06-SEPTEMBER-2012
NATIONAL TEAM IS COUNTING
ON THEIR FAN SOLIDARITY

 

Senior Men National Team is counting, once again, with the fans, that usually support unconditionally their idols, on matches played in the Sports Hall of Vila do Conde, venue for the 1st tournament of CEV 2013 European Championship Qualifying, second round Pool A. Portugal will face the Great Britain on Friday at 17h00, Belarus on Saturday at 17h30 and on Sunday, in the last day of the event, the National Team will play Turkey at 19h30. All matches are to be broadcasted by Sport TV.

The 2nd tournament will take place in Ankara, capital of Turkey, from 14 to 16 of September where, the National Team will take Belarus, Great Britain and Turkey by this order. [See Calendar]

The National Head Coach has no doubts:
“Sure the first tournament has to be played with the objective of conquering as much points as possible, because we are aware that the next tournament (in Turkey) will be very complicated. The way we played against the Netherlands (2013 World League playoff) gave us some confidence towards the upcoming matches in order to achieve the European qualification, which was always our main goal. I’m not saying that we´re going to win every match, but I can promise that these players will do evertything for that to happen. Playing for winning it’s a clear objective on everybody’s minds”.

Flavio Gulinelli would love to see a packed Sports Hall:
“I believe that our team’s renovation and the quality of the teams involved are the necessary condiments for great shows. So we can expect to have a full crowd that will also contribute with food items for charity, instead of paying a ticket for assist the matches. We are all hoping that everybody joins this initiative carried out by the Portuguese Volleyball Federation, and that they support our team in every game as well”.

André Lopes maintains the idea:
“This is going to be a well disputed pool, hence all national team here present were preparing itself during all summer for this tournament. Although we had disputed the 2012 World League, our main goal was always the 2013 European Championship qualification. Turkey should be the strongest opponent, but we should not underestimate the others. Great Britain has played in the 2012 Olympic Games, and we are aware of Belarus value as well”.

The Portuguese wing spiker doesn’t forget the support that those in need deserve:
“I think the campaign “One food item instead of a ticket” is a laudable initiative and that should be an example for other sports. Volleyball can be pioneer by doing this in a National Teams level, but I hope this could reach others. We can always count on the public support and this time it could be even better”.

The campaign

“One food item instead of a ticket” – this is the motto of the solidarity campaign that will be carried out by the Portuguese Volleyball Federation during the first round of the qualification for the 2013 Senior Men European Championship.
This unprecedented initiative in international competitions with the participation of national teams, plans to appeal to the spirit of solidarity of the Volleyball family in "Fight Against Hunger" and consists in collecting non-perishable food items (pasta, flour, biscuits, rice etc.), during the competition to be held in the Sports Hall of Vila do Conde.
In Portugal’s matchdays, against Great Britain, Belarus and Turkey, respectively in the 7th, 8th and 9th of September, there will be specific containers to collect the food items, which will be donated for charity.
With the campaign “One food item instead of a ticket”, the FPV urges the fans to participate in the fight against hunger, bringing a non-perishable food item while supporting the National Team".

The qualify

The first team of each Pool qualifies automatically for the 2013 European Championship taking place in Denmark and Poland. Already qualified for the tournament are: Denmark and Poland (host countries), Serbia, Italy, Russia, Slovakia and Bulgaria.
The second ranked teams of each group qualify for the third round where they have to dispute a playoff (home & away matches) to reach the final stage of the tournament.

Mais informações: www.cev.lu