This Thursday, December 12th, the Cross-Border Business Center in Elvas hosted the Blue and Gold Day (O Dia Azul & Ouro), the first major event organized by O Elvas. Starting at 6:00 PM, the gathering brought together players, fans, partners, and key figures from the club’s and SAD structure, celebrating achievements, unveiling innovations, and reaffirming its commitment to the future.
A Special Opening
The event began with meaningful moments between the SAD president, Vincenzo Caci, and the club’s youth players. Attendees explored partner stands, a booth by the institution Os Cucos, a bar offering food and drinks, and an official O Elvas merchandising stand featuring the SAD’s products.
For the official opening, the stage welcomed, in order, Vincenzo Caci, Dina Caci, Gonçalo Piçarra, Manuel Belmiro, Adolfo Soares, and, representing the first team, head coach Pedro Hipólito, goalkeeping coach José Ferreira, and players Luís Dias, Mamadu Djaló, David Freire, Pedro Victor, and Bruno Bolas.
Technology and Youth in Focus
José Tarouca introduced the club’s new online platforms, highlighting the official website oelvassad.com, which serves as a gateway to the “Blue and Gold World.” Visitors can access content like the Sport Magazine, focusing on SAD teams and projects, and the Next Generation Magazine, dedicated to the club’s young players and all youth teams.
Luís Romão continued with the presentation of the youth teams, introducing the U7, U9, U10, U11 Yellow, and U11 Blue squads. Following this, Rita Castelo took the stage to explain the Patronage Project, aa new SAD initiative that allows people to be godparents of a player of their choice and support the young knights through financial contributions, enabling:
- High-quality sports equipment acquisition;
- Hiring of qualified coaches;
- Organization of tournaments and events;
- Support for underprivileged families, ensuring all children have the chance to play, regardless of their financial situation.
More information about the project is available on the official website: Patronage Project.
After this presentation, Luís Romão returned to introduce the rest of the club’s teams, including the U12, U14 Yellow, U14 Blue, and U16 squads.
Tradition and Recognition
The event then featured a cultural performance by the Roncas de Elvas group, showcasing the city’s rich musical heritage. Following this, the O Elvas SAD board took the stage to present gifts of recognition to Eurico Candeias (President of the Club’s Administrative Commission), Rondão Almeida (Mayor of Elvas), and Dr. Caldeira Fernandes (President of the General Assembly and representative of the club in the SAD).
The First Team and the Future
Next, Gonçalo Piçarra and the other SAD members presented the first team project, with heartfelt speeches from head coach Pedro Hipólito, goalkeeping coach José Ferreira, and captain Luís Dias, reflecting on the current season. The U18, coached by Bruno Tomé, and the U19, led by Rui Ferreira, were also introduced by football director Manuel Belmiro.
The Future: Domingos Patalino Stadium Project
The most anticipated moment of the evening was the presentation of the Domingos Patalino Stadium Project, featuring a video outlining the planned renovations for the historic stadium. The updates include:
- Renovated stands painted in the club’s colors;
- Full stadium coverage;
- New executive boxes, social areas, bars, and a restaurant open daily;
- Modernized facilities for players and technical staff;
- New technical benches and an enhanced experience for fans;
- Plans for new fields, transforming the area into a central sports hub for Elvas.
A Grand Closing
Gonçalo Piçarra thanked everyone for their organization and participation, closing the event with a musical performance by Olinda and Veloso, who delighted the audience with traditional Portuguese fados.
The evening concluded with moments of camaraderie among players, youth team members, parents, club staff, and fans, celebrating the success of the event. The Blue and Gold Day made it clear that this is just the beginning of many initiatives that will continue to elevate O Elvas, honoring its traditions and embracing a bold vision for the future.