One month after winning silver in the FIVB Volleyball World League world No.1 Brazil has begun their preparation for the Men's South American Championship, which is set to take place from September 19 to 25.
The 15 players, coached by Bernardo “Bernardinho” Rezende, have reunited at Aryzao, the Brazilian Volleyball Development Center, in Saquarema, as they focus on the crucial event. These include setters Bruno and Marlon, opposites Leandro Vissotto, Theo and Wallace, middle blockers Gustavo, Rodrigao, Lucas and Sidao, wing spikers Giba, Murilo, Dante and Joao Paulo Bravo and libero Sergio.
“The first week has been very good as we focused in the physical work. It is like a restart,” Bernardinho said.
After the matches against their South American rivals, Brazil will play a number of friendly matches at Maracanazinho Gymnasium, in Rio de Janeiro, against Germany and Japan, on August 27 and 28.
“These matches will be very useful as all the players will be in court,” Bernardinho said. “This is the best way for us to be in a good level in the South American Championship, where we are going to face some strong teams, mainly Argentina, which improved a lot in the last decade.”
The Men's South American Championship acts as a qualifying competition for the 2011 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Cup, due to be held from November 20 to 4 in Japan, with the top three teams at the competition earning a ticket to the London 2012 Olympic Games.
source: FIVB
