30-MAY-2013
2013 FIVB WORLD LEAGUE:
PORTUGAL WANTS TO WIN
 

“In Volleyball either you win or lose and I don’t know anyone that likes to lose. Without disrespecting our opponent, we’re here to win both matches, stated Flavio Gulinelli, today at Helsinki, where the National Team is to play Finland tomorrow and Saturday (18:30 local time), in the 2013 FIVB World League Pool C Week 1.  [See http://www.fpvoleibol.pt/WL2013]

The National Head Coach also revealed:
“It’s important to start winning right from the beginning, and then, improve our game week after week. My philosophy was always the same, to think about the team rather than the individuals, because when we win, we win as a team with all players contributing for that. We’re building a young team around more experienced players, such as André Lopes, Nuno Pinheiro and João José, who is a role model for the other players. I believe that we’re already in conditions to show a good game”.

On the other side of the “net” stands a worthy adversary, equally with some changes, but now under the command of a Finnish Volleyball legend, who left the team captain job to become National Head Coach.

“I’ve always considered that there isn’t a good player without being a good human first. I know Tomas (Sammelvuo) well and our relationship is the same as the one when worked together at Vibo (Italian League). He will definitively be a good coach. He’s yet very young and he can wait for success…at least for a week longer”, concluded Gulinelli with humor.

On his turn, João José, also a Volleyball legend highlighted:
“Flavio (Gulinelli) is a coach that speaks is mind with the players. He works hard to improve the skills of the ypounger players, which is very important, because there are few experienced players already and we have to rely on them. I believe we’re in a good path but we need to work more and more. As for me, I’me feeling well and I continue to play with the same will as always. Thinking about being a coach? Maybe someday, but some factors will have to conjugate for that to happen”.

Portugal is to play Finland for the 2013 FIVB World League Pool C at the Helsinki Ice Hall (photo), where the team trained today for the first time, home of the Ice Hockey team IFK Helsinki. Both matches are to be live covered by Sport TV [Calendar]

Contact

More info: www.fivb.org