Little by little the belief in the Mozambican soccer talent is conquering, or even creating, its place in the diaspora. This weekend alone, 16 Mozambican internationals lined up as starters in their respective teams, mostly Portuguese.
The biggest highlight for this past weekend goes to Gildo Vilankulo, of Amora FC, and Faizal Bangal, of Italy's ASD Alcione, who scored for the second consecutive game. Kamo Kamo, from Vitória do Setúbal, returned to the field after a long period of injury. Geny Catamo made his first minutes at the service of Vitória de Guimarães. Reinildo Mandava consolidated his starting place for the third consecutive game at Atlético Madrid.
Among the other Mozambican players starting this weekend, in the main ranks, are Zainadine Jr., at the service of Marítimo, where Clésio Baúque was used as a substitute.
Also starting was defender Bruno Langa, from Desportivo de Chaves of Portugal.
Edson Macuana, from the Vilafranquense under-19s, contributed to his team's two-goal draw against Vitória de Setúbal, while Simon Cipriano, for the same under-19 category, helped his team, Leixões, beat Famalicão by 3-1. Abel Joshua, known as Maestro, helped his team to a null against Sporting, in the under-23 category, the same level where Ricardo Mondlane did not avoid the defeat of his team, Rio Ave, against Estoril, by a tangent.
Amâncio Canhemba, or simply Neymar, was a starter for Marítimo B, who drew against Ferjões with one goal, while Gaby Pinho, who plays for Moura Atlético Clube, could not prevent his team from losing against Vasco da Gama.
In South Africa, meanwhile, Manuel Kambala was a starter in the 4-0 thrashing of his team, Baroka FC, against Sekhukhune, in the Premier Soccer League, while Aly Abudo helped TS Sporting to a nil-nil against Ajax Cape Town, in the second league.
The last of the starting players this weekend was Stanley Ratifo. The Mozambique international did not score, but assisted once for CFR Pforzheim's comfortable 4-1 victory over Dorfmerkingen.
Substitutes used
Other players who had minutes this weekend are: Geraldo Matsinhe, in the 2-1 win for his team, Fafe, against CDC Montalegre, Francisco Simbine (Bonera), in his Marítimo B's one-goal draw against Ferjões, and Pablo Bechardas, in Marítimo's under-23 win against Farense.
Luís Miquissone, from Egypt's Al Ahly, was an unused substitute in his team's nullification against Al Hilal in the second round of the CAF Champions League.
Witi Quembo (Nacional da Madeira of Portugal), Mexer Sitoe (Bordeaux of France), Dominguez (Royal AM of South Africa), Reginaldo Faife (Dinamo KF Tirana of Albania), were not called up for their teams' games.