Liga Sagres: Clube de Futebol "Os Belenenses" 0-0 Sport Lisboa e Benfica

The spectators who went to “Restelo” stadium, last Friday had the possibility to assist to a great game.

Benfica won one point against “Os Belenenses” and unfortunately there were no goals on this match. The bad weather may justify why the nets stood inviolate.

The derby from Lisbon is always a pleasant game to be watched. Quique Flores knew that and tried to manage the team the better way possible. Rúben Amorim gave all he could inside the house, where he was so happy. David Suazo needs space to evolutes but that doesn’t mean he should be alone, the team knows that and tries to help many times, working solidly, not only defensively, but also when attacking.

Luisão is one of the most important players in the team. When he is on his best form and when he feels positively he helps his companions a lot. The defence becomes more organized and the team progress in the field with the ball more self confident. Obliviously that helps the team to concentrate on what the coach wants and to focus on what really matters.


Anderson Luís da Silva (1981/02/13)

Anderson da Silva, known as Luisão, was born in Amparo (São Paulo).

Luisão, Alex, Andrei and Andressa grew up breading football. Their father Mário Luís da Silva fortunately gave a big importance to sport. Mr Mário da Silva used to play football also in the defense having nowadays a Football School. Although their happiness sometimes life wasn’t easy, and they passed through some difficulties for instance, when it rained they were always worried with the water drops, falling inside the house.

Rio Branco in Amparo, was the first Club where Luisão and his brother Alex started playing football.

Luisão was signed by Benfica in the summer of 2003. Before that he had played in Juventus - Esporte Clube Juventude (1999-2000) and also, for 3 seasons in Cruzeiro Esporte Clube. There in Minas Gerais he conquered several titles.

This central defender, with 1.92m tall is nowadays one of the best players of Benfica. The European team known for having had several Brazilian great players acting on that position, like for instance, like Mozer, Ricardo Gomes and Aldair, wants to keep the tradition.

The first times were not easy for Luisão and he had some difficulties on his adaptation to our Club. Thank god he started to put the voices of negativity behind his back and showed everybody the reasons why he had convinced the Benfica responsible people who contracted him.

The time goes by and Luisão becomes like the “Port Wine”, better each year. Committing fewer faults, scoring more goals and above all, helping Benfica with his security to achieve the place where it belongs, the Top.


Foundation

After a general assembly in 2oo6 where the Foundation was approved, the documentation was formally signed yesterday. Carlos Móia will be the executive president and near him will have Rui Cunha and Teresa Claudino as vice-presidents and Gonçalo Azevedo as Vogal.

To the Press the President Filipe Veira told:

“This Foundation reflects much of what I’ve imagined and wished when I arrived to Benfica. We want our social investment to make a positive impact near needed children. This kind of work can’t be done only to Benfica fans, must be enlarge to everyone who needs it. Some focus must point to problems of social exclusion, poverty and marginalization. The Foundation is so important for me, that I probably embrace this project after leaving the Presidency of the Club.”

Our Foundation has a main purpose, to combat the Social differences.

Leo returns to Santos Football Club

One of the best left defences, who represented our Club, returned to Brazil.

Leo ended his connection to SLB, the Santos Club is the next challenge. The regularity of this player and his great heart and personality will be certainly missed by our fans.

Players like Leo contribute to create solid defences and help teams winning games.

To the Press Leo said:

“I’m the same Leo who played here before (2000-05). On my first passage, our team (Santos FC) won several titles, but in football we need to give our best every day. I think I turned a better player and more mature on this last 4 years playing in Portugal representing Benfica. There I was elected, for three times, the best player of the year on my position.”

Carlsberg Cup: Sport Lisboa e Benfica 1-0 Clube de Futebol Os Belenenses

Benfica gain the first place of the Carlsberg Cup group.

First of all, is important to say that on Saturday the game, for the cup competition was played on the afternoon. This is very important, because it allows the spectators to come more often to enjoy the “show”.

The TV’s have the monopoly and decide when the games must be played. Of course they choose the better days and hours for them, based on their arguments: share and publicity. The afternoons normally represent better weather conditions and also mean that the fans and their families have much more time available to enjoy the spectacle.

The football deciders, that are everyone who have a word to say on this matter, have to find a way to conciliate the several interests.

Secondly, is important to refer that the Benfica’s victories are very important. The routine of games wan allow a marvellous group spirit inside a structure, each time, more and more solid. However is important to say that the most important games are yet to come.

The Quique’s tactics are functioning. Players like Aimar, Katso, once again the public could appreciate another great goal from the Greek and, Maxi can really make the difference. Although Maxi Pereira gives all he cans to the team, and has played a lot of games until now with an extraordinary regularity, he needs to be advised to avoid committing some faults that can, eventually, be dangerous to our nets.

The Belenenses team played well, and the coach Jaime Pacheco wants even more from his players. Pacheco had difficult times on the Club, but it seems that the clouds are leaving. The next Liga game will be precisely against Belenenses in the Stadium of Restelo and it seems that it won’t be an easy game.

On the next Carlsberg Cup round Vitória will be the next opponent.

Sílvio Cervan Told the Press:
“Vitória de Guimarães is a great Club and we are honoured to play against them once again on this competition. The last season League top teams are here represented, so any team would be tuff for us. We wish all the best for all the other Clubs on the competition, SCP and FCP.”

