Could the Algarve’s only ‘Primeira Liga’ team be returning home? Indications are that the Portuguese Professional Football League will give permission for the Olhão-based club to return to the José Arcanjo Stadium.
The team has been exiled to the Algarve Stadium since the start of the season and many fans have boycotted games there – only 585 turned up for the game with Arouca in October.
The José Arcanjo pitch needed major renovation work and what fans thought would be a short stay at the Euro 2004 stadium has proved anything but.
It appears that an administrative error by the team’s new owners allocated the Algarve Stadium as the club’s preferred venue. Whether the change will come in time for next weekend’s home game against V. Setúbal is not yet known.
If true, it would be a big boost to the team currently rock bottom of the Primeira Liga following their 4-0 defeat at FC Porto just prior to Christmas.
Good news for manager Paulo Alves is the return to full fitness of captain Rui Duarte, out since October and influential wing-back Jander.
With the transfer window re-opened, several players could be joining the squad. Former FC Porto and Atletico Madrid favourite Paulo Assunção, a defensive midfielder, is rumoured to be a strong candidate.
Paulo Sérgio, who played for Olhanense from 2009 to 2011 and is currently with Arouca could also be on his way. What the team desperately needs is a goal-scorer and despite putting two past Benfica recently the team has found the back of the net on only eight occasions in fourteen games.
By Chris Wright
