Lolote, one of the historic figures in Praia’s football, is betting on Cape Verde’s passage to the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), considering it one of the “strongest” selections ever from the archipelago.
“The 2013 team also had a good performance (reached the quarterfinals), but this is one of the strongest in Cape Verde,” said José Pedro Tavares, better known as Lolote, currently 49 years old and coach of Sporting Praia, to Lusa news agency.
For the success of the Blue Sharks, Lolote pointed to the evolution of football, with “more technical-tactical conditions” for teams to prepare their game and study the opponent.
Cape Verde’s next opponent in the AFCON is South Africa on Saturday, and the former central defender has no doubts that Bubista’s team will win and reach where no other national team has reached so far, the semi-finals.
“We have every chance of advancing. South Africa is also an excellent team, but we have a very fast offensive line, and from what we have shown, we will win,” predicted the former Cape Verdean international, who hung up his boots after the age of 40, having played for at least five teams in the country’s capital and winning four national titles and 10 regional ones.
The victories of the Blue Sharks in the AFCON, held in Ivory Coast, are leaving Cape Verdeans excited and inspiring other forms of art, as seen with actor João Pereira, better known as Tikai, who composed a song overnight to support the national team.
“Tubarons Dentu Nota” (Tuned Sharks) is the title of the funaná, a faster-paced Cape Verdean musical genre associated with the accordion, better known as “gaita” in the archipelago, and whose video clip was recorded at the National Stadium, the home of the Blue Sharks.
The idea, as described to Lusa, is to ensure that Cape Verdeans continue to have “pride” in their team, which is once again “making history” in the biggest national team competition in Africa.
“It is in this sense that I gave my support to the ‘Blue Sharks,’ and I appeal to everyone to do the same so that our players continue to achieve good results,” said the artist, who also believes in Cape Verdeans advancing to the next stage with a 2-0 victory.
The national team’s performances have been reaching the majority of Cape Verdean homes through public television (TCV), voiced by journalist Victor Hugo Fortes, also a former Cape Verdean international, but in basketball, and a great sports connoisseur in the archipelago.
Vitocas, as he is known, told Lusa that Cape Verde has been “exuberant,” and “good football” has won more fans and given more confidence not only to the team but to all fans.
“I believe that, based on the results achieved, it is the best participation ever for the Cape Verdean national team in an AFCON,” evaluated the journalist, praising the coach’s work, who has managed to integrate older players with younger ones in the best way.
“They showed that the team has quality, feared no one, played with everyone, eye to eye,” he exemplified, highlighting, however, two players, forward Ryan Mendes and goalkeeper Vozinha, the only ones who also played in Cape Verde’s first AFCON participation in 2013.
“Ryan, as captain, has been a great example, is in excellent physical condition, has shown great quality, dedication, and has scored,” sustained Vitocas, for whom Vozinha has been an “unavoidable figure in the Cape Verdean defensive line.”
And after all he has seen, he warns the opponent to beware: “Cape Verde has all the conditions to win. South Africa may be more worried.”
