Benfica promises to give everything to “make history” for Portuguese women’s handball

This Sunday, the Portuguese team will compete in the second leg of the semi-finals against Slovakia’s Iuventa Michalovce, after being defeated in the first leg, at their opponents’ home, by two goals (30-28), which the coach does not consider decisive and even considers it positive considering the power of the opponent.

“It is, for now, a good disadvantage, because Iuventa is a very strong team at home and leads the MOL League (a championship that combines the best teams from Slovakia and the Czech Republic), they still have no defeats, they have four Ukrainian internationals, two Montenegrins, two Poles and the goalkeeper of the Brazilian team”, analyzed João Alexandre Florêncio.

On the eve of a decisive match, the Benfica coach admits that the ‘eagles’ will need “everything and anything”, starting with strong support in the stands of the Luz pavilion, to be able to “make history” for national women’s handball .

If they eliminate Iuventa Michalovce, the Lisbon team will become the first Portuguese team to qualify for the final of the European Cup in handball, and, reveals João Alexandre Florêncio, to do so, the athletes are forced to make some personal sacrifices and professionals.

“They will possibly have to leave some studies behind, they have been training and didn’t go to classes, many will probably fail or repeat their grades, but this is a sacrifice that is worth it, because it is a generation that is pave the way for others”, he highlights, highlighting the youth and inexperience of his team.

In the case of Benfica, youth and scope for progression have been associated with sporting success. “We had brought very young athletes and many of them had no experience in the first division, let alone winning titles. We were somewhat lucky, because we won by building.”

Repeating the feat of the Benfica men’s team, which, in the 2021/2022 season, won the European League, is a dream that João Alexandre Florêncio nurtures, despite the lower favoritism.

“We want to reach that level. In men’s handball, Benfica, FC Porto and Sporting have this investment that promotes this evolution, in the championship and in the teams, and in this case, in women’s handball, for now, it’s just Benfica and therefore the responsibility is even greater, because it is really very difficult”, he stated.

Benfica hosts the Slovak side Iuventa Michalovce, at 3pm on Sunday, at Pavilion no. 2 at Estádio da Luz, in the decisive match of the second leg of the European Cup semi-finals in women’s handball.