CLASSIC AT MARACANÃ: A SPECIAL DAY FOR FLAMENGO ATHLETES

Controversies always seem to surround Flamengo, and yet another unexpected piece of news involving the club came to light this Wednesday (18), this time related to women's football. Rubro-Negro was condemned by the courts in a case brought by six former players, with a decision that surprised everyone.

The action, which had been ongoing since 2021, resulted in a conviction worth R$3.2 million. According to information from Uol, the names of the players were not revealed, but they were released during the reformulation of the sport in 2022 and were seeking recognition of a professional bond with Flamengo.

Flamengo, which maintains a partnership with the Brazilian Navy did not pay the athletes directly, as they were third sergeants. They played for the club between 2015 and 2021, a period in which they won the Brazilian Women's Championship. However, the players argued that the practice adopted by the club and the Navy was irregular, according to the partnership contract.

“An item in the cooperation term made it clear that the Navy would not provide financial resources, nor would it carry out the direct transfer of facilities. Flamengo was intentionally omitted to pay the athletes”, guarantees lawyer Rafael Cunha.

Despite the initial decision, Flamengo can still appeal. The Regional Labor Court of Rio de Janeiro unanimously understood that Flamengo benefited from the situation and determined that the club must record the athletes' contributions in their Work Cards, in addition to paying the due salaries and other labor obligations.

In addition to these six players, eight others also filed lawsuits against Flamengo for the same reason, but their trials have not yet taken place. In response to Uol, the club commented on the case:

“Of the nine legal actions involving former Navy athletes and coaches, eight had court decisions removing the employment relationship with the Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, considering that these are exclusively third-level Navy sergeants”, he says.

Last week, children who practice judo in the social project Jogaremos Juntos, promoted by Flamengo's Social Responsibility, had an unforgettable experience. They visited the club's headquarters, in Gávea, and trained alongside Flamengo's judo teachers and athletes, experiencing a day full of learning, discipline and sportsmanship.

In total, 70 children, from centers of Cantagalo and Queimados, had the chance to practice judo under the guidance of high-level professionals, reinforcing the values ​​of the sport, such as respect, determination and teamwork.

At the dojô, the children were welcomed by the coach of the under-13 and under-15 red-black judo teams, Rodrigo Domiciano, who, together with club athletes, shared his experiences and spoke about the importance of dedication to progress in the sport. “In the midst of so many negative references, it is essential that these children have positive references. Here they can see that it is possible to reach a higher degree, seek a black belt, seek important competitions and this will change their realities”, he said.

For many, the day was a unique opportunity to become inspire, dream big and continue following the path of sport. “The children came very excited. They've been talking about coming here to Flamengo for a week. It's important for them to be here, in a different place, with so much structure... This all makes them want to dedicate themselves more”, said professor Alves, who teaches judo at Jogaremos Juntos - Núcleo Queimados. Cantagalo resident Leda Maria Pereira de Macedo, mother of student Davi, added. “Children who live in communities need sports so they don't get lost and judo has already got my son back on track. He now has discipline, he has become another child! Davi takes a shower, goes to bed early... I'm very happy. I'm very grateful to have the project there”, she praised.

With its own methodology, Jogaremos Juntos is an education project through sport, based on socio-emotional skills. Through it, children and young people have the opportunity to work on self-knowledge, resilience, empathy, focus and other skills that they learn from sports and put into practice to face and overcome challenges in life, whether at school, in family or with friends.

In total, the project serves 800 children in six communities in Rio de Janeiro - Cantagalo Pavão Pavãozinho, Complexo do Alemão, Vila Aliança, Morro do Banco, Santa Cruz and Queimados - with classes football, judo, basketball, artistic gymnastics and volleyball. The project is encouraged by the Federal Sports Incentive Law and has Shell as a sponsor.

Tite, current coach of Flamengo, was direct when commenting on the tight calendar of Brazilian football and the idea of ​​sparing players amid the intense sequence of games. In a recent interview, he spared no criticism of the current competition model in the country and made it clear that, contrary to what many suggest, he has no intention of arbitrarily preserving players in decisive moments.

Tite's main criticism revolves around the excess of games throughout the season. The Brazilian calendar is historically tight, with competitions such as the Brazilian Championship, the Copa do Brasil, the Libertadores, and, in years of the World Cup or Copa América, there is still the weight of international team tournaments. This scenario means that clubs, especially the big ones, have to deal with an exorbitant number of matches in a short space of time, which increases the wear and tear on players and, consequently, the risk of injuries.

However, despite this situation, the coach made it clear that it is not in his plans to adopt a strategy of rotating players indiscriminately. "No one spares", said Tite, in response to suggestions that Flamengocould rest its main athletes in some games. He highlighted that sparing athletes without a clear justification, just with the intention of preserving the squad, would be a risky attitude, especially considering the pressure for immediate results in a club of Flamengo's magnitude.

Tite was also emphatic when explaining that, when making decisions about the lineup, he takes into account several factors, including the physical condition of the athletes, the importance of the match and the team's long-term planning. "Am I going to save my job? Put my job at risk?", joked the coach, highlighting that, in a club with pressure and expectations like Flamengo, a bad result can be costly, including a coach's position.

The Brazilian football calendar is one of the most intense in the world. While in many European countries clubs play, on average, between 45 and 50 matches per season, in Brazil this number easily exceeds 70, considering all competitions. Furthermore, long trips between states, climate variations and the difference in the quality of lawns contribute to the wear and tear of athletes.