The way to the XV Mediterranean Games Almería 2005 has strengthened
the basis of sport in Almería and has provided the top-class
sport of the province with important structures, both in individual
and collective disciplines.
As for team sports, Almería has two football clubs playing
in Second Division in the so-called best football league of the
world: Polideportivo Ejido and Unión Deportiva Almería.
On an individual level, Almería has provided the "Stars
League" with some players, such as Héctor Berenguel
playing for Deportivo de la Coruña and reaching the Champions
League.
One of the leading sports in Almería is volleyball, partially
due to the success reaped by Club Unicaja Almería. It is
the team that has won most prizes in modern volleyball in Spain,
being the champion of the last editions of the National League and
King's cup competitions. Several players of this team, significantly
the Almerian players Carlos Carreño and Manuel Berenguel,
have played for the Spanish team in numerous occasions.
Handball is also widely practised in the province. The greatest
success has been achieved by the female team and the Vícar
Goya team, which remains for the fourth year in the first division.
It has also has reached the European Competition on two occasions.
As for male teams, Club Ciudad de Roquetas has just completed its
first and historical contribution to the ASOBAL League, to which
it wishes to come back soon. Basketball has achieved great moments
for Almerian sport, its leading representative in the EBA League
being El Ejido CB
Individual categories included in the Mediterranean list also account
for work and sports success. Weight-lifting is one of the categories
that has lately brought great success to the people of Almería
with the medals obtained by Pepi Pérez Carmona.
Athletics has also proved to be an outstanding discipline in Almería
and there are many young people aiming at achieving success in Almería
2005; a success as recently reaped by cyclist Juan Martínez
Oliver, present manager of the professional team 'Jazztel Costa
de Almería', which Almerian cyclist Carlos Golbano also belongs
to.
This review of outstanding names in Almerian sport cannot forget
about the discipline of sailing, which has experienced a tremendous
growth in the province) during the last few years. Mariano Sarmiento,
as a member of the pre-Olympic Spanish team, heads a generation
where the Fresneda Brothers, Raúl de Valenzuela, Rogelio
Villanueva or José Latorre a leading role.
Almeria guide
|