News

May 6, 2005 – Following the retirement of 35-year-old libero Arlene Xavier after the 2004 Olympic Games, where Brazil finished fourth, a healthy contest has developed within the Brazilian national women’s side to see who takes over from one of the best liberos in the game.

Coach Mr. José Guimarães will be rubbing his hands in anticipation of the duel between 25-year-old Fabi, who has already played for the senior women’s side in 2002 and 2003, and the youthful Veridiana, 22, who was part of the world champion youth team in 2001.
Pic: Veridiana (left) at 178cm and 169cm Fabi
“I know that I’m responsible to myself for being selected and I like this,” Veridiana, who was vice- world champion with the national youth side in 99 and South American champion in 2000, said. “So much so that I have respect for Fabi and understand our selection conditions so it will be a very healthy dispute. Whoever attends better to the demands of the coach will be it chosen.

“For us to be champions, we need to work a lot and begin at zero. My dream and my objective is to arrive in Beijing and leave with gold.”

The more experienced Fabi knows that this will be a new phase in her career. “This year is a new beginning and they’ll be plenty of competition for the top spot. That will obviously help the coach in his selections.

“Brazil has excellent liberos, including Veridiana,” Fabi, who was chosen as the best libero of the 2002 Grand Prix, and in 2003 collected the best libero award at the South American championships, said. “It will be a difficult choice for the coach, but we are barely in the beginning of training. In such a competitive year I will have a challenge, both personal and professional. I want to stay in the team and, for that, it is necessary to do a lot of training.”