Oceânico Group Welcomes Sunderland AFC to Amendoeira

Welcomes Sunderland AFC

24th July 2009

Team chooses Amendoeira Golf Resort for training for coming season

24 July 2009 – Oceânico Group has welcomed Sunderland Football Club to its new five–star Amendoeira Golf Resort in the Algarve, where the Premier League side has spent five days training in preparation for the coming season.

The first team to train at the newly opened resort, the 24–man squad, manager Steve Bruce and his backroom team, flew into Faro Airport before being taken to Amendoeira Golf Resort for an intensive period of pre–season training.

Niall Quinn — Sunderland Chairman and Oceânico property owner — chose Amendoeira for the team’s pre–season training camp because of its extensive sporting facilities. The team trained at the Amendoeira Sports Club, which has a full size football pitch, as well as six championship standard tennis courts; swimming pools; and gym, providing a base for the team to train ready for the 2009/10 season.

Niall says: "Pre-season training is key to any football team, and we needed a base that offers the best possible facilities to allow Steve and his staff to work intensively on the team’s fitness and football skills and prepare for the rigours of the season ahead. Amendoeira offers first class sporting amenities, together with fantastic accommodation and service, and I hope we will be regular visitors over the coming years."

The luxury Amendoeira Golf Resort, which is near Silves in the central Algarve, was voted Best Golf Development in the World in the 2008 Homes Overseas Awards and features two championship golf courses — one designed by Nick Faldo and one by Christy O’Connor Jnr. The Amendoeira Sports Club is open to all resort guests, with a range of professional training available.

Ron Price, Amendoeira’s FA qualified coach who worked with Sunderland AFC during their stay, adds: "Amendoeira offers the perfect base for sports teams. The scale and quality of the sporting facilities here is second to none, meaning coaches can combine different activities to help improve fitness and techniques across their teams.

"Niall Quinn is an owner with Oceânico so he knew the class of the resort, and the potential for his team to get the most out of the training. To have a renowned football team such as Sunderland train at Amendoeira in its first month of opening underlines the standards we have set here and we look forward to welcoming many more sporting teams over the coming months."

There are still a limited number of properties for sale at Amendoeira Golf Resort, with a luxury two–bedroom apartment available from €495,000 or a stylish three bedroom villa from €950,000. Eighth share ownership through Oceânico Prestige Residence Club is also available for €90,000, including use of a growing range of Residence Clubs around the World and access to services including an in-house concierge and use of a Sunseeker luxury cruiser.

Oceânico Group is the market leader in luxury golf, beach and leisure resorts in Portugal. For further information on its Amendoeira Golf Resort visit www.oceanicogroup.com