The 18 players called up by Marcos Antunes for the preparation camp are: Gomito (GK); Nelsinho (GK); Denis (GK); Kaluanda (universal); Any (left wing); Adérito (wing/pivot); Helber (right wing); Paulo Ricardo (defensive midfielder); Osvaldo Carvalho 'Arroz Doce' (universal); Chico (defensive midfielder); Kliverth (wing/pivot); Bráulio (right wing/pivot); Pesado (right wing); Reveldinho 'Vedo' (defensive midfielder); João Cambangula 'Jô' (right wing); Anderson Fortes (left wing); Lélio (pivot) and Levy (left wing).
"In this camp we intend to prepare ourselves in the best possible way, and competently, with a lot of work and sweat, to achieve our goal, which is to achieve Angola's best ever classification in the World Cup. I am very excited and anxious to see how the athletes are doing", says Marcos Antunes.
The national team's preparation work includes matches against Uzbekistan on 11 and 15 August, and against Portugal on 17 August. The team is scheduled to leave for Resende, in Porto, on 19 August, where it will remain in training until 8 September, playing a few more preparation matches against the teams that will also be training in Portugal.
The national team returns to Luanda on 8 September, and is scheduled to leave for the World Cup on 10 September, with the final 14 athletes and eight staff members.
At the World Cup, which will be held in Uzbekistan from 14 September to 6 October, Angola will compete in Group C, which includes the teams from Afghanistan, Ukraine and Argentina. "We know the capabilities of each team, but we also know that each of these opponents respects Angola a lot and we will fight for a place in the next phase, especially because there is a possibility that the best third-placed teams will progress. We will fight and compete in the group as if it were a mini-championship, in which we want to stay in the decisive places and progress to the next phase. We know it will be difficult, but this will be our spirit", assures the national futsal coach.
