Brazil to rely on Neymar for Olympic gold

AFP, TERESÓPOLIS (BRAZIL): Brazil’s Olympic coach admitted on Tuesday that he was relying on Barcelona star forward Neymar to shoot the hosts to a first Games gold in Rio next month.
Current under-20s coach Rogerio Micale has been charged with rejuvenating Brazilian football in Rio after Dunga was fired following Brazil’s shock first-round exit from the Copa America.
“I want to be dependent on Neymar,” he said, as the squad went through its first training session for the Rio Games.
“What coach in the world would not want a Neymar in his team? They say it’s not good to be dependent on Neymar, but I do not agree: I would always have a Neymar in my team.”
Micale’s stance is in stark contrast Dunga, who had tried to suggest the Brazilian side was not a one-man team.
The Games start on August 5.
Tite will take over the Selecao after the Olympics.
Meanwhile, Brazil’s Olympic team will train and sleep at locations far from the Olympic village, including at an army base, in part to keep away from the eyes of ‘spies,’ officials said Tuesday.
The host country has fielded its largest-ever team for the Rio de Janeiro Games, which open on August 5. It is gunning for at least 10th place in the overall medal table, a giant leap from London 2012, when it came in 16th.
To get there, the Brazilian Olympic Committee has named a team of 465 athletes, dwarfing its previous largest team -- 277 participants at the Beijing Games in 2008.
Most of them will hunker down at the physical education centre of Sao Joao Fort, a sprawling army base with lush tropical vegetation and stunning views of Rio’s iconic bay.
That location, in Rio’s posh Urca district, will put them closer to their venues than competitors in the Olympic village, on the western side of the city. Their coaches also hope it will put them in a golden mindset.
“Exclusivity is the key word here. They train when they want, they eat on schedule, they only meet other Brazilians,” said Marcus Vinicius Freire, sports director at the Brazilian Olympic Committee.
“That’s the big difference of staying in Urca, one of the prettiest places in Rio de Janeiro... without any spies.”
The wrestling, taekwondo, beach volleyball, boxing, handball and archery teams will stay at the fort. Other teams will stay at different bases around the city.
The exceptions are beach volleyball stars Bruno Schmidt and Alison Cerutti, who wanted to stay at the Olympic village to soak up its special “energy,” said Freire.
Another report adds from Rio de Janeiro: Brazil got one Olympic medal in boxing in 1968, three at the London 2012 Games and now the country’s boxers hope to turn home advantage into gold.
To test the mood ahead of the first Games to allow professional boxers, AFP interviewed three Brazilian team members, all from the northeastern state of Bahia, which some compare to Latin America’s boxing hub Cuba:
Adriana Araujo, 34, a lightweight and Brazil’s only female medallist (bronze) in 2012.
Joedison Teixeira, known as Chocolate, 22, middleweight.
Robenilson de Jesus, 28, bantamweight, a quarter-finalist in 2012.
Araujo: “No one goes out hoping for a bronze or silver medal. We all want to be champion. The training is harder than the actual fight. We suffer to become champions.”
Chocolate: “I was the first Brazilian champion in the 2013 World Boxing Championships and since then, expectations have been raised. Last year I won bronze at the Pan-American Games and at the end of 2015, I won the Olympic trials where you had high-ranked fighters, including several boxers who’d already qualified.
“I don’t feel much pressure because these are my first Olympics and so I’m going to do my best with a decent chance of a medal on the horizon.”
De Jesus: “I came close to a medal in London. I hope to get on that podium and to sing our national anthem in front of the home crowd.”
Araujo: “Bahia is the Cuba of Brazil. People from there are born with their hips moving. They do that a lot in the dancing at Carnival time.”
Chocolate: “Our state lives and breathes boxing. Some weekends after fights we use the gyms for club training and for small, school-age tournaments.”
De Jesus: “Bahia is Brazil’s boxing breeding ground. Every Olympics we have three or four boxers from Bahia qualifying. We’re very serious about getting onto the national team.”
Araujo: “For the women, it doesn’t change anything, but for the men, I think it’s crazy. The professionals can’t have adapted to Olympic boxing in the two months (since the decision was made).”
Chocolate: “The pros won’t have any advantage. They are used to only getting warmed up in about the third or fourth round. In amateur boxing you don’t have time for that. You get going more quickly. In three rounds it’s over. I don’t think a professional will become champion.”
De Jesus: “The professionals won’t succeed. It was a bad idea. It would have been good only if they’d been given time to adapt. For the 2020 Games, they’ll be able to get ready, but not with only two months to prepare for these Games.”
Araujo: “He was and always will be the icon of our sport and of world sport in general. It’s sure we’re missing him now, but I’m sure he’s at peace.”

