By CHRIS WRIGHT
New boys Portimonense face a baptism of fire as they travel to last season’s runners-up Sporting Braga – live on Sport TV1, kick-off 8.15pm – tonight (Friday) for the opening game in the Premier Liga Zon Sagres 2010-11 campaign.
SC Olhanense welcome V.Guimarães to the José Arcanjo Stadium in Olhão on Monday evening, kick-off 8.15pm. Last season V.Guimarães finished sixth, just missing out on a Europa League place to Marítimo who thrashed Welsh club Bangor City 10-3, on aggregate, last week.
Last Saturday, Olhanense and Portimonense were the guests of V.Setúbal as they celebrated their centenary with a mini-tournament.
Portimonense ran out winners with a victory over the hosts and a penalty shootout victory over their Algarvean neighbours.
On Sunday, Olhanense played the Angola national team at the Alverca Sports Stadium. Alverca was a team of great potential in the late 1990s when Deco, Maniche and Ricardo Carvalho wore their colours.
After several relegations, the club folded in 2005 before being resurrected and starting again in the lower leagues.
Angola started brightly but it was Olhanense who had the better of the chances with Jorge Gonçlaves going closest when his free-kick cannoned off the crossbar.
Manager Daúto Faquirá started with a 4-3-3 formation spearheaded by Yontcha, Toy and Jorge Gonçlaves, whilst in the second period, last season’s top goalscorer Djalmir led a frontline of Matias, Fabio and Ismaily. The final result was 0-0.
Olhanense has confirmed the loan signing of the promising young Brazilian player Lulinha. The 20 year-old played for top Brazilian club Corinthians between 2007 and 2009.
Lulinha is an attacking midfielder who can also play as a striker.
EXPAT GROUP LAUNCH FOOTBALL CALENDAR
The Olhanense Expat Supporters Group has launched a large, full colour wall calendar featuring all Olhanense’s fixtures for the coming season.
Copies of the calendar are being distributed to cafes, bars, hotels, shops and garages throughout the central and eastern Algarve.
Whilst the calendars are being distributed free for display in commercial outlets, members of the public are being asked to donate one euro. All proceeds will be used for the development of youth football at the club.
It is hoped that this initiative will encourage more people to support Olhanense during the coming season. If you would like copies of the calendar, please email christopher.wright@hotmail.co.uk or call 916 504 903.
