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Angola scouting to replace older players

February 15th, 2008 | By: kiko | 8 Comments »

Kivuvu Luis Oliveira Goncalves has admitted that he is “tracking” around 30 young players performing in European leagues. He feels that it is important to start recruiting now for the World Cup qualification games.

He is absolutely right. He has successfully replaced Akwa with Manucho, and while goalkeeper Lama is not as good as Joao Ricardo was, he is still reliable (crosses aside) and he can still improve.

Here are a few names that Goncalves will hope to persuade to play for Angola (player ages are in brackets)

Kivuvu [20]- currently plays for NEC Nijmegen in the Dutch League (eredivisie). Has said recently that he is yet to choose which country to represent (what a dilemma!). Plays in midfield.

Nando Rafael [24]- same situation as Kivuvu (wants to play for Germany), only his hopes of playing for the German national team are fading fast. He plays for Borussia Monchengladbach as a centre forward.

Jerson Monteiro [22]- Plays in the MLS. Highly unlikely that he will be called up for World Cup qualification matches. He is a centre forward as well.

Centre forwards have less a chance of breaking into the National team due to Manucho and Flavio’s good form. Manucho himself failed to make the team in the World Cup even though he was already proving to be a great goalscorer. In other areas of the pitch though, new players will have a great chance. Figueiredo [36] the team captain is expected to retire soon. Replacing him will be challenging, especially because he is the team’s free kick specialist (everyone else is horrible at that) and he also slows the pace of the game really well.
Goncalves will also be looking to strengthen his defence. While Rui Marques and Kali are good, there is no great substitute on the bench. In fact if Marques or Kali picks up an injury, the team will be exposed to all kinds of vulnerabilities.

Tags: Angola, Group D, Jerson Monteiro, Kivuvu, Nando Rafael, Palancas Negras

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Comments

By Pedro | February 18th, 2008 at 2:21 pm

Correct me if im wrong but i think cant qualify to play for angola due to the fact that he has represented Germany in junior level and due to that fact he no longer can change allegiance as he is already over 21 years old. I also think that Angola need another centre forward as flavio is already 29 and by 2010 he wil be in decline.
Pity about Figueiredo, we really need him, perhaps we could find a Deco or Rui costa and naturalise him, i dont think there’s anyting wrong with doing so as national teams with greater calibre have done it

Posted from Germany

By Pedro | February 18th, 2008 at 2:23 pm

In the first paragraph, i meant nando rafael has represent Germany at under 21 level

Posted from Germany

By Kiko | February 19th, 2008 at 7:33 pm

Pedro,

I wasnt aware that Nando R. had played for the German U21. That being the case, I think he has wasted an opportunity to play International football (Not a good chance that Germany will call him for their senior team). Thanks for enlightening me on his situation.

Regarding Figueiredo, It really is a pity that he is getting old. I wonder how good he would have been if he played for Angola in his mid 20s (probably much quicker and energetic).

This Kivuvu guy would have been a perfect replacement for Andre Makanga. He has already played for the Dutch U21 team, but because he is only 20 he could still choose to play for Angola.

Posted from United Kingdom

By Pedro | February 22nd, 2008 at 2:00 am

Kiko,
In 2006 Oliveira Goncalves practically begged N. Rafael to represent Angola and since his status in Germany was as a refugee, the Angolan government offered him instant diplomatic passport he refused, he was advised that his carreer will not progress as fast if he played for Germany. Back then he said that Angola was a country that offered him nothing, as footballistically they were not even african’s powerhouse, then would not qualify for the world cup, facts that are now disproved, and he added that only Mantorras was a “bit” known outside the Angolan shores, for me he was just too arrogant, I’ll say let him live his life.
My hope is that with current success of the national team angolan players abroad would opt to play for Angola.

Posted from Germany

By Pedro | February 22nd, 2008 at 2:29 am

As far as i heard Kivuvu is a central defender, but if he is a defensive midfielder than Iam happy as Makanga is slowing down and in 2 years he might not be the player that he is. Also I think there’s cover in that position as Goncalves seems impressed with Dede as Mak’s understuday, having said that I think the more the merrier. Personally I think he is another N.Rafael that he is willing to opt to be selected for the Dutch junior team in detriment of an senior Angolan call up, the funny thing he may be called for the Dutch and may actually not play, how foolish will that be?
In other note, there’s an Angolan centre forward named Fernando Ernesto in the bayern munich u19 who knows he might be our Lionel Messi.
Personally I think France should be agressively scouted as there are many more uncovered Mavubas, we already know that Portugal is a breeding ground, but Brasil and Holland as well as Belgium could offer something in terms of talent supply due to the fact that many of the people who fled Angola reside on those aforementioned countries.

Posted from Germany

By Pedro | February 22nd, 2008 at 2:47 am

Just so you know Kivuvu was guaranteed a place in the Angolan squad that participated in 08 nations cup he refused, he said that he wanted to explore his “options”, lets say he fails to make it to the Dutch Olympic team why should he be given a chance in the Angolan national team?
10 years ago I doubt if Figueired would have been first choice as a playmaker as I seem to think that Joni was of the highest quality, it is a pity that these playmakers only seem to pick Angola when there’s no hope of them making the portuguese national team that is in the twilight of their carreers.
To me it seems like Mendonca has lost a yard of 2, he could be converted as a playmaker as he as played there before, albeit he was out of form and lacking match fitness during the recent nation cup.

Posted from Germany

By rob | March 18th, 2008 at 6:06 pm

so akwa isn’t playing in the 2010 worldcup

Posted from United States

By Pedro | March 18th, 2008 at 11:39 pm

Hi Rob,
Albeit Akwa will only bet 33 at the time of the FIFA worldcup it is inconceivable that he will be around as the last time he laced the national boots in 2006 there were already unofficial plans for international retirement.
Add to that fact the emergence of Manucho, Flavio and many others…he really has no chance not even on sentimental grounds.

Posted from Germany

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