Press Release

Espinho, Portugal, June 2, 2004 - They may have just completed two lengthy back-to-back country qualifiers at the 2004, Swatch - FIVB World Tour, Portugal Open, however, Brazilian team Pedro Enrique Cunha and Rogerio "Para" de Souza Ferreira were adamant that having fun out on the sand is what it's all about, regardless of the results.

This time, both results went in favour of team Cunha-Para as they first downed compatriots Fred-Brazao by 2-1 (27-29, 24-22, 11-15) in a match that ran for a little over an hour before defeating fellow Brazilians Luizao-Harley, also by a 2-1 scoreline (26-24, 12-21, 13-15).

"We had two long, long games and of course we are a little tired," Para stated as he stepped off centre court. "We know that we still have a long way to go but we are just going to try and continue to do the things we did right now, to play and to talk a lot," the 30-year-old Para added. "In the third set of that last game it was very important that we kept talking to each other about our tactics."

The vastly experienced Para, who has been playing Beach Volleyball since 1994 and who has racked up several titles with previous partners such as Harley and Guilherme has only recently teamed up with Cunha, 20, and both are determined to enjoy themselves as much as possible as they progress through the Swatch - FIVB World Tour. "The most important thing for us is to have fun," said Para. "This isn't supposed to be a sport full of depression, we sometimes want to laugh and we sometimes want to talk a lot and I think that we do a good job."

Indeed Cunha was in full agreement with his teammate, "Our tactics are the same in this tournament as they have been in the past. It's natural when you are having fun that you can do great things in a game."

So what's next for the Brazilian team that only came together at the start of the 2004 season and that finished third at the recent China Open in Lianyungang? "First of all we have to qualify," said Para. "Then we are going to stop and refocus like we did in the last couple of tournaments. From there we will have to start again because it will be like a whole new tournament beginning when play in the main draw commences."