The Under 14 national championships took place in the Algarve Region of Portugal from June 22 to 25, with the cities of Albufeira and Loulé hosting competitions for both boys and girls.

 

The girls’ tournament was held in Albufeira with 24 teams competing, while the boys’ championship was organised in Loulé and featured 32 squads. Both took place over four days with the teams, all of which were from Portugal’s north or centre, divided into groups for the preliminary round.

 

On the final day, CD Feirense were crowned champions in the girl’s category, while CD Colegio Internato dos Carvalhos won the boy’s trophy.

 

“We worked very hard, not to be champions, but to develop our athletes and to give them the best working conditions. This has been a project developed over six or seven years in some cases – a teaching method that we are using with these kids, trying to shape them to grow to be major athletes in the Portuguese league, or who knows, in Portugal's National Team,” said Carvalhos coach Filipe Matias.

 

Trophies were not only awarded to the winning teams, as the Portuguese Handball Federation also chooses to acknowledge those that display the values of ‘fair play’. For the third consecutive year, girl’s side SIM Porto Salvo won the fair play trophy, while the boy’s award went to CD Marienses.

 

The opening ceremony was held in Albufeira, where the teams participating in a parade to kickstart the event, and the closing ceremony took place in the Municipal of Loulé venue.

 

At the next young age category championship, the Portuguese Handball Federation will include an Under 12 category with many activities aside from handball designed to encourage their passion for the sport but also develop social skills.

                

Photos: Portuguese Handball Federation