The event, which has already established itself as the “Oscar” of local sport, brought together the island’s sporting elite to honor athletes, coaches, managers, and institutions that raised the profile of Sal and Cape Verde last season.
The ceremony covered various categories, from school sports to federated sports, without forgetting adapted sports, reinforcing the island’s commitment to inclusion and meritocracy.
In Adapted Sports, young talent shone with Yesmene Kiara Tomás do Rosário and Edson José Brito da Cruz receiving the Revelation Athlete awards.
At the top of the category, António dos Reis Fortes and Ciara Tavares were crowned Athletes of the Year.
In football, Grupo Desportivo Palmeira dominated, winning the Team of the Year title after a season in which they won the Regional Championship, the Dja d’Sal Cup, and the National Championship.
His coach, António Leite (Toca), was rightfully distinguished as Sports Personality of the Year and Coach of the Year, represented by his son, Tarik Leite.
In the conventional sports revelations, the names of Nisian Lima (swimming) and Gerson Vicente (athletics) graced the stage as young talents of the time.
The Prestige Award marked the next segment, with journalist Moisés Évora being recognized for his coverage and dissemination of the national football team’s games during the qualifying phase for the World Cup.
This was followed by a tribute to Caetano de Sousa, a historical figure in community associations in Sal, and the awarding of the School Sports Prize to the Sal Delegation of the Ministry of Education.
The Jadir Swimming School was also awarded the Merit in Sports Training Prize, while Aristides de Deus (Grupo Gaviões) and Dr. Carlos Saint Félix were honored with the Dedication Prize.
In athletics, Josilene Monteiro and Nuno Lopes were the winners in the Female and Male Athlete of the Year categories, in the individual event.
The sporting career was celebrated with the awarding of trophies to Antonio Mendes and Osvaldo Estrela, both with remarkable trajectories in football and refereeing.
In the partnerships sector, Nautic Sports Events was distinguished as Partner Entity of the Year, for promoting international events such as the GKA Kitesurf World Tour.
Grupo Desportivo da Palmeira was one of the most frequently mentioned names of the night, winning the Sports Merit and Team of the Year awards, a result of winning all regional and national titles in the 2024/25 season.
Rui Santos was elected Sports Collaborator of the Year and the Regional Football Association received the title of Association of the Year.
The distinction of Sports Personality of the Year was awarded to Antonio Leite (Toca), for the success achieved as a coach.
In the final stretch of the gala, the Manager of the Year award was presented to Jamilson Delgado.
Leônidas da Graça was elected Referee of the Year. In team sports, footballer João Soares and handball player Sara Varela were named Athletes of the Year.
The second Prestige Award of the night was given to Pedro Neves, as well as special recognition to the Cape Verdean Football Federation, which received an honorable mention for the historic qualification of the men’s and women’s national teams for the respective 2026 World and African Championships, a milestone that resonated with pride among those present.
The evening concluded with a posthumous tribute to Carlos Rocha, better known as Rodas, remembering his dedication to the sporting development of the island and highlighting that his legacy continues to live on through new generations.
The gala concluded with a speech by the mayor of Sal, Júlio Lopes, who did not hide his enthusiasm for the level of local sport.
Under the motto “We honor the champions and inspire generations,” the mayor emphasized the importance of recognizing those who project the name of the island and the country.
“We are experiencing a day of great pride. We must honor those who are projecting the name of Sal nationally and internationally. Sal is at the top in terms of sports,” stated Júlio Lo
pes.
The mayor also highlighted the preventive and inspiring role of sports for youth.
“We want to inspire generations; may each victory serve to encourage our young people to dream and win. We must offer good alternatives to our young people, so that they do not choose paths that do not contribute to the better Cape Verde that we all aspire to,” he concluded.
The evening, which celebrated the effort and dedication of local sports agents, was interspersed with cultural moments featuring the voices of Tio Lino and the group N’Joy Music, reinforcing the festive spirit that marked this edition of the “Sal Champion” Gala.