National Sports

Sangala loaned out to Angola’s Benfica

Flames principal defender James Sangala has left Angola Girabola league side Primeiro de Agosto on a loan to Benfica de Luanda following a major shake-up at his Luanda side.

In an e-mail response to a questionnaire, Sangala confirmed on Tuesday that he and Cape Verdean Tavares are out to Benfica after surviving the Army side’s reshuffle that saw 10 players fired.

“There is a new coach who has changed many things. They have signed three Congolese players, so they want space for those foreigners. I am still their player with all the benefits—salary, house, car and the like—until the end of my contract in December. I started training with the new team this morning,” said the former MTL Wanderers defender.

Agosto confirmed on their website www. primeiroagosto.com, that new coach Romeu Filemon has loaned out Sangala and his colleague to pave the way for Congolese Ebongo, Ruffin and Tutona.

Two red cards, dislocated shoulder and bad blood with Agosto former coach limited Sangala’s playing time last season. He was featured more as a defensive midfielder.

Other new faces at Agosto are Tchitchi (from Benfica de Luanda), Sidney (from Académica of the Soyo), Nublú (Wing), Paizo (Norberto de Castro), N´Dieu (Benguela), Danilson Traça (Ecija Balompie of Spain) and Lito (Recreativo Libolo).

Sangala believes the coming in of high-profile players such as World Cup winner and former World Cup player of the Year, Brazilian Rivaldo at Kabuscorp will be good for Angola football.

“For me to rub shoulders with such a legend is great. This is an indication of how Angolan football is growing. We normally have players without names coming from Portugal and Brazil, but this is another step,” he said.

Sangala, viewed as a generation bridge between the old guard and the new blood which coach Kinnah Phiri promises to injected in the Flames, is a consistent and hard-working defender whose natural strength is his ability to mark space.

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