Luanda — The ex-international of Petro de Luanda and the Angolan national football team, Amaral Aleixo, has said that he is in favour of the idea of increasing the current number of 14 teams to 16 in the first division championship, in 2010.

Amaral Aleixo, who is the deputy chairman of Petro de Luanda for associative issues, expressed his opinion on Tuesday to ANGOP, after this intention was divulged by the Angolan Football Federation (FAF) last Sunday, following its third broad meeting held in Sumbe City, in the coastal Kwanza Sul Province.

According to the former footballer, FAF acted in line with the statutes in defending the positions of its affiliated members.

To Amaral Aleixo, due to financial difficulties in all football clubs, it is necessary to create conditions, by assessing other structural and functional issues to achieve this goal.

"A study should be carried out on the clubs' economic reality, as the Federation itself should also participate like in the other countries", he said.

This issue will be concluded in next broad meeting to be held on 8 November in the northern Uíge Province. In case the proposal is approved for Girabola-2009, the three teams that won their group A and B, respectively of the second division tournament, namely Académica do Lobito, Académica do Soyo and Recreativo da Caála do Huambo will move up to first division.

The last three classified teams of Girabola-2008 will dispute their qualification with the second classified teams of the second division competition to pick two clubs in order to complete 16 Teams in the top division.