At a press conference, Alexandre Santos explained that the decision was based on professional reasons, despite the team's management expressing their desire to convince him to remain in charge of the team.
“The decision was made consciously some time ago, it was not taken yesterday. It is a clearly personal and family decision, as I do not make decisions alone, but it was a professional decision, taken some time ago, that it would make sense to close the cycle of three years of work at Petro, regardless of what was achieved, despite the fact that the president of Petro de Luanda and Bruno Vicente, sports director, did everything they could to keep me going. I’m not renewing, not because I’m dissatisfied with anything, on the contrary, but it’s a decision to close the cycle”, he explained.
Alexandre Santos leaves command of the team after winning three consecutive championships for the most titled team in the country, with 18, a feat that had not been achieved for 29 years. The Portuguese also led Petro to win two Angola Cups and a Super Cup.
In addition to the internal successes, the team had its best moment ever in the African Champions League, qualifying for the semi-finals, group stage and quarters, respectively in 21/22, 22/23 and 23/24.
The Portuguese coach did not reveal his future, but guaranteed that he will continue with African football, at a time when the South African press reported that Santos could become official as the new coach of Kaizer Chiefs, from South Africa.
Replacing Alexandre Santos, the club announced this afternoon, in a statement, the hiring of the Portuguese coach, Ricardo Chéu, for one year, with an additional year as an option.
Petro ends Girabola with victory
The already sacred three-time champion beat Bravos do Maquis, 2-1, on Saturday, in the closing game of the 2023/24 season of the national football championship.
In the province of Moxico, the visitors started to lose, after Nigo's goal in the ninth minute, but turned the result around through Vanilson, in the 45th minute, and Gilberto, in the 71st minute.
Thus, the team still led by Portuguese Alexandre Santos finished Girabola with 67 points, six more than Sagrada Esperança, second placed, who drew 0-0 with 1.º de Agosto.
The same result was recorded in the game between Académica do Lobito and São Salvador do Zaire, as well as in the match between Desportivo da Huila, coached by Portuguese Paulo Torres, and Recreativo do Libolo.
Santa Rita de Cássia won 1-0 against Clube Recreativo União de Malanje, with a goal from João Vala, at 36.
In an afternoon of several draws, Wiliete de Benguela and Desportivo da Lunda Sul shared points, with the result fixed at 1-1, just like in the clash between Kabuscorp do Palanca and Interclube.
Clube Recreativo União de Malanje, 14th with 16 points, and Sporting de Cabinda, 15th with 13, were relegated.
Benarfa (Kabuscorp do Palanca) was the top scorer in the Angolan championship, with 15 goals, followed by Mussá (Desportivo da Lunda Sul), with 12, and Tiago Azulão (Petro de Luanda), with 11.