Finally a subject that shouldn’t be talked about, but that is always on the top news, the referees. Many errors are being committed and the football looses with that, although the large amount of money that keeps on entering some pockets, demonstrate the opposite. The public opinion talks about some measures to be introduced like for instance, more two referees behind the nets or, goal-line technology and also referees from other countries or being professionalized the Portuguese referees.

Well, in my opinion something urgent should be done, independently from the international high instances. Portugal has intelligent persons in all the sectors, brilliant people can be found in the smallest village of Portugal, so maybe what the football needs is to join all the suggestions and implement the most important ones. The referees should have the most important paper in this decision because is their future that is on the table here. Euros should not be a problem but perhaps the solution.

Carlsberg Cup: Sport Lisboa e Benfica 4-1 Sporting Clube Olhanense

Yesterday night, Benfica’s stadium “Luz” had a special visit. Maradona came to watch Di Maria playing and to evaluate his performance.

Will Di Maria play for Argentina? I really think that is a strong possibility and more than that this young player as a great future facing him.

If the visits from Diego represent better performances from Di Maria and companions we all wish that he comes more often.

Liga Sagres: SL Benfica 1-0 Sporting Clube de Braga

On Sunday evening SL Benfica reached another victory. This time was a tuff game against the reds, from the city of Braga. Both teams played very well in the midfield, the defensive players did the rest, leaving few “space” for the goalkeepers to demonstrate their qualities.

Nevertheless both goalkeepers, when called, gave the better answer possible, making remarkable saves. Moreira is gaining confidence and that must leave Quim worried. Eduardo is other Quim’s opponent but on the National Team and had once again the opportunity to defend an important penalty kick, that could had put and end to the game.

Unfortunately the referees in Portugal have more attention, on the Media, than the players. Benfica benefited on two referee wrong decisions: the David Luiz goal was scored benefitting of an off side position; Luisão committed an area’s fault that was reason enough to a Penalty kick.

The coach and the Braga’s responsible People, came to the media saying that this referees attitude, was not seen on the last twenty years and that this game turned impossible the access from Braga to the top of the classification.

The reason is without any doubt, on their side, and they should say it very loud. What is not comprehensible is that only now, only on this particular game, they have reached that conclusion. I agree with Jesus when he says that his team should be discussing the championship. Yes they should, but the referee’s authority since the beginning of this season and on the last twenty years are probably preventing that.

Talking about strange things in Portuguese Football, Makukula is probably leaving the Club, without the possibility, to proof his qualities and justifying the money the Club gave for him. Makukula may go to the Premiership where Cristiano Ronaldo had the chance to reach the Top.

Football is a world of money.

Carlsberg Cup: Vitória Sport Clube 0-2 Sport Lisboa e Benfica

Positive night for SLB team, one away victory at the Victoria’s Futebol Clube stadium, Dom Afonso Henriques, brought some tranquillity for the benfica’s family.

A good game to observe on a cold night, in a city where Portugal was “born”, two teams gave their best to make a pleasant spectacle.

The early goal scored by the Greek, Katsouranis that gave the best response to an Aimar’s corner kick, made Vitória de Guimarães “run” after other result.

The all benfica’s team demonstrated good capacities, although in particular Moretto had few work to do, so had few chances to demonstrate, if he deserves to be the man of the nets. Balboa was once again with many problems to finally be able to exhibit his qualities.

Carlos Martins jumped from the bench and made the difference scoring the second goal and putting an end to Cajuda’s team pretensions.

Carlos Jorge Neto Martins (1982/04/29)

Carlos Martins was born in Gavinhos de Cima, near Oliveira do Hospital.

The midfield player, very young started showing his qualities and with eleven years old he jumped from Grupo Desportivo Tourizense to Sporting Clube Portugal, The familiar impact was so big that he returned to Oliviera but now to play for the Futebol Clube Oliveira do Hospital.

In 1995 the doors of Alvalade were opened again and there he payed for the young teams achieving also the Portuguese National Team. In the “Lions house” he grew up and became a man, learning with some of the best Portuguese Formation men all about football.

The majority of games Carlos Martins played were representing the Lisbon rival Sporting Clube de Portugal. Since the year 2000 he had only for three times played in other Clubs than Sporting. These teams were Sporting Clube Campomaiorense, Associação Académica de Coimbra and before coming to Sport Lisboa e Benfica he represented the Spanish Real Club Recreativo de Huelva.

Carlos Martins is without any doubt one of the best Portuguese Liga players acting on the midfield. Unfortunately some injuries and some physical problems are causing some difficulties on his best performances.

The Benfica team will gain accuracy on the ball distribution, being more astute and also more dangerous with a player like Carlos in good shape.

Liga Sagres: Clube Desportivo Trofense 2-0 SL Benfica

The benfiquista nation is asking: why did SLB loose the game in Trofa?

Several answers appear in the air, the first one is because the Trofa players knew that this was the game of their lives and that probably in the next following years will not play again at home against Benfica. Other eventual answer is that at half time, the SLB players were informed that, a rival Club had achieved the victory, in the last minute of the game, with the help of an opponent team player hand.

The last possibility for this disaster is that all the Benfica players, and not only Binya or Moreira, did not play enough to win, and Quique did not find the best solutions to exit the Trofense well designed net.

Rui Costa knows perfectly that Benfica has now an excellent structure, quality players complemented with a promissory coach. Rui Costa, having many years of football understands better than many, that the team can not be exposed and that the players must be protected.

A strong mentality to pass all difficulties, till the season’s end, is needed and that is only possible to achieve inside our house. What is the better place? The Dressing Room!