Fernando Tavares resigns as coach: ‘Persecution of players and Benfica’

Eagles vice president says four more athletes should be part of World Cup squad

Benfica vice-president Fernando Tavares has once again harshly criticised the Portuguese Ski Federation and the national coach for his World Cup call-up. The director said more athletes from the Eagles should have been called up, in addition to Sofia Moncovio, Raquel Santos and Ines Severino.

Helder Antunes has called up three Benfica players for the Women’s World Cup, pointing the finger at the national coach and the Portuguese Ski Federation.

“We won the 34th title for this team in 11 years of history. The only trophy we lost was the Portuguese Cup, and it was here for Marlene. [Sousa]“Today, looking back, we are not so sad that Marlene won that trophy. We here at Benfica, unlike the national coach, really love Marlene. We believe that the recent call-up to the World Cup is difficult to accept and explain. It is completely unqualified on the part of the national coach. If we do not see, Benfica will not be able to find any logical and objective criteria to explain the exclusion of players like Marlene, Sofia, Pia and Maria Vieira,” he began, pointing to the microphones of the BTV club.

«Let’s take the case of Marlene Sousa specifically. I don’t see where there could be sporting criteria. The best Portuguese player could fit into any team and selection in the world. Non-sporting criteria: we are faced with an ideal athlete, a woman with the right attitude, an example in sport in Portugal. Renewal criteria? I don’t think so, because Marlene still has a lot to sell and give to Portuguese hockey. Comparative criteria: how does Marlene compare to other players? There is no question that she is the best Portuguese player. And there is another criterion, at the top of the pyramid, which is individuals. Has Marlene resigned from the national team? Not as far as I know. I am a lucky person, because I was lucky enough to see Livramento play and I am lucky enough to see Marlene play. Players who will be immortalized in hockey and Portuguese sport. When we, as managers or coaches, are faced with an athlete of Marlene’s stature, we are not the ones who ask Marlene to abdicate. Marlene should be the one who says when she is ready to give up, and that is a big difference. “We cannot accept this exclusion of Marlene,” he said, speaking about the persecution of the players and Benfica.

The organization rejected the position of Clube da Luz, which accused the institution of “not defending the interests of Portugal or sport.”

“The Federation states in its statement that the choices of the selector must be respected. I agree. But they must be respected when they have to be defended, proven and explained. It is difficult to explain this exclusion of Marlene and the other three players. There is no logic or explanatory meaning to be able to defend such a choice. The Ski Federation does not own the sport, it does not own it, it is the regulatory body of the sport. As the regulatory body of the sport, it must provide explanations to its operators and the clubs. The clubs are the ones who support the sport. Therefore, what the national coach should have done is to announce the reason for the exclusion of Marlene, Maria, Sofia and Pia.”

“The Benfica hockey structure was in contact with the national hockey director and the explanations he gave… frankly I am ashamed to reproduce them here. They are so ridiculous. It is impossible to reproduce. Sport is a factor of social sustainability. Politicians, governments and the Secretary of State for Sport must think deeply about what is happening in sport in Portugal. We are uncomfortable with the call for selection and it would be good if the selector came and explained the exceptions or did what he should have done a long time ago, which is to resign. This is not the first incident with Benfica athletes. I can’t help but feel the oppression of the players, Benfica and hockey. He added: “Under no circumstances can the best players be excluded from the national team.”