The Football Competition “Liga Sagres” started

The Portuguese league began on the past weekend. Now all Benfica’s fans hope to win the championship.

The Mystic from Benfica begins when we are born. No one can teach us, how to be from SL Benfica, we simply start belonging to this Club.

As a child I grew up, feeling Benfica everywhere I would go. The few Media Portugal had by that time, always gave most justified relevance to our Club. I remember that all the family stayed in front of the Black and White Television watching the Lisbon team playing. Some people, like my Grandfather, preferred to ear the match on the radio.

If my Grandfather was alive, he wouldn’t understand why I am so expectant on, the kick off, of this new season. On Sunday Benfica played in Rio Ave’s field and the result was a draw. Both teams scored one goal. When my Grandpa lived, Benfica had seasons, where we could count by the fingers, of our hands, the number of points that the Club had lost during that same Championship.

Times have changed, nowadays the Club’s Management with the precious collaboration of Rui Costa, invited the Spanish Coach, Quique Flores, to reformulate the team.

A victorious team is being created, and the players will certainly feel the Mystic. That’s the reason why, Grandpa, I have so much faith.

Ángel Di María (14/02/1988) – Beijing 2008 Gold Medal

Di Maria helped, on the past Saturday, Argentina revalidating the Men’s Football Olympic Title. Argentina had won the Gold Medals before in Athens 2004. On these Olympic Games, the young player had a preponderant work on the team, and also scored the victory goal.

The Beijing National Stadium received the final match, Argentina played against Nigeria. The National Team of Nigeria was giving a good replica, until the 58th minute when, Di Maria that received a great pass from Messi, ran along the left side and made the ball go over the Nigerian goalkeeper, scoring a beautiful goal.

Ángel had already scored a goal earlier on this tournament, while playing on the match against Holland.

To the Press he said:

“I didn’t expect to score the goal. The few seconds, while the ball was passing over the Keeper, took to long.”

“We have the Gold Medals and that’s what really matters.”

1. Argentina
2. Nigeria
3. Brazil

Di Maria arrived to SL Benfica on the Year of 2007, since then has demonstrated his abilities. The new Benfica’s coach, Quique Flores, will certainly appreciate his talent on the team.

Nélson Évora (20/04/1984) - When a star jumps to the Gold in Beijing

The Portuguese Athlete Nélson Évora, won yesterday the Olympic Gold medal, in the Men's Triple Jump.

Nélson came to Portugal very young and soon started to get interested by Athletics.

The first results on High Jumping were amazing, but he became injured on his knee, so he had to change to the disciplines of triple and long jump.

On the World Championships, the medals and the broken records appeared with work, dedication and of course with the help of João Ganço, his couch.
To the Press he said:

“I am very happy for winning this Gold Medal. I cried a lot when I realized I had won and made my dream come true. Although I had already won the medal I tried to improve in the last jump, but the forces weren’t the same”

“After the victory I stayed a long time inside the stadium, taking pictures and giving autographs. I also took some of the sand from the box. The Portuguese flag I had around my body was written, by my friends and family to encourage me.”

“I would like to dedicate this victory to my family, in particular to my father to whom I have made a promise.”

1. Nélson Évora (POR), 17,67 m

2. Philips Idowu (GB), 17,62 m

3. Leevan Sands (Bah), 17,59 m

Today Nélson received his deserved Olympic Gold Medal.

Vanessa de Sousa Fernandes (14/09/1985) – Beijing 2008 Silver Medal

Vanessa Fernandes won yesterday the Olympic silver medal in the Women's Triathlon.

To the Press she said:

“Winning this silver medal is very important. I feel a fantastic sensation, like if I had won the Gold medal.

It was very difficult to me because I hadn’t any Portuguese colleague with me. To compete in the Triathlon alone is very hard. I tried to take the lead but I didn’t feel well on the first cycle laps. Fortunately I was able to recover and get the second place.

Representing our country in this kind of event is not a piece of cake. We athletes must be proud and aware of how important these competitions are. If we don’t understand that and don’s take it serious, the better option is not to come. It is my responsibility and of each one of us athletes to be at the top, on the day we are going to compete, being ready to give our best.

I want to dedicate this medal to my family, friends and to all the Portuguese people who stayed awake watching me.”

