09-MAIO-2012
NATIONAL TEAM
WITH INTENSE TRAINING

The Men's Senior National Team is in the Pavilhão Desportivo Municipal da Póvoa de Varzim, in the first week of preparation for participation in the World League.
Flavio Gulinelli, the new national coach, has felt the pulse of the working group, having subjected the players to intense physical training, taught by the new trainer of the Team, the Italian Walter Rizzo.

"This group of players are working very well. The quality is not the best, but I believe that continued work will reach a high level and thus, the results will eventually appear. I don't know if it will be in the World League, but certainly in qualifying for the European Championship in September. The work schedule is already chalked in my head and I hope everything goes as planned. The only way to evolve newer players is by playing. My idea is to give this possibility to the young, during the World League. This will enable to define and identify a group of 14 players who will be the basis for the preparation of the final qualification for the European. The matches with Belgium will enable me to get a clearer idea of our team. Training is one thing, the matches are another. And matches with Belgium will be friendly only in theory, because both teams will do everything to win. They'll be good to observe how the players react in the field. In the World League, the favorites are the same of the World Cup: Brazil, Russia and Poland. In our pool, Bulgaria and Argentina are presently the strongest teams", said Fabio Guinelli.

Marcel Gil, middle blocker of the SC Espinho, contracted a sprained ankle during the second match of the Play-offs of the Championships Final and that keeps him away from the preparation of the National Team."I got injured about a week ago and, although the ankle is still swollen, I feel it is improving day by day. It cost me a lot not playing the last match of the play-off. For me it was a big change with last season in Spain and also in the World League in 2011 and it helped me a lot in this league. I think this is one of the reasons I have done well. And I hope, of course, the coach bets on me for the World League.", said Marcel Gil.