21-MAY-2013
NATIONAL TEAM ON ITS WAY TO SOFIA
 

Portugal’s men National Team completed its last training session, at Anadia Sports Hall, before travelling to Sofia, Bulgaria, where it will continue the preparation for the FIVB 2013 World League.

The Portuguese delegation will fulfill the following itinerary:
May 22 – Porto / Frankfurt, 11h50 / 15h30 (voo LH1177)
May 22 – Frankfurt / Sofia, 18h30 / 21h50 (voo FB 438)

After the Bulgarian training camp, the National Team will head to Finland to play its first World League opponent.
May 29 – Sofia / Frankfurt, 16h00 / 17h30 (voo FB 437)
May 29 – Frankfurt / Helsinquia, 20h40 / 00h05 (voo LH 852)

The National Head Coach, Flavio Guleinelli has already chosen the 12 atheletes which will be at training camp in Bulgaria, including the two friendly matches (days 24 and 25) and the matches against Finland.

Gulinelli was pleased about the way the training camp at Anadia went, and shows confidence in a good performance in the FIVB 2013 World League.
“This training camp was a good workout period. The work group attitude pleased me. By comparison with last summer, we have more quality and I’m confident that we can achieve good results.
The younger players have now a year more of experience, due to their participation in foreign leagues, like Marcel who came back with more physical and technical quality, Alex who had a very good season in Italy, Valdir who was champion in Austria and Pinheiro who won the championship in France.
The work group is more confident and assured of its own skills. Nuno Pinheiro has joined us only last week but his experience and game quality are well known”.

Portugal will play two friendly matches against Bulgaria, which was ranked 4th in London 2012.
“We arranged to do a joint training session on Wednesday and two friendlies in the following days. Bulgaria’s quality is well known so this week will be very important in our preparation”.

The National Team begins its participation in the 24th edition of the World League with three away duels: Finland from May 31 – June 1, Canada (June 7-8) and the Netherlands (June 22-23), finishing the Intercontinental Stage at Guimarães, hosting Japan (June 29 - 30) and South Korea (July 6 -7).

“After the trip to Canada, which is the longest that we will do, there are no matches in the following weekend, which will provide us some rest before travelling to the Netherlands. The calendar seems good, so the rest depends on us”, stated the National Coach.

Contact

Tickets on sale at Guimarães

The National Team begins its participation in the 24th edition of the World League with three away duels: Finland from May 31 – June 1, Canada (June 7-8) and the Netherlands (June 22-23), finishing the Intercontinental Stage at Guimarães, hosting Japan (June 29 - 30) and South Korea (July 6 -7).

The elite volleyball it will thus return to the Multiusos of Guimarães, which has been the stage for World League matches: 2002, 2005 and 2012.

The Final Round will be held in Mar del Plata, Argentina, July 17-21, and played by 8 teams: the hosting country, the top three ranked of Pool A and Pool B and also the top ranked of Pool C.
All National Team matches played at home are set to 19h00 and will be live covered by Sport TV.

In the meantime the tickets for the World League matches to be held at Guimarães are already on sale:
. Single Match Ticket: 2,50€
. Ticket for 2 Matches Portugal x Japan: 4,00€
. Ticket for 2 Matches Portugal x Korea: 4,00€
. Ticket for 4 Matches Portugal x Japan and Portugal x Korea: 7,50€

The tickets can be purchased at FNAC Stores, El Corte Inglês, Centro Comercial Espaço Guimarães, Centro Cultural Vila Flor, Plataforma das Artes, AAUM (Guimarães e Braga), Vila Nova de Famalicão Tourism Office, Gil Vicente Theatre (Barcelos), Circo Theater (Braga), e em http://tempolivre.bilheteiraonline.pt.
More info: www.tempolivre.pt / geral@tempolivre.pt

Portuguese referees
at Brazil and Bulgaria

Avelino Azevedo (AV Porto) and Hélio Ormonde (AV S.Miguel) will refere Pool A matches. Azevedo will be te refere in the match Brazil x USA on July 13-14 at Rio de Janeiro.

Hélio Ormonde will referee the matches between Bulgaria and Argentina, on June 22-23 at Sofia.

More info: www.fivb.org