-06-1981	185	305	300

Play-off da Liga Mundial 2013
1 Set	17h00	Holanda-Portugal	Topsport Centrum (Roterdão)
2 Set	13h00	Holanda-Portugal
Regresso a Portugal
3 Set	06h15/08h25	Amesterdão/Lisboa	TP 669
	10h10/11h05	Lisboa/Porto	TP 1956