Tokyo, October 26, 2007: The Brazilian women’s team landed in Japan on Friday to complete their preparations for the World Cup, which starts on November 2.
Head coach Jose Roberto Guimaraes, his 12 players, officials and technical staff arrived at Kansai International Airport, Osaka, and will train with Japanese champions Hisamitsu Springs before moving to the official team hotel at Hamamatsu on Wednesday.
Brazil, who finished runners-up to Russia in the FIVB World Championship last year, have never won the World Cup, but have two silver medals (1995 and 2003) and one bronze (1999) from previous challenges.
Their main purpose this time is to finish on the medal podium for the fourth successive World Cup, which would book them a place in the 12-team Olympic volleyball tournament in Beijing next August.
They arrived in Japan fresh from winning the South American women’s championship at Santiago, Chile, for arecord 15th time, but know they will have to play at their best to finish in the top three as their form has been patchy this season.
Cuba beat them 3-2 in the final of the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro in July, and Brazil managed only a fifth-place finish at the World Grand Prix in China in August after winning the title in 2004, 2005 and 2006. They played the Grand Prix without the experienced duo of setter Fofao and middle blocker Walewska, and hope their return can help book them an Olympic place.
The Brazilian Volleyball Federation announced the following 12 players: Carol Gattaz (middle blocker), Fabi (libero), Fabiana (middle blocker), Fofao (setter), Fabiola (setter), Joycinha (universal), Natalia (wing spiker), Paula (wing spiker), Sheilla (universal), Thaisa (middle blocker), Walewska (middle blocker), Sassa (wing spiker).
Head coach Ze Roberto steered Brazil’s men’s team to Olympic gold in 1992, and has coached the women’s team since 2003.

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