Calvin Kadi does well in Portimonense debut
Kadi makes favourable Portugal debut
Posted: 2010-07-25 23:57
Calvin Kadi made his first appearance for his new Portuguese club Portimonense on Saturday night, helping the team to beat English club Brighton and Hove Albion 2-0 in a pre-season friendly at Alberfura.
Kadi did not score, but made a favourable impression according to news reports. He was used in the first half with the club playing a different line-up in the second half.
Before the match, Kadi said he was hoping to make as much of an impact in the country as Benni McCarthy did in Portugal more than five years ago. Kadi has signed for Portimonense on loan from Bidvest Wits.
“I am aware of what he did here in the past,” the former SuperSport United and Jomo Cosmos flyer said of McCarthy’s goal scoring run in the Portuguese league, “but I also have my own ambitions.
Kadi says he hopes to attract attention from new Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane with his performances in Portugal.
“I hope that the experience that I gain from playing will be a short cut for me to get into the national side,” added Kadi, who has played at Under-23 level for the country. Coming to Europe is the logical step for me in terms of developing my career.”
Kadi was speaking to Portuguese reporters at the unveiling of the club’s first team squad for the coming season at their town hall in Portimao.
Portimonense are newly promoted to the top flight in Portugal. They have also signed a Mozambican international, Helder Pelembe, from Maputo-based club Maxaquene.
McCarthy was the top scorer in the Portuguese league in 2004 and won the UEFA Champions League with Porto.
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