Brazilian support for Győr in final

A trio of Brazilians from Austrian club Hypo Niederösterreich - Barbara Arenhart, Daniela Piedade and Francine Carraro - took a break from their club duties and travelled to Hungary to watch the first leg tie of the EHF Women's Champions League Final between Győri Audi ETO and Budućnost on Saturday (5 May 2012).

They admitted to having had their fingers crossed for their national teammate Eduarda Amorim (nicknamed Duda) and for her Hungarian club.

ehfCL.com talked to the Hypo girls about their impressions from the first leg.

ehfCL.com: Are you enjoying the EHF Women's Champions League so far?

Daniela Piedade: This year I´ve seen several of Győr's matches in their own arena and also here in Veszprém. The atmosphere has been amazing with both groups of fans creating a special vibe in the venue. Luckily for us Brazilians, Duda played a great match and we were celebrating each of her goals with loud screaming in the stands!

Francine Carraro: The Veszprém Arena had a great atmosphere with a full capacity and the crowd cheering loudly. A game like we saw on Saturday (5 May) is a great advertisement for handball. Thanks to Bojana Popovic, Katrine Lunde Haraldsen and Anita Görbicz, we have seen an extraordinary show.

Amorim played very well with her goals and assists. I´m confident she can, and will, play even better in the decisive tie in Montenegro.

ehfCL.com: Daniela, Duda is, after yourself and Alexandra Nascimento, the third Brazilian to play in an EHF Women's Champion League Final. What would it mean for her to be the first Brazilian to win the trophy?

Daniela Piedade: It would mean a lot to her, especially as her parents are attending both legs to support their daughter. Instead of the Olympic Games in London 2012 they decided to watch the two final matches of this tournament and obviously hope for a Győr victory in Podgorica.

ehfCL.com: Besides a personal success, could her triumph mean a boost for handball in Brazil?

Barbara Arenhart: After the World Championship in Brazil in December 2011, handball is becoming more and more popular in Brazil. Even big internet sites are reporting Duda's EHF Women's Champion League Final appearance. We never had such huge interest before.

In my opinion it would lead to another big explosion for Brazilian handball if she won the title.

Daniela Piedade: We are very proud of her. With Duda´s possible EHF Women's Champion League Final triumph at Győr, several children and youth players will keep dreaming more and more about becoming as good and successful as she is, after seeing her reach the top.

Amorim could become like an idol for the next generation. She could give massive support for our young people and help them to reach their goals.

ehfCL.com: Will Duda cope with the pressure in the return match?

Barbara Arenhart: I´m confident that she will, as our whole national team played under pressure at the recent World Championship in Brazil, and she also played well there.

She knows that all of us from the national team and everyone in our country are with her. We are sending her lots of positive feelings and I think her parents will give her the extra push to perform well in the return tie.

ehfCL.com also asked Győr`s sharpshooter Eduarda Amorim about her impressions and the special visit from her native country.

ehfCL.com: With your parents in Europe you have your family cheering for you in the decisive games of the EHF Women's Champions League. How do you feel about this support?

Eduarda Amorim: It´s great to have my family and boyfriend in the arena supporting me in those important duels. They will also be in Montenegro for the return leg.

ehfCL.com: Some of your national team colleagues from Hypo were also there on Saturday in the Veszprém Arena to cheer for you. How did that happen?

Eduarda Amorim: Yes, they play in nearby Vienna, and they often come to see me. It´s really nice of them to come and I’m really happy to have their support.

ehfCL.com: What would it mean for you to become the first Brazilian handball player to win the EHF Women's Champions League?

Eduarda Amorim: It would be great and it would reflect all the hard work we have done at my club and also at the national team. In Brazil, at the World Championship, we finished fifth, and a win in the EHF CL would give my colleagues and me a big boost ahead of the 2012 London Olympic Games.

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Watch the final leg of the EHF Women's Champions League Final on ehfTV.com (subject to local restrictions). Click HERE for more information.