Paul Gellard takes a look at Boavista’s busy summer as the club prepares for a second season back at the top table.
Second season syndrome is a common phrase used in football these days. We’ve all seen the script. A club surprises everyone by managing to hold their own, or better, in the top flight and then teams dispose of them easily the second season around, forcing them to battle relegation…
It’s difficult to guard against the phenomenon, however Boavista coach Petit has been busy working the transfer markets this summer in order to make sure his side will be well-prepared for what lies ahead in the Liga NOS.
Now, as a Boavista fan myself, I would happily give the key to the city of Oporto to Petit. He worked miracles to keep the club in the top-flight in its first season back. To compete after promotion is tough at the best of times. With Boavista, it was doubly difficult, given the two division rise up the pyramid. But a creditable 34 points from 34 games in 2014/15 saw Os Axadrezados finish comfortably 11 points clear of relegation, even leaving established sides such as Arouca, Académica and Vitória Setúbal in their wake. Not to mention a very creditable 0-0 draw against local rivals, FC Porto at the Dragão in September.
However, 38-year-old Petit has not rested on his laurels and has returned to the market in order to keep Boavista competitive and to clear out the dead wood. And it has been possibly the most exotic recruitment policy in the club’s history, with no fewer than 8 signings coming from intercontinental sources as far afield as Ghana, Haiti and the trusty recruiting ground that is Brazil. Curiously enough, three of the aforementioned signings have come from CNS side, Vila Real, in the shape of Bukia (DR Congo), Alex Jr. (Haiti) and Emmanuel Hackman (Ghana).
Where have all the goals gone?
Goals were a major problem for Boavista last season. The side managed just 27 in league competition with only Vitória Setúbal (24), Académica (26), Arouca (26) and Gil Vicente (25) scoring fewer. The club’s top scorers for the campaign were Zé Manuel (6), Michael Uchebo (4) and Brito (4) - not exactly figures to frighten any opposition defence. And so reinforcements have been summoned from Africa, by way of Belgium and the CNS. Nigerian striker Uche Nwofor joins his compatriot Uchebo by way of Lierse in Belgium’s top flight. He managed 2 goals in 11 league outings last season and has also seen service in the Netherlands with VVV Venlo and SC Heerenveen. Also joining is 22-year-old Ibrahima, a Senegalese striker with dual Portuguese citizenship who spent last season with AD Oliveirense in the CNS Série B. The youngster found the net twice in 4 league starts for the part-timers and was also with Boavista in the club’s CNS days of 2013/14, although he failed to make an appearance.
Zé Manuel and Michael Uchebo will continue with the club, the latter having joined in January from Cercle Brugge in Belgium. They will also continue to work alongside Cameroon striker, Pouga, who netted a brace in a recent 2-0 pre-season defeat of Gondomar, and the 19-year-old Nigerian, Silas.
Wide players such as Brito, Julian, Yoro Ly and Wei Shihao have been replaced as Luisinho has joined from Liga 2 side, Académico Viseu, for whom he scored 11 goals in all competitions last season. The 25-year-old former Sporting youth player can play on the right or left and will give Petit options. Also joining is the aforementioned Congolese left-winger, Bukia. He scored 4 in 32 games for Vila Real at CNS level last season and has also spent time at the Braga youth academy.
The engine room
The midfield has seen a minimum turnover of staff in the off-season, with players such as Slovakian international Marek Cech and the rarely used Miguel Cid departing the club. Cech is yet to find another club but was told his services are no longer required, despite only having signed from Italian side Bologna in January. Cid, who was a regular for the club in the CNS but used only 5 times in the Liga NOS, has moved on to Latvian club Daugava Daugavpils. He’ll be joined there by the club’s former striker, Yoro Ly.
Senegalese stalwart Idris will likely continue in the holding role that he performed so strongly last season, while Tengarrinha should also continue to be a regular in the middle of the park for the season ahead. He will be partnered by Nigerian Reuben Gabriel, or Brazilian Diego Lima. Also added to the mix, however, is 19-year-old Samu who has been with Boavista since joining from FC Porto back in 2010. Last season he made 34 appearances in central midfield for the juniors.
Defensive reinforcements, Beckeles to exit?
At the back, the players who performed so admirably for Boavista last season have been retained by and large. Regulars such as Brayan Beckeles, Philippe Sampaio, Carlos Santos and Afonso Figueiredo will be returning but their numbers have also been added to in the shape of experienced Ghanaian full-back, Samuel Inkoom, and his compatriot, Emmanuel Hackman. Also joining are Haitian left-back, Alex Jr, and ex-Blackburn Rovers and Penafiel centre-back, Henrique, who joins from Feirense in Liga 2. Tiago Mesquita is a right-back from Freamunde and he will likely be expected to provide the competition for Inkoom, in the event of highly-rated Brayan Beckeles moving on to pastures new. The Honduran represented his country at the Gold Cup this summer and has reportedly sparked interest from clubs in Spain, Turkey and Mexico.
One player who won’t be returning is Gabon international centre-half, Aaron Appindangoye (23), who only joined the club in January. Petit clearly feels that 8 appearances was enough and his contract option beyond last season has not been taken up. However, a valuable addition has arrived at the Bessa in the shape of Paulo Vinícius on a one-year contract. The Brazilian has arrived back in Portugal after a season with Operário in his native country and can realistically play anywhere along the back line. He was most recently with Braga in Portugal but has also seen service with Santa Clara, Olhanense and UD Leiria.
Between the sticks
With the impressive Portugal Under-21 goalkeeper Mika between the sticks last season, it’s one position where we can be fairly guaranteed of a name at Boavista. The Swiss-born stopper earned rave reviews from many in the press last season for his heroic displays. He will almost certainly be Boavista’s number 1 for the new campaign but he will also be pushed for the jersey by new Brazilian signing Gideão, who has arrived from Moreirense. Standing at 1.91m, he previously played for Náutico in the Brazilian Série A and Série B.
Meanwhile, the giant of the goalkeeping group, Mamadou Ba, will provide third choice cover in the goalkeeping department. The Senegalese ‘keeper made 2 league appearances for Boavista last season and will almost certainly take over the 3rd choice duties from Argentinian Monllor, who has been released by the club.
Encouraging signs
So plenty of positives for Boavista fans to draw on for the season ahead. Petit has extended his contract at the Bessa and the club has also just picked up some pre-season silverware in the Capital do Móvel tournament. Petit’s troops beat Paços de Ferreira and then União Madeira in the final to win the crown to keep morale high in the camp.
It seems certain Boavista’s opponents in the Liga NOS this season will have much to think about when taking on As Panteras as the club looks to push on from an impressive first season back in the upper echelons in Portugal.
By Paul Gellard (Follow Paul on twitter)
Related: Boavista's first season back - the verdict (17/04/2015)
Related: Can overachievers keep improving? (25/09/2014)
