Joaquim Evangelista, João Vieira Pinto and Nelo Vingada presented the event.

Sided by Alfredo Ranque Franque, João Vieira Pinto, Nelo Vingada and José Carlos, Portuguese Professional Footballers’ Association president, Joaquim Evangelista, hosted the 11th Training Camp edition. This initiative, which is destined to unemployed players, will occur from July 5th to August 31th, in Lisbon (Estádio do Jamor) and Vila Nova de Gaia.

“This is an action socially oriented, as a reference in the Portuguese sporting pre-season”, Evangelista explained, in a strict appeal towards players defense and to the relevance of the Training Camp. “On these difficult times, it is justified that athletes get advantage of the conditions we offer them. The Training Camp slur still exists, but I like active players. I cannot accept players who await for opportunities while staying at home”, he stated.

SJPF president reminded the audience about the good employment rates of this action on earlier editions, which were posted between 45 and 90 percent, and exemplified it with good examples of it, such as: Chaínho, Hugo Morais, Paulo Santos, Miguel Garcia, Rui Baião, Bruno Basto e Boa Morte.

Manager Nelo Vingada – who is the ambassor of the event, along with João Vieira Pinto – believes that “in a time during which is not easy finding a job, this camp brings a certain message of hope to the players”. Besides, Vingada advises unemployed players: Do not look at this project as something downgrading. This initiative is noble and has a huge social charge. You can show that you are still useful and a lot better than most of the signings that have been made in Portuguese football”.

João Vieira Pinto, Portuguese Football Federation director, on his side, stated his satisfaction of being connected to the Training Camp, since “it has been a great opportunity to players who had participated in the event”. And he finishes with an example: “take a look to the history of this Taining Camp: there were players who were signed here and later in the season were playing the Euro League Final”, referring to Braga’s player, Miguel Garcia.