STORE 
MY BEACH SOCCER 
The team’s captain, and Al Ahli superstar, Madjer, knows all eyes will be set on them: “People will expect a lot from us… We are the World Champions”
The Portuguese National team is already in Dubai. The defending World Champions landed in Dubai last night, ready to kick the sand and add the Intercontinental Cup to round-off a perfect year, following their brilliant FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup and Euro Beach Soccer League triumphs.
The team’s captain, Joao Saraiva, more commonly known as Madjer, has had a tremendous career, but this past season has been better than he could have imagined. The captain and leader of the Portuguese National Selection has helped give his country two of the biggest titles, the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup and the Euro Beach Soccer League 2015 beach soccer has to offer, and the Samsung Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup will grant him the opportunity to finalize a dream year.
This years’ edition, taking place from November 3rd-7th at the Dubai International Marine Club, will be only the second time that Madjer has participated in the Intercontinental Cup, and while not shying away from the pressure, he knows that this year will be different, noting, “The difference compared to last year is that, first of all, this year we enter the competition as World and European champions, our rivals and the public will have their eyes set on us for sure, and certainly our supporters will expect a lot from us in this competition.”
The Samsung Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup Dubai has always brought together the best teams in the world, including the current World Cup Champions, and the leaders from each of the Confederations, but this year has a different feel as Madjer tells us, “We can’t hide that we can still make history not only in Portugal but also in the world, winning the three major competitions in beach soccer in the same calendar year. We know the difficulties ahead, but we are aware that if we maintain our high level we are capable of winning the Intercontinental Cup too.”
The challenges are evident this year for the Portuguese side but Dubai is a perfect setting to conclude their spectacular season, in part because it has become a beach soccer paradise over the years, and no one knows better than Madjer as he states, “Over the years there has been a huge evolution of local players thanks to the coaches who have been working with the UAE National team as well as the clubs. This evolution also is due to the Dubai Sports Counsel as well as the UAE Football Association.” The improvements are evident and though the competition will feature the UAE, Argentina, Egypt, Russia, Tahiti, Mexico, and Iran, you can bet your bottom dollar that Madjer and Portugal will still be favourites and hungry enough to win yet another competition.
For Madjer, moreover, playing in Dubai is always a very special feeling. The Portuguese star, one of the target men of Al Ahli as well, feels right at home in the Emirate: “For me, Dubai is like my second home. I love it here. The city is great, and the progressions they are doing with beach soccer is something everybody should feel very proud of. It is going to be very special to play in Dubai with my country”.
