Kickoff (Cape Town)
3 September 2008
The influx of Brazilian players to Southern Africa is growing with the news that three more are ready to set the Namibian domestic Premiership alight when they turn out for their new club, Orlando Pirates, this season.
According to the Namibian newspaper the trio arrived in the country at the end of last week and will don the colours of the Namibian Buccaneers after they signed deals with the League champions.
The players have already joined their new team-mates at training and they cannot wait for the season to start.
Eder Leandro Correa is the oldest at 29 years of age and plays in defence, while Alessandro Ferreira dos Santos is the youngest at 21 and is a left midfielder.
Leandro Alves da Cunha, who has travelled more than his countrymen, is 28 years old and will be employed in attack, just behind the main strikers.
The trio are the first Brazilians every to play for a Namibian premier league team.
When visited by The Namibian Sport yesterday, the Brazilian players said they are eager to start playing, but will need at least two more weeks of rigorous training before they can hit top form.
Correa previously played for Brazilian Premiership side Boa Vista in Rio de Janeiro, while Dos Santos was last played Botofogo Estacio Desa, also in Rio de Janeiro.
Dos Santos also had a stint in Mexico.
Da Cunha played for FC AK in the South African First Division before he left at the end of last season, but previously also played for French Ligue 1 powerhouse Paris Saint Germaine (PSG).
Da Cunha played for the French club for four years, before had a one-year stint at a First Division Portuguese club.
After that, he played for at least eight months in Italy at AC Martina, which competes in the Serie C.
Da Cunha also played in Romania for two years at First Division side Universitade Krayoba, before spending a season at Ivory Coast's Asec Mimosas.
He went straight to South Africa from Ivory Coast before coming to Namibia.
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