Benfiquistas awarded at the "Quinas de Ouro" Gala

It took place on Monday evening the III edition of the “Quinas de Ouro” Gala. At the Pavilion Carlos Lopes, in Lisbon, in a event jointly organized by the “Federação Portuguesa de Futebol”, “Associação Nacional de Treinadores de Futebol” and “Sindicato dos Jogadores Profissionais de Futebol”, were distinguished 16 categories, in a total of 48 nominations, attributed by the “Conselho Quinas de Ouro”, recognizing the work of the Portuguese with the best performance in football, futsal and Beach soccer in the calendar year of 2017.

SL Benfica was represented at the highest level, and apart from all the nominees, the highlight went to the presence of the president Luís Filipe Vieira.

Among the nominees were nine candidates from Sport Lisboa e Benfica, of which two won in their respective categories. Bruno Fernandes, with 45% of the votes, won the award for Best Women’s Futsal Coach, and João Tralhão, with 43% of the votes, was named the Best Academy Coach.

“Congratulations to all the other nominees, to the “Federação Portuguesa de Futebol” for the investment and support given to the Women’s Futsal, to the Board of Sport Lisboa e Benfica and to the entire structure of our Futsal, to our team because the individual accolades only make sense following the collective achievements, and to my family. Thank you all”, said Bruno Fernandes, about an award that he won referring to a year in which the Women’s Futsal team won everything there was to win: National Championship, Portuguese Cup, Super Cup and Honor Cup.

“This award is dedicated to all the players! It was our name and not my name! I would like to thank all the staff, the Board of SL Benfica which gives us the best conditions to work and to keep putting the youngsters at a level of excellence. I thank all the Benfiquistas, thank you to FPF, for the event and for the nomination”, said João Tralhão, Coach of the U-19 team and who in 2017 led the team to the Youth League final.

Rui Vitória (Coach of the Men’s football team), Joel Rocha (Coach of the Men’s Futsal team), Ana Catarina Pereira (Futsal), Ana Gonçalves (Futsal Revelation Player of the Year), Rúben Dias (Football) and the Football team and the Women’s Futsal team of Benfica were the other nominees of Sport Lisboa e Benfica for the accolades.

In the Gala were also delivered the awards regarding the Best XI of 2017, disclosed in the afternoon. In a initiative organized by Players’ Union which had the participation of 904 footballers, Nélson Semedo, who transferred in July to Barcelona, Pizzi, and Jonas are among the named players. As far as the Best XI of the II Division, highlight for the young centre-back, Rúben Dias.

Text: Sónia Antunes

Pics: FPF and Isabel Cutileiro / SL Benfica