OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Monday 1.15pm.
A GAMBLE by Brazilian coach Djalma Cavalcante paid off as Angola won the Castle Cup Southern Africa championship for the first time at the weekend.
Cavalcante decided to use only local players when he succeeded Yugoslav Vesselin Jelusic last February after a stunning 2-0 home loss against Mauritius in the African Nations Cup.
He believed players from professionals leagues in Europe and the Middle East invariably arrived late, struggled to blend, and were often more disruptive than helpful.
The move stunned officials and supporters used to the sight of a national team loaded with Portuguese-based stars and failure to reach the Nations Cup finals heightened pressure.
Cavalcante was less concerned about the Nations Cup than the Castle Cup, a competition started in 1997 that offered rich rewards thanks to sponsorship from a South African brewery.
Away victories over Malawi, Lesotho and defending champions Zambia took the Black Panthers to the final, where they overcame Namibia 2-1 on aggregate after a second leg that went to extra time.
Success earned Angola $85000, a major boost for the cash-strapped football association, and place beside the African championship-winning basketball team as national sporting heroes.
The former Portuguese colony, which has been plagued by civil war since achieving independence in 1975, is one of the few African countries where basketball is more popular than football.
Alberto ‘Betinho’ Ferreira was the most influential Angolan in the Castle Cup, despite missing the second leg of the final through injury. His three goals proved matchwinners and he was the leading cup scorer.
Goalkeeper Fernando ‘Nando’ Morais made several crucial saves in the drawn second leg of the final, veteran defenders Juliao Kutonda and Helder Vicente were consistently solid and Osvaldo ‘Joni’ Cruz a hyperactive midfielder. — AFP