Writers & Football: Cape Verde’s Blue Sharks Inspire Youth
PRAIA, Cape Verde — The “Blue Sharks” effect was in full force today as world-renowned Portuguese-speaking writers visited the Capelinha School in the Cape Verdean capital. While the students expressed a love for learning, their true dreams were clear: they want to be the next generation of national football heroes.
The visit was part of the 14th Meeting of Portuguese Language Writers, organized by the Union of Portuguese-Speaking Capital Cities (UCCLA) and the Praia City Council. The initiative brought authors from across the Lusophone world directly into classrooms to inspire the youth of Cape Verde.
A Warm Welcome in Verse and Song
The authors were greeted with a poignant performance of a poem by Celestino Duarte about rain—a vital and sacred subject in an archipelago that has historically endured severe droughts. Two fourth-grade students, dressed as traditional peasants working the land, delivered a dramatized recital that moved the visiting delegation.
The spirit of national pride continued as the entire school body joined in a stirring rendition of the national anthem, “Cântico da Liberdade,” followed by performances of classic Cape Verdean songs by Paulino Vieira and Tito Paris.
World Cup Fever Fuels Big Dreams
Despite the literary occasion, the shadow of the “Blue Sharks”—Cape Verde’s national football team—loomed large. Following the team’s historic performance in the 2026 World Cup, students like nine-year-old Malick are more inspired than ever.
“What I like most in school is math,” Malick told Lusa. “But what I really want is to be like the Sharks, like Vozinha.” He was referring to the team’s goalkeeper, whose heroic saves during the championship earned him international fame.
His classmate, Lucas, shares the ambition. While he enjoys the comic books the writers brought, his eyes remain on the pitch. Meanwhile, nine-year-old Alyssa expressed a different but equally vital dream: she wants to be a teacher to help shape the future of her country.
Connecting the Lusophone World
In the classrooms, writers from across the Portuguese-speaking world shared stories of their homelands:
- Olinda Beja (São Tomé and Príncipe) delighted students by discussing cocoa and chocolate. She also touched on the deep historical ties between her country and Cape Verde, referencing the “contract laborers” immortalized in Cesária Évora’s world-famous song “Sodade.”
- Costa Neto (Mozambique) taught the children Mozambican greetings like “xamani” (hello) and “hambanini” (goodbye), bonding with them over his love for Cape Verdean musical legends like Ildo Lobo.
- Alberto Oliveira Pinto (Angola) shared how he began writing stories as a child in a school just like theirs, eventually authoring the comprehensive “History of Angola.”
- José Manuel Diogo (Portugal/Brazil) spoke on the unifying power of the Portuguese language, urging the children to read, write, and—quoting the poet António Gedeão—to remember that “dreams command life.”
The 14th Meeting of Portuguese Language Writers officially begins today, centered on the theme “The Portuguese Language as an element of adaptation in a changing world.” For the children of Capelinha School, however, the day was a reminder that whether through a pen or a football, their voices and dreams have a place on the global stage.
Image: Pexels – Kampus Production
