Growing number of Angolan players head to PSL

The arrival of Gilberto at Orlando Pirates, Inacio Miguel at Kaizer Chiefs and Carlinhos at Cape Town City adds to a relatively small list of Angolans who have featured in the Premier Soccer League down the years.

Unlike the flood of players from other Southern Africans countries, there have been a relatively modest number from Angola, despite the fact it has long been a nation that produces talented footballers, highlighted by their appearance at the 2006 World Cup.

SuperSport.com lists some of the Angolans who have appeared in the South African league before.

ARMANDO (HELLENIC)

The forward played two PSL seasons in Cape Town with Hellenic, starting in 1996-97, but proved underwhelming as he scored once in 38 starts in all competitions. He made 57 appearances in all but left at the end of the campaign. His lone goal came in a 2-1 loss to Wits University in February 1998. He later joined African Wanderers but was equally uninspiring and became a coach in Namibia when his playing career ended.

ANTONIO CORREIA (AJAX CAPE TOWN)

The forward had played in the Netherlands and Finland before he arrived at Ajax (now Cape Town Spurs) in August 2011. He lasted only four months before he left the team the following January. He made a single substitute appearance for a total of 19 minutes as Ajax beat Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 in September 2011.

JOSE DE OLIVEIRA (SUPERSPORT UNITED)

This striker spent the second half of the 2013-14 season at SuperSport United, but did not score a goal in seven appearances (three starts) and was quickly moved on at the end of the campaign. He has gone on to play for another 12 clubs since then in a journeyman career and was last seen at Sao Salvador in his homeland.

HUGO MARQUES (CAPE TOWN CITY)

Marques was a hit as a goalkeeper at Cape Town City before an abrupt exit back to his homeland, where he still plays for Petro Atletico at the age of 38. He joined City in the 2021-22 season and kept Darren Keet on the bench when the latter returned from injury. Marques played 37 matches in a season and a bit, before asking to leave City for personal reasons and then popping up immediately at Petro. He was a strong performer, but City did not feel his loss due to the consistency of Keet.

JO PACIENCIA (CAPE TOWN CITY)

Jo was brought in for the 2023-24 season to add some muscle up front and play the number nine role in the team but spent most of the campaign on the bench and has since left the club. He made eight starts and 16 substitute appearances, scoring two goals. He was not the answer to what has been a troublesome position for City.

JOSE PEREIRA (SUPERSPORT UNITED)

This striker was brought in by SuperSport in the 2009-10 season and while he helped Matsatsantsa to the league title that campaign, he was underwhelming himself with one goal scored in 12 appearances (six starts). His only goal came in a 1-1 draw with Moroka Swallows.