29/10/05 As predicted, José Couceiro has been named the new coach at Belenenses. Couceiro, formerly of FC Porto, was all set to sign a
contract to coach in Japan when he got the offer. The contract is until the end of the season, with another as optional. Belenenses are currently a disappointing 13th in the Liga
and have two tricky games coming up: at top club Sporting Braga on Monday and at home to Boavista next weekend. Vitória de Setúbal have found 275,000 euros
to pay some of the overdue wage bill to players, thus averting a mass rescission of contracts for just cause. The money was raised by contributions from a group of five club members, including the president
Chumbita Nunes. At an EGM to debate the crisis, Nunes also said there was a good chance of raising over four million euros in a deal with a British bank. Along with the much-publicised Vitória de Setúbal
case, Gil Vicente are another club with grave cash-flow problems. President António Fiuza
told the club's General Assembly Thursday that income from membership fees was 10,000 euros a month, while outgoings were 360,000. The club is in the red to the tune of 3.2 million euros, and the president said
that it could go the way of clubs like Farense and Salgueiros, who have lost their professional status in recent years and descended to the minor leagues. 28/10/05 Belenenses
have sacked coach Carlos Carvalhal. After a bright start to the season in which the team produced some good football, Belenenses lost their last four league games. The last straw was Wednesday's defeat in the
Taça de Portugal at Liga de Honra (second division) side Desportivo das Aves. At the front of the queue to take over from Carvalhal is José Couceiro, sacked by FC Porto last season.
24/10/05 Benfica's international goalkeeper Quim has been operated on (groin) in Munich, but it is hoped that he will be fit for the Champions League match at home to Villarreal
on 2 November. Meanwhile, with the other main 'keeper Moreira also out for two months after an operation on his right knee, the club has had to draft in the 'B' Team's Rui Nereu, 19, to cover (which he did
against Villarreal away and Estrela da Amadora at the weekend). Benfica may ask for special dispensation from FIFA
to contract a goalkeeper before the transfer window opens. Vitória de Setúbal's entire playing squad have sent letters threatening rescission
of their contracts if they are not paid outstanding salaries by the club. The club has three days to come up with the cash. At Sunday's 0-1 home defeat to Vitória de Guimarães, a banner in the crowd pleaded: "Mourinho - help your club!" (Chelseaa's
José Mourinho is from Setúbal, and the club is supposedly his first love.) FC Porto striker Hélder Postiga
has been relegated to the 'B' team for undisclosed disciplinary reasons. It is thought that the club may try to off-load him during the transfer window. 22/10/05 The whole of the Vitória de Setúbal
squad have threatened a mass rescission of contract if they do not see the colour of the money owed them since the start of the season (and in some cases even further back). "That's enough of promises and untruths. Once again they promised that things would be sorted out today, but no one showed up this morning, and no one said anything," said players' representative, the goalkeeper
Marco Tábuas. Paulo Bento was officially presented as the new Sporting coach Friday ... but former club captain Oceano, who it was thought would be named assistant to Bento, turned down the
offer from the club. 21/10/05 Sporting's new coach will be Paulo Bento, who was a player at the club until two seasons ago. The official announcement is expected Friday.
Last season he took the Sporting junior side to the respective national title. As a player in Portugal, he represented Vitória de Guimarães, Benfica and Sporting. His number two will be another former Sporting player,
Oceano. Their first game in charge of the Lions will be at Gil Vicente Sunday. Correction to the news item on Cristiano Ronaldo
(below): the Manchester United player was 'bailed', not 'freed on bail'. 20/10/05 Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo has been questioned by the British police following an
alleged sexual assault that occurred on 2 October. The player's agent Jorge Mendes, via the website of his company Gestifute, has insisted that the interview was purely routine, that Ronaldo went along to the
police station of his own accord, and that the situation is a mere "product of the young girls' imagination and fancy." The questioning lasted several hours and the player was later freed on bail. Sporting
president António Dias da Cunha
resigned from the post Wedesday. In a press release, he cited the intolerable strain of having to accept the resignation of the coach and a director Tuesday (see below), but the general cloud of crisis hanging over the club on and off the pitch will have forced his hand. The reins will be taken over for the time being by businessman Felipe Soares Franco.
Benfica's first-choice 'keeper, José Moreira, will be out of action for six months following an operation on his right knee Wednesday. 19/10/05 Sporting coach
José Peseiro has resigned from the position, along with director of football Paulo Andrade. Sporting's recent performances and the contestation from the fans forced president' Dias da Cunha's hand. He
said Tuesday that both had waived compensation. No successor for Peseiro has yet been found. The Penafiel Board has decided not to accept coach Luís Castro's resignation (see below), despite the fact
that the club is rock bottom of the Liga with just one point from seven games. President António Oliveira, former Portugal national team coach, has said that he will be standing down in December.
18/10/05 Penafiel coach Luís Castro has resigned after a dismal start to the season, in which the team has won just one point from seven games and sits dejectedly at the bottom of the Liga
table. The club has yet to name a successor. Vítor Paneira has left Liga de Honra (second division) side Moreirense. The northern club, relegated last season from the Liga, have one win to show
from seven games. Paneira will be replaced by João Carlos Pereira. Much-travelled defender Abel Xavier, who has been at the service of English club Middlesborough
for about a month, has tested positive in a doping test. The test, after the UEFA Cup game against Xanthi on 29 September, triggered a FIFA suspension for the 32-year-old former Portugal international.
Sport Lisboa e Benfica, Sociedade Anónima Desportiva (SAD) recorded a net loss of 5.8 million euros in 2004/05, it was reported Monday. 15/10/05 Vitória de Setúbal, in dire
financial straits with players' salaries months late, have received some welcome, if no more than symbolic, support from a group of fans concerned about he club's plight. They are selling packs (at 10 euros) containing
a T-shirt, a ticket for a picnic and a voucher to get a ticket for an upcoming home game for just five euros. The T-shirt (below) reads: "Vitória needs you! Everyone to Bonfim! (the club's stadium)" Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United and Deco of Barcelona are on the list of 30 players vying for the title of FIFA World Player of the year. The best player
will be voted by the captains and coaches of all the National teams in the world. 07/10/05 Cable TV channel SportTV has shown a touching documentary on the plight of 60s Benfica
(12 seasons) and Portugal centre forward José Torres. 'The Gentle Giant' (Torres is 1m90) won the Bola de Prata as the top scorer in the first
division for the 1962/63 season (26 goals) and scored three goals for Os Magriços in the 1966 World Cup, in which Portugal came third. Torres is now 67
and suffering from Azheimer's disease. The documentary showed him surviving thanks to the love of his marvellous wife Alcinda (who he calls Delfina, his mother's name). |
