The 2014/15 Liga de Honra second division season gets under way this weekend with Portimonense beginning their centenary campaign at home against Sporting Covilhã on Saturday from 5pm.
Following the rejection by the football league to restructure the country’s second tier into two regionalised sections, the Portuguese equivalent to England’s Coca-Cola Championship now boasts a mammoth 24 clubs including six top division ‘B’ teams as well as three Algarve representatives, namely from Olhão, Faro and Portimão.
Judging on recent League Cup performances, Portimonense’s belatedly assembled squad has yet to take shape under the guidance of new coach Vitor Maçãs.
The Algarveans suffered a second successive away defeat when beaten 1-0 by Saturday’s league opponents Covilhã before sealing their very early Cup exit with a disappointing goalless home draw with 10-man Freamunde last weekend.
Fans will expect a better showing over the coming months from the likes of captain Ricardo Pessoa, Ivo Nicolau, Mou Kanazaki and Zambujo, who all contributed to a credible promotion push during a very successful first half of last season.
Three points against the opening day visitors would be a good start to what promises to be a long and arduous campaign.
By SKIP BANDELE
