Football International Wed night: Poland v Portugal; Poland v Portugal Preview; ‘Troika’ gives Portugal bailout a thumbs up; South-west coast of Madeira timelapse; Orquestra de Sopros, Casa das Mudas Art Centre, Saturday night, 8pm; Madeiran João Silva first Portuguese driver to compete in WRC Academy;
International, National Portuguese News and Madeira News from Paul Abbiati:
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Football: Poland v Portugal Preview
From: Goal.com: http://www.goal.com/en-gb/match/77113/poland-vs-portugal/preview
“Werder Bremen defender Sebastian Boenisch has been included in the Poland squad after more than a year out because of a serious knee injury. Lille forward Ireneusz Jelen has been recalled for the first time since February 2011.
Portugal coach Paulo Bento had two last-minute worries in the build-up to this match, as Silvestre Varela and Carlos Martins both picked up injuries at the weekend. Toulouse midfielder Paulo Machado is the only player called up as a replacement, meaning Portugal will take a 22-man squad to Warsaw.
image above of Madeiran Christiano Ronaldo
Benfica striker Nelson Oliveira could make his international debut for the senior squad after shining for the national team’s youth ranks at the Under-20 World Cup in the summer.”
‘Troika’ gives Portugal bailout a thumbs up
“Portugal has passed the third review by inspectors from the European Union, International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank — who said it was “on track” with its austerity programme but that “challenges remain”.
The officials from the so-called troika will now sign off on the next instalment of the 78 billion euro bailout.”
South-west coast of Madeira timelapse
Orquestra de Sopros, Casa das Mudas Art Centre, Saturday night, 8pm.
Orquestra de Sopros play at Casa das Mudas Art Centre, Saturday night, 8pm. Entry is Free.
Madeiran João Silva is the first Portuguese driver to compete in the WRC Academy
João Silva, a Madeiran is the first Portuguese driver to compete in the WRC
Academy. Silva started rallying in 2007 in Madeira. He was twice Madeiran
Junior Champion in 2009 and 2010 and this year was crowned 2WD Portuguese
Rally Champion. His WRC debut was in Portugal in 2010 and he repeated the
experience in 2011, even scooping a class win. His determination to succeed
comes from a desire always to make his parents proud and he is a management
student at the University of Madeira while also working part-time with his
father. His next big challenge is proving himself on a world stage as he
steps up from national rallying to the WRC Academy:
“The WRC Academy represents to me everything I look for in rallying. It has
excellent drivers, international events, television coverage, a scholarship
for the winner, great organization and most of all fair play, with identical
cars and equal opportunities. In recent years I have learned a lot and
managed to win several championships in Portugal. From now on I intend to
progress among the best young international drivers. My goal is to learn as
much as possible, giving the best inside the car and at every rally. I
promise full dedication and commitment to my first international campaign,
where I aim to be among the fastest drivers.”
The WRC Academy from the WRC official site:
http://www.wrc.com/wrc-academy/about-wrc/what-is-wrc-academy/
“The WRC Academy is the first step on the ladder for aspiring young rally
drivers wishing to showcase their talent on the world stage, and this year
offers the season winner the chance to select how best to develop their
career in the WRC. In consultation with the FIA and M-Sport – who will
provide expert advice and guidance – the winning driver will be given the
opportunity to contest all rounds of the 2013 FIA World Rally Championship
in a Ford Fiesta R2, with a recce car provided on long haul events. Or,
alternatively, the driver can decide to contest five rounds of the 2013
series, stepping up in to a Fiesta S2000 car.
Designed to be accessible and cost-effective with the basic cost of
participation set at £119,500, competitors registering for the FIA WRC
Academy Cup will be supplied with identical Fiesta R2s prepared and
maintained by M-Sport’s central European base in Poland. To further
encourage equal competition and showcase the ability of each individual
competitor, every Fiesta will once again be fitted with control tyres from
Pirelli.
As well as learning their craft on the stages, competitors will continue to
take part in a comprehensive training and tuition programme to maximise
their potential both in and out of the cockpit.
The 2012 WRC Academy Cup will be contested over six rounds of the WRC, with
drivers counting their best five scores towards the Cup. The series kicks
off with three gravel rounds in Portugal, Greece and Finland before heading
to the challenging asphalt in Germany and France. The season-finale takes
the crews to Salou in Spain for a mixed-surface event.
To be eligible to take part, drivers must be born on or after 14 November
1986 and have not competed as a priority driver on more than seven rounds of
the WRC prior to 1 January 2012…”
All images from Diario de Noticias or official Facebook pages of Madeira Tourism unless otherwise stated.
