In a remarkable interview with the newspaper A BOLA, Chiquinho Conde, a legend of Mozambican football and current national team coach, reflected on the country's inexhaustible talent for the sport, the importance of investing in youth development, and his career full of unforgettable stories in Portuguese football.
According to Conde, talent in Mozambique remains as vibrant as in the times of Eusébio, Coluna, and Matateu. “Every day new Eusébios, Colunas, Matateus are born… There are countless Chiquinhos Condes,” he stated, highlighting that the real challenge lies in the lack of conditions and infrastructure to develop this potential. He appealed to the major Portuguese teams to help in this process, emphasizing the historical connections between clubs like Maxaquene and Sporting.
The Unforgettable Journey to Portugal
Chiquinho was a pioneer in the post-independence period, being the first player to obtain special authorization to play outside the country. “In 1986, Benfica wanted to sign me, but by law, I couldn't leave. The following year, Belenenses visited Mozambique, played against Maxaquene, and were impressed with me. In 1987, after political changes, I became the first Mozambican to play in Portugal in the post-independence period,” he recalled.
My destination ended up being Belenenses, after a fierce dispute with Benfica. “When I arrived in Lisbon, I didn’t know which club I was going to sign for. Benfica was on tour in the Americas, and Belenenses showed more agility in the negotiations, paying $120,000 for my transfer, an impressive amount at the time. I am eternally grateful to Belenenses, where I won a Portuguese Cup.”
Vitória de Setúbal: Love at First Sight
Another important chapter in his career was at Vitória de Setúbal, a club for which he played in three different periods. “I arrived at Vitória in the Second Division and fell in love with the city, which reminded me of Beira, my hometown. I formed a great partnership with Rashidi Yekini, a legend of African football. We had a magical season, with him scoring 21 goals and me 15.”
His affection for the club was so great that Chiquinho refused to leave for Sporting on a free transfer, renewing his contract to guarantee financial compensation for Vitória. "At that time, the equivalent of 400,000 euros was important for the club. Today I regret Vitória's fall, but I hope it returns to the top."“
The Dream of Wearing the Sporting Jersey
When he arrived at Sporting in 1995, Chiquinho fulfilled a childhood dream. “Since I was a child, I was a Sporting supporter. In Beira, a shop displayed photographs of Sporting impeccably dressed, and I would say to myself: one day I will play there. At 29 years old, I fulfilled that dream.”
At Sporting, he had the opportunity to play alongside legends like Luís Figo, Balakov, and Sá Pinto. Despite some limitations on playing time due to foreign player rules, Chiquinho considers this the high point of his career. “I won another Portuguese Cup and fulfilled a childhood dream. It was a privilege.”
An Appeal to the Future
Chiquinho Conde concluded the interview with an appeal: “Mozambique has talent to spare, but it needs investment. I hope that Portuguese clubs continue to help in the development of Mozambican football. With better conditions, we can see many more Eusébios shining in the best leagues in the world.”
Chiquinho Conde's passion for football and his dedication to the growth of the sport in Mozambique make him not only a legend, but also an inspiration for future generations.
