An insider has identified the Brazilian influence at Petro de Luanda as their biggest threat despite the Angolan side's current lack of confidence ahead of their CAF Champions League clash against Kaizer Chiefs this weekend.
Chiefs and Petro are winless in Group C so both need results in the back-to-back fixtures they will play against each other.
Former Bidvest Wits and Platinum Stars left-back Almiro 'Miro' Lobo – who is now an assistant coach at Bravos do Maqui – has been in Angola for the past seven years so has first-hand knowledge of what Petro are all about.
The former Mozambique international spent four-and-a-half years in the PSL and played against Chiefs six times, and was even teammates with Chiefs assistant coach Dillon Sheppard at Dikwena.
"History says Petro is a good team just like Chiefs but right now they are low on confidence which is why they even sacked their head coach recently and brought in a guy from their development. Right now, they are not cruising," Miro tells snl24.com/kickoff from Luena, Angola.
Though Petro, who are already in the country, remain top of the Angolan top league they have lost four of their last six matches in all competitions and Miro's club can overtake them if they win their game in hand.
"This is how Petro is. They have very dangerous wingers who are fast and one Brazilian striker wearing number 26 [Tiago Azulao] who is good with his head. He is not quick but is clever with the way that he plays so is the main source for goals for Petro when fed well.
"Defensively they are not strong especially when they build from the back because they are not good in moving the ball around. In midfield they can play a bit, but their strength is with their wingers who have way too much energy and run like hell. Most of the goals that they score come from crosses.
"Then they have another two Brazilian players in attack [Toni and Maikon Leite] but they are not so quick as well and rely on playing clever. They are technicians. Their goalkeeper [Signori Antonio] is not the best around especially in matters related to dealing with crosses. He lacks confidence in coming for crosses.
"So, I suppose Chiefs can beat them because their confidence is on the low at the moment."
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