ANGOLA COACH:
Luis Oliveira Goncalves
Luis Oliveira Goncalves, 48, is a national hero after
directing Angola to the World Cup for the first time.
He should be very familiar with his players after guiding
Angola's Under-20 team to the African youth championship
and to the second round of the FIFA World Youth Championship,
both in 2001. That turned out to be a bountiful year
for Goncalves, as his club team, InterClube, Luanda's
police team, reached the African Cup Winners Cup final.
His success led him to the national side in 2003 as
Goncalves replaced Brazilian Ismael Kurtz, whose team
was stunned by minnows Chad, 3-1, in November, 2003.
Called the "miracle man" of Angolan soccer
by some, Goncalves was so impressive in transforming
the team that some supporters reportedly wanted him
to sign a lifetime contract to coach the national team.
The Angola Football Association tried to recruit Dunga,
who captained Brazil to its 1994 World Cup triumph,
to coach the team alongside Goncalves, according to
English newspaper The Independent.
|