A few days before the start of the I Division of the Football Association of Viana do Castelo (AFVC), president Ricardo Felgueiras warned clubs about the importance of investing in sports venue security, comparing the hiring of a security manager to the hiring of a good striker. The leader revealed that fines imposed for disciplinary behavior will now go to teams that finish without any sanctions, in a logic of meritocracy. Felgueiras also expressed concern about the increase in incidents in youth football, which he considered nationwide, and highlighted the growth in attendance at district games, with averages exceeding 600 spectators.
Among the clubs with the highest ambitions, Correlhã clearly points to the title, according to coach Joaquim Passos, who acknowledges the growing competitiveness of the district championship. Atlético dos Arcos, holders of the AFVC Cup, enter the season with a consolidated project and the same technical team, setting as a goal to "win all three competitions," in the words of president Pedro Teixeira.
Lanhelas returns to the I Division after 32 years of absence, which represents the biggest achievement of the season for the club, although president Juan Carvalho anticipates a "very tough" championship. Cardielense, on the other hand, is going through an almost total rebuild, keeping only four players from the previous season, but president Domingos Rocha assures that the club's ambition remains unchanged.
Other clubs set more moderate objectives. Vitorino de Piães bets on continuity with a tight budget, relying on youth players. Fachense aims to consolidate its presence in the I Division after a historic survival, while Âncora Praia wants to improve on last season's tenth place, pointing to Monção, Atlético dos Arcos, and Cerveira as the main title contenders.
