CAB, Naval, and D.A.D

Today, the third edition of the Aquatic Basketball Tournament was presented at a press conference held at the headquarters of the Portuguese Association of Disabilities. For the third year in a row, CAB, Funchal Naval Club and Portuguese Association of Disabilities hold hands for the cause of people with special needs. In an initiative that is both unprecedented and supportive, teams of the three institutions will play basketball in the water, more precisely in a pool, combining swimming with basketball. It is also confirmed the presence of several familiar faces of Madeiran society, who will join the team of ‘Friends Solidarian’. Due to the success of the previous editions of the water basketball tournament, the organization of the event felt it was right to expand participation to sub-10 and sub-12 teams. These younger athletes will be responsible for opening the tournament at 9 a.m., which is contested in the swimming pools of the Naval Club, in Nazaré neighborhood, a common area to the headquarters of all three institutions involved. Starting at 10:00, the oldest teams will enter the pool. On the side of the CAB, participation will be ensured by the senior female team, in what will be a different test to the aquatic capabilities of the Friends, more accustomed to the game in the pavilion. On the Naval side, the performance will also be in charge of a team of swimmers, who will see if they can shoot as well as they can swim. The DPA will gather, in its representation, some of its partners and associates. Finally, from the ‘Friends Solidários’, they will align, among others, Rui Anacleto (DRJD), Paulo Almada (RTP), Sidonio Fernandes (IEM), Ricardo Sousa (Portuguese League Against Cancer), Bruna Melim (RTP), Ricardo Oliveira (DN), Valentina Jesus (Antena 3), Nelio Abreu (Antena 1), Sara Andre (School of Calheta), Avelino Silva (ANM) and Ricardo Vieira (Açoreana Seguros). In addition to sports and competition, this year's edition of the Basketball Tournament Aquatic includes a convivial lunch, which will be held at the CAB Pavilion, having as host the house club. After lunch, it is time to support the Friends in the match against Maia, and the participants in the tournament will wear ‘the skin’ of fans and fill the stands of the CAB Pavilion to pull by the professionals of the CAB against the northern team. For Francisco Gomes, president of the CAB, “The realization of the third edition of the Aquatic Basketball Tournament is a proof of union between three institutions that look at sport not as a purely competitive activity, but as a vehicle for mobilizing people to causes that are noble and that are of all of us.” According to the president of the CAB, “This year’s edition is more comprehensive than that of previous years and takes place in more locations than before. This shows that the event is growing and gathering around more people who want to make their contribution. This is also proof of the success of the initiative and a good indicator that the tournament has prospects for the future and will be bringing together representatives from various social quadrants in the dissemination and defense of the idea that differences do not separate us but enrich us, both from a social point of view and from a human point of view.”