By Melody Gross 
The President of the Portuguese Judo Federation (FPJ), Jorge Fernandez, considered today the “possibility” of re-candidating himself to lead this entity, after his direction lost its mandate in November.
The president of the Portuguese Judo Federation (FPJ), Jorge Fernández, considered his re-application to lead that entity a “possibility”, after his leadership lost its mandate in November.
Although Jorge Fernandez assumed about three weeks ago that he would be a new candidate for the position after the general meeting of impeachment scheduled for the 18th, in Coimbra, today, also in that city, in statements to Lusa Agency on the sidelines of the meeting. At a luncheon marking the 63rd anniversary of the front, the leader claimed that his re-election was a “probability” and “there is no certainty”.
Jorge stressed: “Judo moment, the image that some people present will not be the best and I will be eliminated. I am not upset, I am not, because I am leaving from my duty,” stressed Jorge. Fernandez.
An investigation by the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth (IPDJ) determined, in mid-November, the loss of the mandate of the FPJ Council for non-compliance with Article 51 of the Legal Regime of Sports Federations (RJFD), in which the loss of positions of holders of federal bodies is listed, due to ineligibility, incompatibility or to interfere with contract they have an interest in.
In his speech to about 300 leaders, athletes, clubs and federations representing the national judo, Jorge Fernández said that the Judo Federation’s “modest” Christmas party “is also a document proving that after a storm always comes riches”.
And so, notwithstanding the winds of dissension which have blown in recent months on the part of a section of our judo–which has its origin really in the lack of funding which the sport lacks–and on the fringes of the picadillo that I have committed myself to, the fact is that the great majority of the delegates to The General Assembly of the FPJ – the ultimate and democratic symbol of the federation – has been able to interpret the moment we are living in and show the essential unity of our success in judo.”
To Lusa, Jorge Fernandes said that the about 300 people present at the luncheon in the former church of the Monastery of São Francisco represented “a sign of strength and solidarity”.
“Not only do the population figures prove it, but also the medals and the results we’ve had, and then, this room, at the end of the year, actually, it couldn’t be better, it’s historic,” he said.
In the speech, Jorge Fernandez referred to the “all-time highs” reached by the national judo demography in 2022, which has already exceeded 16,000 federal athletes (3,143 more than in 2021).
“With the assurance that, as usual, there will still be over a thousand re-certifications and new registrations by the end of the year, so we will certainly pass 17,000 unions,” he noted.
At today’s birthday lunch, which is held under the theme of inclusion, the Portuguese Judo Federation awards more than 60 awards, including certificates of appreciation and merit, medals and other prizes.