Despite the double descent of the two senior teams last year, the Benfica de Graulhet footballers want to be optimistic for this new season.
Sportingly, the 2023-2024 financial year will not go down in the annals of the club’s history. The checkered results resulted in the temporary suspension of team 2 and the cessation of the U19s. “It was a general desire on the part of the leaders to refocus our forces on the first team. We do not want to skip steps and this season will be one of transition while waiting for our young talents to blossom,” indicates coach Alexandre Ramos.
The youth card is in fact the new priority desired by the Lisbon club. It is true that with all categories represented from U7 to U17, the head of the Football school Dylan Ferreira has serious assets. “Thanks in particular to the work of Tony Figueiredo and Nabil Chentouf, each year we manage to structure ourselves a little more. The training is starting to bear fruit and the objective is to incorporate three or four players into the first team each season.
With this in mind, a union was even validated in the off-season with neighbor Briatexte in the U15-U17 sections, which should make it possible in the short term to sustain the workforce and make them competitive.
The strength of the club is its family spirit
The other strength of the club remains the family spirit which characterizes it. “Benfica has always attracted interest. Here everyone is attached to human values. Football is good, but conviviality is better! » retorts the president Pedro Marquès who does not hesitate to exchange his match goalkeeper gloves on Saturday for the chef’s outfit every other Sunday in order to prepare the “Frango Churrasco” intended for sale in the clubhouse. This famous Portuguese grilled chicken which also makes it famous.
Finally, for Vice President Amilcar Dos Santos, it is necessary to perpetuate these traditions. “We have just celebrated our 55th year of existence and even if we remain an atypical club, our reputation is well anchored in the department and beyond. » With a glorious past, Benfica de Graulhet is now looking forward to a bright future.
