PORTO – Rui Carvoeira, head coach of the Portuguese female team, is in the role of “freshman” due to h is first presence in a university world event. At the arrival of his team, he talks about the team’s goal: “to work hard in every game”.
The training camp in Gerês was very positive. “It was a process to reassure the group spirit and avoid the confusion of the days preceding the competition”, tells the national coach.
Although the “young” age of the players, “it won’t be reflected on their good performance”.
About the opponents, he refers that Portugal is in 7th place in the European Ranking. “We could be on the top three of our group, along with Italy and Canada”, the coach comments.
Assuming the “critical” position concerning the withdraws of the women’s teams of South Africa and France, the national head-coach points to the importance of the “commitment for the bad and the good”.
Captain in High Spirits
Maria Vasquez, student of the Lusófona University in Technologies and Humanities, believes that in some Universities there is support, in others institutions, like hers, she doesn’t feel that backing.
To conciliate the studies with the competitions “it’s a matter of organization”, she adds, “time is enough for everything if we are well organized; if we do what we love, we manage to organize ourselves to that”.
On the last couple of days, the training camp which assembled all members of the Women’s University National Squad in Gerês was for the athlete, “a very pleasant experience for the group spirit and to get focused to what’s coming”.
Despite being in Portugal and rugby being a small mediated sport, Maria Vasquez would love to see her sport more publicized and that “the involvement between the public and the teams becomes much bigger.”
Conscious that “one error could dictate our life”, the team captain states that if they don’t make any mistakes, they can achieve a good result in the game against Italy. Taking as starting point the experience gained in the European Championship, she still refers that “we have skills and believe in ourselves”.
Reluctant about possible strong opponents, she comments that “every year changes, so it’s waiting to see what happens.”
Rui Carvoeira
Related News