Brazil to rely on Neymar for Olympic gold

AFP, TERESPOLIS (BRAZIL): Brazils Olympic coach admitted on Tuesday that he was relying on Barcelona star forward Neymar to shoot the hosts to a first Games gold in Rio next month. Current under-20s coach Rogerio Micale has been charged with rejuvenating Brazilian football in Rio after Dunga was fired following Brazils shock first-round exit from the Copa America. I want to be dependent on Neymar, he said, as the squad went through its first training session for the Rio Games. What coach in the world would not want a Neymar in his team? They say its not good to be dependent on Neymar, but I do not agree: I would always have a Neymar in my team. Micales stance is in stark contrast Dunga, who had tried to suggest the Brazilian side was not a one-man team. The Games start on August 5. Tite will take over the Selecao after the Olympics. Meanwhile, Brazils Olympic team will train and sleep at locations far from the Olympic village, including at an army base, in part to keep away from the eyes of spies, officials said Tuesday. The host country has fielded its largest-ever team for the Rio de Janeiro Games, which open on August 5. It is gunning for at least 10th place in the overall medal table, a giant leap from London 2012, when it came in 16th. To get there, the Brazilian Olympic Committee has named a team of 465 athletes, dwarfing its previous largest team -- 277 participants at the Beijing Games in 2008. Most of them will hunker down at the physical education centre of Sao Joao Fort, a sprawling army base with lush tropical vegetation and stunning views of Rios iconic bay. That location, in Rios posh Urca district, will put them closer to their venues than competitors in the Olympic village, on the western side of the city. Their coaches also hope it will put them in a golden mindset. Exclusivity is the key word here. They train when they want, they eat on schedule, they only meet other Brazilians, said Marcus Vinicius Freire, sports director at the Brazilian Olympic Committee. Thats the big difference of staying in Urca, one of the prettiest places in Rio de Janeiro... without any spies. The wrestling, taekwondo, beach volleyball, boxing, handball and archery teams will stay at the fort. Other teams will stay at different bases around the city. The exceptions are beach volleyball stars Bruno Schmidt and Alison Cerutti, who wanted to stay at the Olympic village to soak up its special energy, said Freire. Another report adds from Rio de Janeiro: Brazil got one Olympic medal in boxing in 1968, three at the London 2012 Games and now the countrys boxers hope to turn home advantage into gold. To test the mood ahead of the first Games to allow professional boxers, AFP interviewed three Brazilian team members, all from the northeastern state of Bahia, which some compare to Latin Americas boxing hub Cuba: Adriana Araujo, 34, a lightweight and Brazils only female medallist (bronze) in 2012. Joedison Teixeira, known as Chocolate, 22, middleweight. Robenilson de Jesus, 28, bantamweight, a quarter-finalist in 2012. Araujo: No one goes out hoping for a bronze or silver medal. We all want to be champion. The training is harder than the actual fight. We suffer to become champions. Chocolate: I was the first Brazilian champion in the 2013 World Boxing Championships and since then, expectations have been raised. Last year I won bronze at the Pan-American Games and at the end of 2015, I won the Olympic trials where you had high-ranked fighters, including several boxers whod already qualified. I dont feel much pressure because these are my first Olympics and so Im going to do my best with a decent chance of a medal on the horizon. De Jesus: I came close to a medal in London. I hope to get on that podium and to sing our national anthem in front of the home crowd. Araujo: Bahia is the Cuba of Brazil. People from there are born with their hips moving. They do that a lot in the dancing at Carnival time. Chocolate: Our state lives and breathes boxing. Some weekends after fights we use the gyms for club training and for small, school-age tournaments. De Jesus: Bahia is Brazils boxing breeding ground. Every Olympics we have three or four boxers from Bahia qualifying. Were very serious about getting onto the national team. Araujo: For the women, it doesnt change anything, but for the men, I think its crazy. The professionals cant have adapted to Olympic boxing in the two months (since the decision was made). Chocolate: The pros wont have any advantage. They are used to only getting warmed up in about the third or fourth round. In amateur boxing you dont have time for that. You get going more quickly. In three rounds its over. I dont think a professional will become champion. De Jesus: The professionals wont succeed. It was a bad idea. It would have been good only if theyd been given time to adapt. For the 2020 Games, theyll be able to get ready, but not with only two months to prepare for these Games. Araujo: He was and always will be the icon of our sport and of world sport in general. Its sure were missing him now, but Im sure hes at peace.