Cape Verde Mourns First National Football Coach Alberto Mota Gomes
Alberto Mota Gomes, a pioneering figure in Cape Verdean sports and science, passed away today at the age of 91 following a prolonged illness. The news was confirmed by Clube Desportivo Travadores, the institution where Gomes cemented his legacy as both a legendary player and a championship-winning manager.
Gomes is best remembered in the sporting world as the first-ever head coach of the Cape Verdean national football team. He led the “Blue Sharks” during the 1978 Amílcar Cabral Cup and previously managed a national selection during a historic trip to Guinea-Bissau. His leadership extended to the Santiago Sul Regional Football Association, where he served as president.
A Legend on the Pitch
Described by Travadores as “one of the best footballers of his generation,” Gomes’ impact on the pitch was profound. During his university years in Coimbra, Portugal, he represented local clubs before returning to Cape Verde to leave an indelible mark on domestic football.
As a manager, he led Travadores to a historic “invincible” season in 1972/73, securing both the Santiago championship and the Cape Verde national title without suffering a single defeat. The club today mourned him as an “indispensable figure” and a symbol of lifelong dedication.
A Giant of Science and Public Service
Beyond the football stadium, Gomes was a towering intellectual figure. He was one of Cape Verde’s first geologists, dedicating his life to the critical study of groundwater and national water resources. He held a PhD in Geosciences-Hydrogeology from the University of Aveiro and served as a full professor at the University of Cape Verde.
In 2020, the government recognized his dual legacy by awarding him the first-degree Medal of Professional Merit. Former Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva praised Gomes at the time as a “pioneer of water resources management” and a “benchmark public servant,” citing his immense contributions as a technician, researcher, and academic leader.
From the national team dugout to the university lecture hall, Alberto Mota Gomes remains a foundational figure in the history of independent Cape Verde.
Image: Pexels – Luis Andrés Villalón Vega
