Sadinos give a hand to Mozambique to help build Bairro Vitori

Vitória FC and The Big Hand, a non-profit organization that promotes the well-being of children who live in unfavourable conditions in Mozambique, guaranteeing their access to education, health care and nutrition, water and basic sanitation, continue hand in hand and now have as their objective the construction of Bairro Vitória (neighbourhood) in that African country.

At the moment, the campaign is focused on supporting families and rebuilding homes to provide some comfort to those who lost everything in the Beira tragedy when on the 14^th March Cyclone Idai hit Central Mozambique, causing more than 600 deaths and over 1600 injured and affecting more than 1.5 million people, according to the latest figures.

Thanks to the partnership between Vitória and The Big Hand, enough funds have already been raised to build five houses, but it is necessary to support 25 more families. For this reason, the non-governmental organization (NGO), founded in 2010 by the Setubal native David Fernandes, and the popular club from that city continue to combine efforts to mitigate the effects of the tragedy in Beira.

Cristina Augusto, ambassador of the NGO in Setubal explained to the Setubalense – Regional daily newspaper, how the idea of the organization and the club holding hands came about. “The Big Hand has had a partnership with Vitória for some time now. The current campaign is due to the tragedy that happened in Beira, which, with greater urgency and need, led us to want to help the Mozambican people more”.

The responsible explained the key role in the field of David Fernandes, founder of The Big Hand. “He is a native Setubalense and a former athlete of Vitória and, as we do some actions in Setúbal in an attempt to help the children more and more there was an opportunity to once again together with Vitória, who have always given us their hand and showed openness to develop these fundraising campaigns”.

She added: “First we went ahead with the T-shirt campaign and next week we will do the “A pencil for a school” campaign. We’ve been doing it for some time. We go to schools and give lectures in which we disseminate, clarify and inform about what is done on the ground in Mozambique by the project´s founder, David Fernandes, who has been in the country since 2010 and where he is seeking that more and more people have access to education, health, food and basic sanitation”.

Cristina Augusto confided to our newspaper that the idea of naming the place where the houses will be built that will give rise to Bairro Vitória has not yet been transmitted to the founder of The Big Hand, but she is certain that it will be welcomed without reservation. “I haven’t passed on the idea of Bairro Vitória to David Fernandes yet, but I’m sure he’ll be happy to accept it because he’s someone who adores Vitória. The initial idea was to build a Vitória school, but it was considered more urgent to rebuild the homes where people live. These are small houses, whose cost is around 600/700 euros”.

In addition to Bairro Vitória, The Big Hand has other projects under way, such as the “A pencil for a school” campaign, the organisation’s ambassador in the city by the River Sado recalled. “We are going to talk to the youngsters´ of Vitória’s football academy and in other sports and with the schools and kindergartens and to explain that the goal is to build schools. Each child takes five pencils home and returns with five euros. The idea is to give the notion that with this money you can build a school. The take up has been extraordinary,” she said.

Strategy for duel with Portimonense fine-tuned in Palmela

With 31 points in the I Liga, just a stone’s throw away from Portimonense (32), Vitoria FC are preparing hard for Friday’s match at the Bonfim Stadium at 3:30 p.m., as their Algarvian opponents are direct contenders in the relegation dog fight. Yesterday, in the Palmela Sports Complex, coach Sandro Mendes continued to perfect the strategy to put into practice for his team to add the three points.

It is the 15^th time that Vitoria and Portimonense will be able to join forces with the Sadinos as hosts in the main division. The balance is clearly in favour of the Green and Whites who have won 10 matches of the 14 played, drawn three (the last one last season, 1-1) and lost only once (0-1 in the 1980/81 season). With 24-7, Vitoria are also ahead on goal difference.

For the game with Portimão’s team, Sandro Mendes, will not be able to count on defenders Vasco Fernandes and André Sousa due to suspension. After being booked on Sunday against Benfica (loss by 4-2), both players accumulated a series of yellow cards and will be ineligible for the game with the Algarvians. Also unavailable will be Sílvio, Mikel Agu, André Pedrosa e Alex Freitas as they are still recovering from injuries.

The good news is that midfielder Jose Semedo has returned from suspension following a one match ban at the Stadium of Light and striker Mendy, who is already working with the squad after having missed the last few games through injury. Today, at 10 a.m., the team returns to Palmela to continue outlining their strategy for the 30^th round of the championship.

Under-23´s defeat Belenenses SAD

Meanwhile, following the draw (2-2) at V. Guimarães, Vitoria’s U-23´s team won once again yesterday by beating Belenenses SAD, 1-0, in the Municipal Athletics Complex of Vale da Rosa, in the 10th round match of the relegation play-off of the Revelation League. The goal scored by Silla, after 64 minutes, allows Chiquinho Conde’s team to remain top of the table.

Appeal by Vitória FC overturns Semedo suspension

The Disciplinary Board of the Portuguese Football Federation yesterday granted the appeal presented by Vitoria FC regarding the one game suspension and 230 euros fine of midfielder José Semedo, in the 25th round match of the NOS League, held on March 10, against Tondela. After the decision it is confirmed that the player can continue to be available to coach Sandro Mendes.

Setubalense – Daily Regional newspaper had access to the decision that considered Vitória’s appeal valid. “Under the terms and on the grounds set forth above, this appeal is upheld and, consequently, it is decided to revoke the contested disciplinary decision which penalised player Nº 29 of Vitoria FC, for disciplinary offences and a fine of 230 euros and a game of suspension,” reads the document which our newspaper had access to.