Fertiberia Renew Diògenes Cruz (DIJA)

Diògenes Cruz, better known as Dija, will once again wear Fertiberia Balonmano Puerto Sagunto's red-and-white shirt. Vicent Noguès has decided to once again put his faith in the Brazilian centre-back to direct the red-and-white team's play in Asobal.

When he signed in 2018, the red-and-white coach, Vicent Noguès, said the following about Dija: “He makes the team play, and he is a fighter and combative. He defends in positions two and three, and we hope he will be a great organiser of the play and take charge of the team on the court to lead it back to the Asobal League”.

For his part, the Brazilian centre-back said the following about the extraordinary circumstances we are experiencing because of COVID-19:

“I managed to go to Huesca because my girlfriend is from there. The first few days were difficult, but above all, once we were able to do sport, things got considerably better. I looked for a way to work and exercise during the first few weeks, and now that we are already in phase 1, things have honestly improved a little”

Regarding his decision to renew for one season with the red-and-white club, Dija says “The truth is that I feel very comfortable there, and I am not just talking about this past season; they have treated me extremely well since I arrived. It is also a serious club, especially at such a difficult time. We know that things will work out and that the agreements are serious and honoured. And with coronavirus, that was something that was very important to me.”

“Staying up is the first priority, but we are eager to compete and take points from every match. This ambition to compete and fight in every match will allow us to maintain our place in the division. We want to compete from the first day, and then we will see how things develop”, Dija comments regarding the season's objective.

Regarding the possible lack of supporters at the first matches, the centre-back says: “I do not want the lack of supporters to be an excuse. We already know how important the Puerto supporters are, but we have to focus on playing. Of course, we would like to play in front of our supporters because of what they contribute, but we know the situation, and there are no excuses. The door is closed to us just as it is to the rest of the teams; it is the same for everyone. The supporters' encouragement is very important, but it must not serve as an excuse. We are going to fight with the same determination”.

Dija concludes with a message for the supporters: “Although it appears that they will not be able to be with us inside the arena at the start of the league, one way or another we ask for their support, and we hope to be worthy of representing these supporters, that they will continue to believe in the project, and that we will give 100% on the court. For our part, there will be no lack of effort or commitment”.

Cruz thus becomes the first piece of the new red-and-white project in the elite. We will learn about more renewals during the week.

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.