Commentator casts doubt over Valinhos CV

Commentator casts doubt over Valinhos CV

QUESTIONS: Valinhos claims he played for Vasco da Gama

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IT NEVER rains but pours for Zimbabwe's Brazilian coach Valinhos.

After the Warriors' elimination from the COSAFA Castle on Sunday, questions are now being asked about the coach's CV.

The South African media is disputing claims that Valinhos played for crack Brazilian club Vasco da Gama in the early 1970s.

Veteran soccer reporter Mark Gleeson, who is widely regarded as the doyen of African soccer commentators, got the ball rolling when he raised the issue during Zimbabwe's COSAFA Castle Cup tie against Zambia on Sunday.

Commenting on the match, which was broadcast live in Zimbabwe and Zambia, Gleeson said: "I have spoken to Valinhos and he says he played for Vasco da Gama in the early 1970s. But I have checked; there is no mention of his name in any of the Vasco da Gama teams. The question is which Vasco da Gama did he play for?"

He added: "I am leaving you a home work to find out and tell me which Vasco da Gama he played for."

Gleeson continued to ask this question whenever commenting on Valinhos. In his CV to the Zimbabwe Football Association, Valinhos also mentions that he played for the former South American champions.

The Brazilian was appointed coach of the Warriors in January and has been in charge of the Zimbabwean national team in seven competitive matches. He has won one, drawn two and lost one of his 2010 World Cup matches. He won his two African Championship matches, and over the weekend lost in his maiden COSAFA Castle Cup match.

But now Valinhos will have to prove the authenticity of his claims that he played for Vasco da Gama before more questions are raised over his CV. - RadioVOP
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