Sporting CP train on the UEFA Futsal Cup Final Four court for the first time

Sporting CP's futsal squad trained for the first time in the Almaty Arena today, ahead of of the UEFA Futsal Cup Final Four.

The session lasted a little over an hour. For the opening exercises the squad split into groups, with the goalkeepers working with Raul Oliveira. Half an hour later, Nuno Dias took charge for some attacking and defending drills.

Sporting CP's return to the hotel coincided with the arrival of the Spanish side Inter Movistar for their training session, with the Russian side Urga the only group yet to arrive.

Nuno Dias announces squad for Almaty showdown

Nuno Dias has named his final squad of 14 for the UEFA Futsal Cup Final Four:

Goalkeepers
Marcão
André Sousa

Defender
Leo

Universal
Caio Japa

Winger
João Matos
Deo
Paulinho
Varela
Diogo
Merlim
Cavinato
Pany

Pivot
Dieguinho
Fortino

Futsal squad made to feel at home in the Almaty Arena

Sporting CP's technical staff made an early morning visit to the Almaty Arena this Wednesday, to prepare the squad's dressing room.

It was a little reminder of home for the Alvalade charges, with photographs and flags decorating the dressing rooms green and white. The gesture wasn't wasted on captain João Matos. "Don't think it was UEFA who did this", said the Alvalade skipper.

Divanei makes the most of the opportunity to catch up with his former teammates

Divanei, 32, has been with Kairat for three seasons now, after spending two separate spells with Sporting CP totaling five seasons in Alvalade. Although Kairat side have the home advantage, the veteran winger isn't dismissing Sporting CP's chances of silverware: "I have watched the games and the club is at a really top level right now. This is the UEFA Futsal Cup and we all remember 2011, when we were favourites against Montesilvano and ended up losing. Sporting CP will face Ugra and the players will have to concentrate from start to finish. The little details make the difference."

Divanei looked overjoyed with the chance to mix with his former teammates and he didn't hide that in his comments to the press: "I really miss going out to play and hearing people chanting for me. Not even the top Brazilian players had the support I did, which is recognition of what I did with Sporting CP."

Medical information ahead of the UEFA Futsal Cup Final Four

Nuno Dias ups the tempo on second day

The second day of training in Almaty and Nuno Dias is turning the screw, after giving his players the opportunity to recover from the long trip from Lisbon.

In general the session focused on technique, while the goalkeepers were also put through their faces in front of some stinging shots.

Tomorrow will be Sporting CP's first run out onto the court at the Almaty Arena.

Mega facility set to host UEFA Futsal Cup Final Four

Imposing is the best way to describe the Almaty Arena: the stage for the UEFA Futsal Cup Final Four which will see Sporting CP face Gazprom-Ugra Yugorsk on Friday.

The mega structure cost approximately 238 million euro to build and houses a 12,000 seater arena, in addition to a smaller facility with 3,000 seats and an Olympic swimming pool.

Sporting CP vice-president Vicente Moura is traveling with the squad for the event and was equally impressed with the facility: "Overall it is the best I have seen in my life. It is modern and has technology I have never seen before. t looks really nice from the outside too."

Sporting CP futsal work off the long flight from the Portuguese capital

After breakfast and a short walk, Sporting CP held their first training session in Almaty this week, at the AFC Kairat Academy.

Nuno Dias used the session to give his players the chance to stetch off after the seven thousand kilometer trip from Lisbon.

Alvalade squad arrives ahead of the UEFA Futsal Cup Final Four

Seven thousand kilometers from from Lisbon and 13 hours after leaving the Portuguese capital, Sporting CP's futsal team have landed in Almaty for this week's UEFA Futsal Cup Final Four.

After a transfer in Istanbul, Nuno Dias' side arrived at 05h30 local time and the players were all in high spirits, despite the draining trip.

After breakfast the squad rested up, before their first training session at 18h00 at the AFC Kairat Academy.

João Matos speaks with the press before taking off for Kazakhstan

João Matos was the player spoken to speak with journalists who had gathered ahead of Sporting CP's trip to Kazakhstan for the UEFA Cup Final Four.

As usual, the Alvalade veteran's expectations are high: "It is a privilege to take part in a competition at this level. It is an hour for Sporting CP and for Portuguese futsal to be in the Final Four again. Nerves will kick in a bit later of course, but that is normal. We have a week to work on the detail now and we are all looking forward to it."

Sporting CP will face Gazprom-Ugra Yugorsk in the semi-finals on Friday and although the Russians are the current UEFA Futsal Cup holders, Matos still sees his side as in with a chance: "This is Sporting CP's best team and we have a lot of quality in every position. We have our strengths, but we can't let emotion get the better of us. We have to keep our cool and that is what we are working on. I think we can get a good result against Ugra."