XANDE DE PILARES PREPARES SPECIAL ALBUM IN TRIBUTE TO MPB LEGEND

Sesc Flamengo already has a full squad ready to begin its preparations for the season's main competitions. Last Monday (15), the club welcomed names eagerly awaited by the fans: winger Helena , opposite Tainara, middle blocker Lorena and libero Laís, bronze medalists at the World Championships in Thailand, as well as Serbian middle blocker Maša Kirov, who also played in the Asian tournament and is one of the group's new additions.

While coach Bernardinho leads the Brazilian men's national team at the World Cup in the Philippines, the Rio de Janeiro team is under the command of assistant Helio Griner. He is leading the training sessions in preparation for the new squad's first challenges . This Friday (19), at 5 pm, the team faces Batavo Mackenzie in a closed-door training match at the Army Physical Education School (EsEFEx), in Urca.

COMPETITION SCHEDULE

Next week, Sesc Flamengo officially debuts its season with the Taça Brasil, which will take place from September 23rd to 25th in Londrina, Paraná. The tournament will also feature the home team, Sancor Maringá, and Gerdau Minas, at the Moringão gymnasium.

The Campeonato Carioca begins on October 1st, while the Superliga begins on the 20th . Assistant Helio Griner highlighted the importance of the athletes' adaptation period: "We've been training for a few months, but this year we had many players called up to national teams, in different categories. Four of the adults and Maša arrived from the World Cup and will gradually adapt," he said before adding.

"It's an exciting time. The team has been revamped, and I believe we're capable of competing for major titles. Now, we have to respect each other's limits to finish this week strong and have a good tournament next week," he said.

The Rio de Janeiro Court ruled on Tuesday (16) that the organized fan group Jovem Fla is banned from attending stadiums for a period of two years. The decision was made by Judge Renato Guarino Martins, responding to an injunction requested by the Public Ministry of the State of Rio de Janeiro (MP-RJ) after new episodes of violence were recorded in early September.

The Specialized Stadium Policing Battalion (BEPE) released a report describing several incidents involving members of Jovem Fla . Among the incidents were reports of fans jumping train turnstiles , damaging a train station, and walking on the tracks, delaying the train's journey.

The Military Police also reported that members of the organized group were caught surfing on buses in the Cidade de Deus and Niterói regions. Fights were also reported on Avenida Brasil, near São Cristóvão, heading towards Maracanã Stadium.

EPISODES OF VANDALISM AND AGGRESSION

According to the lawsuit, one of the members urinated on a police armored vehicle and posted on social media that he "wanted to cause trouble." A merchant also reported the theft of two cases of beer and two cases of soda from the stadium's North Sector.

BEPE also reported the assault suffered by Vasco fans in a bar on Rua Alfredo Valadão , in Copacabana. The court also sent a letter to the Public Prosecutor's Office with information about new episodes of violence involving other organized fan groups, such as Fúria, Força Jovem do Vasco and Jovem do Botafogo .

Flamengo will have significant absences in this Thursday's (17) clash, at 9:30 pm, against Estudiantes, at Maracanã, for the quarterfinals of the Copa Libertadores . Among the big names that will be left out are midfielder Jorginho, full-back Alex Sandro and midfielder Pulgar.

Jorginho will miss the match against Argentina due to muscle swelling in his left thigh . Alex Sandro continues to recover from a left calf injury, while Pulgar is in the final stages of treatment after surgery on his right foot and will still require at least two weeks of physical therapy before returning to the squad.

IMPACT OF EMBARRASSMENTS

With these absences, the coach will have to assemble a team with alternatives for midfield and left back. The likely starting lineup includes: Rossi; Royal (Varela), Léo Ortiz, Léo Pereira, Ayrton Lucas (Viña); Saúl, De La Cruz (Allan), Arrascaeta; Plata, Samuel Lino, and Pedro.

The absences could influence Flamengo 's game strategy, as they seek to advance to the Copa Libertadores semifinals. The return leg will be next week in La Plata, Argentina, against Estudiantes.

POSSIBLE REINFORCEMENTS

Striker Bruno Henrique and full-back Varela are the main names expected to return to the team after being absent last Sunday (14), against Juventude, for the Brazilian Championship. Both trained normally with the team this Tuesday (16).