Africa-Press – Angola. Defender Danilson, midfielder Higino and striker Julinho, both from Interclube, and central Gigli Ndefe, from Banik Ostrava from the Czech Republic, and Victoriano, from Sagrada Esperança, are the news of the call-up of the National Team of honors football, released Tuesday (17), at a press conference, by coach Pedro Gonçalves, with a view to the double journey against the Central African Republic and Madagascar, framed in the qualifiers for access to the African Cup of Nations (CAN) 2023, on the coast of Ivory.
The list of 29 players is also made up of goalkeepers Kadu, Hugo Marques and Ricardo Baptista, defenders Tó Carneiro, Jonathan Buatu, Eddie Afonso, Kinito and Kialonga Gaspar, midfielders Fredy, Beni, Batxi, Show, Mário Balbúrdia, Megue and Estrela, and forwards Yano, Zine, Hélder Costa, Ary Papel, Nélson da Luz, Capital, Zito Luvumbo and Gelson Dala, the latter returning to the national team’s call-up, after some time away, due to dismissal imperatives to adapt to Al Qatari Wakrah.
Defender Leonel Miguel, from Clube Emmen of the Netherlands, was removed from the squad at the last minute, due to not having his passport available.
The group under Pedro Gonçalves will concentrate next Sunday, the 22nd, at the Hotel Victoria Garden, with training sessions due to start the following day, at the Sports Complex Academia de Futebol de Angola (AFA) and at the Estádio Nacional 11 de Novembro. .
Asked to analyze the chosen ones, Pedro Gonçalves justified that they are the players who are in the best shape and showed that they are imbued with the right spirit and commitment for the moment.
“Of course, these athletes have shown us confidence indicators so that they are now called up. Some have been fighting for this call for some time and this is the moment”, said the coach of the Palancas Negras, admitting that it is a call with some reservations , due to the fact that some players may fail to concentrate, given the fact that they are involved with their respective clubs in the ‘play-off’ of access to the first division.
“Therefore, this could collide with the interests of the national team, despite the fact that on FIFA dates the players belong to the national teams. But, however, we also have to understand the moments that the players have in their respective clubs. We hope that the players can be present , but knowing that one or the other may not be present,” he added.
Return From Dala
Pedro Gonçalves did not hide his satisfaction with the availability shown by forward Gelson Dala, to join the group in this double round of qualifying. The coach confessed to having had a conversation with the player, underlining the fact that “in recent seasons he has faced some uneasiness or late definition of where he will play”, a situation that admits causing the striker a certain emotional and sporting imbalance.
“We have this guarantee from the player, who will be engaged with us. It is important that Gelson also understand the importance he can have with us, if he is well and can offer us sporting added value”, he emphasized, and then asserted:
“We want to count on him and for him to feel this responsibility and for him to come to work, even because he has been out of work for some time. But often the motivational factors overcome these difficulties and it is in this perspective that we want to count on Gelson”.
New Faces
The integration of new players in the work of the Palancas Negras is a constant in the reign of Pedro Gonçalves, and the coach is keen to ensure that it will continue, always in the perspective of immediate and long-term work.
“We think of the immediate, but also of the long term”, he maintained, to clarify that the promotion of the young Danilson and Julinho, both aged 23, and the experienced Victoriano, Higino and Gigli Ndefe, is the result of observation work carried out by national footballers. in Angola and abroad.
“Our observation work is not limited to the diaspora or internally. The players have been making a journey that we have been recording and monitoring. our options”.
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