Sunderland AFC: delighted to return to the Amendoeira Sports Club for pre-season training
02/08/2010 - Sunderland AFC returned to the Amendoeira Sports Club
2nd August 2010 - Oceânico Group was delighted to welcome back Sunderland AFC to the Amendoeira Sports Club for its second warm weather training camp at the Amendoeira Golf Resort. The team, coaches and management all stayed on the resort in its luxury accommodation for this nine day camp which included two training sessions on non-match days on the full size natural grass football pitch.
After a successful training camp in 2009, it is no surprise that Sunderland manager Steve Bruce chose the Amendoeira Sports Club once again for his team's training. "This year's training camp is even better than 2009 as the new Sports Club building is available with great facilities. The staff look after you, the food is excellent and it is just a fantastic facility – it can't get any better!" he said at one of the training sessions.
During their nine day stay the team played three matches at the Albufeira Municipal Stadium located just a 30 minute drive from the resort. With the emphasis on improving fitness during the camp, Steve Bruce was pleased with the 1-1 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday 21th July, with the late equalizer being scored by Frazier Campbell. On Saturday 24th July, Sunderland played Hull City with a 4-2 win, all goals scored by Frazier Campbell who attributed much of the success to his team mates who helped set up the goals. On Tuesday 27th July, Sunderland played Portuguese League champions Benfica at a sell-out match, shown live in Portugal on Sport TV, and even with a 0-2 defeat, Steve Bruce was happy with the team’s work out against a really top team.
The Amendoeira Sports Club provided a private facility for Sunderland to enjoy breakfast and lunch each day as well as off-pitch training which consisted of gymnasium work outs, and free weights sessions in the pitch-side marquee. Each of their meals were specifically catered for following the team's stringent dietary requirements, including their evening meal which was enjoyed in the stunning Clubhouse overlooking the two championship golf courses: the Oceânico Faldo Course and Oceânico O'Connor Jnr. course.
In addition to the full size football pitch and the fully equipped gymnasium, the players took advantage of the six Savannah tennis courts, and played golf on the floodlit, 9 hole, par 3 Oceânico Academy course, adjacent to the sports club. Amendoeira Sports Club also offers two five-a-side Astroturf pitches, beach volleyball/football and two lawn bowling greens (one crown green and one flat green).
Professional warm weather training packages are available for football, gaelic football, rugby and hurling. The experienced Oceânico team tailor-make each warm weather training package to suit the client, focusing on training, meals and transfers, and can also arrange off-site excursions and team building activities.
Oceânico has already been host to a variety of top teams in addition to Sunderland AFC including the Football Association of Ireland ladies teams (under 19's and under 17's) and Kerry GAA. Several fixtures have been held at the club including matches between Portugal's Portimonense FC and top Ukrainian team Dynamo Kiev FC, and Dutch Premier League teams Ajax FC and Groningen FC.
Amendoeira Golf Resort provides luxury accommodation in spacious two bedroom apartments and three bedroom villas. Apartments are situated in private village complexes with large communal swimming pools and the villas have their own pools. To complement the accommodation and sports facilities, Amendoeira boasts two championship golf courses, one designed by Sir Nick Faldo and one designed by Christy O'Connor Jnr., the floodlit, 9 hole par 3 Oceânico Academy course and the Amendoeira Golf Academy & Callaway Fitting Suite, including: a driving range, a putting green and a long and short game practice area. Lessons and golf tuition packages are also available as well as custom club fittings in the Callaway Fitting Suite.
For more information, please contact Michelle Collins or Nikki Dale at the Oceânico Group on: 00351 282 767 546 email: michelle.collins@oceanicogroup.com / nikki.dale@oceanicogroup.com