1. Emma Snowsill (Australia), 1:58:27.66

2. Vanessa Fernandes (Portugal), +1:06.97

3. Emma Moffatt (Australia), +1:28.18

The coach Sérgio Santos considers that, the winning of the Silver Medal, is a big moment for the Portuguese Sport. To the press he also said:

”Vanessa worked a lot to achieve this goal. She deserves all the best and also much respect for everything she has been doing for the Portuguese Sport. Now let’s leave her celebrate with her team and family.”

The Women's Triathlon is divided in 3 competitions: swimming – 1500 m; Cycling - 40 km and running - 10 km. This is a continuous competition with no stop between the legs.

Eusébio Cup – Tribute to a “King”

There is a new pre-season tournament in Portugal. It’s name Eusébio Cup.

The event is a tribute to the “King” Eusébio and will occur every year at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon. On this first year, there will be only a single match, SL Benfica will face the FC Internazionale Milano.

Eusébio, who could have joined Angelo Moratti’s Inter in 1966 but the Italian football banned foreign players after the national team defeat against North Korea in the World Cup. In March Eusébio was a guest of Inter centenary celebrations at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.

Eusébio also known as the “Black Panther” said to the Press:

“I was already honored for having a statue in the Estádio da Luz and now the creation of this tournament, exceeds all my expectations. I hope to live for many and long years, now I know for sure, that the future generations will remember me. I think that the Internazionale Milano team was well chosen, I played against them and I remember they wanted me playing on their side. Nowadays the Inter’s team has a great coach José Mourinho and we can’t forget Portuguese players like Figo and Pelé that also play there. I expect a good match and I hope the Trophy stays here at home.”

Eusébio da Silva Ferreira was born in 1943 in the Portuguese ex-colony Mozambique.

The city of Lourenço Marques (Maputo) watched the young Eusébio growing in the streets of Mafalala, playing football with any kind of ball he could found.

Eusébio tried to enter the Club “O Desportivo”, after playing in a kids team called “Os Brasileiros”, but they refused him. He wanted so much to play that decided to go to the rival team, Sporting Lourenço Marques where he was accepted.

This was just the beginning ….

After that, Benfica signed him and there he made his dreams and of all Benfica fans come true. All over the world the football lovers who saw him also in the Portuguese National Team were amazed with the player who became a legend.

An extraordinary player was born and the space for his trophies was never enough. Never enough will be also any tribute to the “Black Panther”.

Eusébio is the best Portuguese player of all times, being also between the 10 better players of the world.

João Manuel Vieira Pinto (19/08/1971) – Golden Kid Retires

The striker João Pinto that for 9 seasons represented SL Benfica, has decided now to retire at the age of 36.

João Pinto joined SL Benfica in 1992, winning the league title on the following season (1993/94), playing in the famous away victory 6-3 against Sporting Cp.

This great Player soon became Captain of the eagle’s team and made plenty of fantastic games scoring over 100 goals.

João Pinto enjoyed playing with the ball on his feet making the ball roll and wasn’t afraid of that responsibility. Also secure facing his opponents (on one to one) with wonderful dribbling skills. Very good on short and long pass. He also won 2 Portuguese Cups with the red shirt.

To the Press he said:

“I’ve offers from some Clubs but I think this is the perfect time to end my career. Now it’s time to rest and to enjoy watching my son Tiago playing. I also want to say thanks to my family and to all the Clubs I represented.”

João Pinto is considered by many as the most amazing Benfica player of that decade.

Armando Gonçalves Teixeira (25/09/1976) - Petit, the Pitbull

After 6 years the midfielder Petit decided to leave SL Benfica.

The player’s intention was to terminate his career playing on SL Benfica, but the opportunity to play on the German League, Bundesliga representing FC Köln, made him change his mind.

Petit is a fast and strong midfielder that can fit in any team. He is the kind of player who gives everything for his team and never gives up recovering a ball. Enormous contribute on the defensive job.

Petit helped SL Benfica winning the 2005 Portuguese league title.

To the Press he said:

“After 6 years wearing Benfica’s shirt and on a very happy moment of my life, I received an invitation from abroad that I couldn’t refuse. I talked with the Club and demonstrated to them my wish. I thank them for understanding my reasons and for letting me go. On this moment, I have a sensation of joy for my first experience abroad, but on the other side I feel a bit sad for leaving my Club and my team-mates. I would like to thank everybody and leave a message of optimism to the fans. Although I’m leaving Benfica I realize that is being done a very important job here and that in shortly the Club will be again where it belongs.”

Thank you Petit for the way you always gave everything for our team.