By CHRIS WRIGHT [email protected]
Olhanense’s trip to Madeira last weekend got off to the wrong start when their coach broke down near Boliqueime.
In addition, the flight from Lisbon to Funchal was buffeted by high winds; not the ideal preparation for an important game against Marítimo. Although welcoming back Luís Filipe andMaurício after three months out injured, they were without Fernando Alexandre.
The influential midfielder, who had played in all games this season, picked-up a knock against Sporting as did Abdi, who sat out the game on the bench.
After just 10 minutes, it was the island side who took the lead when former Olhanense player Adilson headed home a Danilo Dias cross.
Ten minutes before the break and Yontcha should have levelled the score when through on goal, but his effort was well saved by another former Olhanense player Ricardo Ferreira.
After that, the visitors had few chances and at the other end only Bracali stopped Marítimo increasing their lead. This 1-0 defeat consigned Olhanense to one place above the drop zone.
On Sunday, the Algarve side face another difficult away game at Estoril. The match is live on Sport TV kick-off 8.15pm.
New signing
Tenacious midfielder Tiago Terroso (pictured) has been signed from PSFC Chernomorets Burgas (Bulgaria) on a two-year contract. It is hoped that UEFA give international clearance for Tiago to be included in the squad for the game with Estoril. Additionally, manager Manuel Cajuda is hoping to recruit another midfield player, Cuco, who has been training with the Olhão based outfit and last season turned out for Doxa Katokopia (Cyprus).
Olhanense have three players – Babanco, Djaniny and David Silva – representing Cape Verde in the Africa Cup of Nations and it was Babanco who was their outstanding player in the opening game of the tournament against South Africa. The game ended 0-0 in front of a record crowd of 50,000.
100 years of history
Sporting Clube Olhanense celebrated its centenary last April and a glossy publication, Honra e Glória, charting the rise of the Algarve’s top sporting club has hit the streets. With a foreword by Aníbal Cavaco Silva, President of Portugal, the book contains many early photographs and its 280 pages chronicle historic moments and records dating back to 1912. Although the book is in Portuguese, there are several pages in English as a tribute to the involvement of the expat members who follow the club.
