Vasco da Gama: a football club in Cape town

The President Mário das Neves

Vasco da Gama is the name of many football clubs around the world, including clubs in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and Goa (India), but the most illustrious one is in Africa. The club from Cape Town, in South Africa, is starting in it’s first South African Football League this season (2010/11). To better understand the roots of this club, I got to interview the club’s President, Mario das Neves. He is of Portuguese descent, and he feels the need for more sponsors to help the club.

Was the promotion to South African football League this year the best moment in the history of Vasco da Gama?

Yes, I think the people have no idea how hard it is for a small club to spend all season working with a little budget and then achieve promotion to the elite of South African football. Undoubtedly it were the greatest moment in our history.

The biggest inspiration to the name of the club Vasco da Gama was a visit to Rio de Janeiro, right?

Sure. Marcelino de Nóbrega was the founder of the club. He was in Brazil with his father, Vasco de Nóbrega. After watching a game of Vasco da Gama in Brazil they decided to return to South Africa then they formed this club called Vasco da Gama in Cape Town.

Vasco da Gama players

How do you analyse the league season 2010/11?

We are very happy with this project. The coach does a good job, and they are all fighters who give 100% of themselves in every game. We are able to impress everyone and we are already being seen by other teams as a team that does not easily surrender. In some games we need to stop making so many errors. If any sponsor is helping the club to strengthen the squad in the next transfer window, our team would be great.

Is there an involvement of the Portuguese communities in South Africa with the club?

Vasco da Gama is a small club that has roots in our Portuguese community in Cape Town. We have a marketing plan and we are working with these Portuguese communities around the country to help get more sponsors and fans to our games.

Fans

The club has had in the past some important players like defender Nyathi, the goalkeeper Arendse and top-class striker Bartlett.

Not all of them played in the Vasco da Gama youth teams. Some them came from other teams to play for our club. I played with them and I can say that they were excellent footballers. They were true professionals and were prepared to leave the country and achieve success in Europe. We had other good players who were not so lucky, but Nyathi, Arendse and Bartlett took advantage of the opportunities. We are very proud of them at Vasco da Gama.

Who is helping the club to pay the players?We have no sponsors. Our budget is tied with the organizers of the South African Football League. All these players are being paid according to our monthly quota. We have been very astute with the management of Vasco da Gama as a company. The midfielder Sibusiso Zuma has been phenomenal. He has scored three goals in five games. It’s hard for a small club as we compete with millionaires teams. There are 29 small businesses that have contributed immensely to the club reaching the top division. I don’t know how much longer we can count on them in a league of as high costs as the first division. We need more sponsors.

STATEMENTClub: Vasco da Gama

Official website: http://www.vasco.co.za/

Location: Cape Town, South Africa

President: Mario das Neves

Date Established: 1980

Competition: Premier Soccer League

Coach: Carlos das Neves

Features: Sibusiso Zuma, ex-midfielder from South Africa national team and the striker Joseph Kamwendo, from Malawi national team.