Mozambique and Portugal mourn Augusto Matine, one of football’s greatest

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Mozambique and Portugal mourn Augusto Matine, one of football’s greatest

4:05 CAT | 14 Oct 2020

Picture: O País

Mozambican and Portuguese sport are in mourning for Augusto Matine, who died yesterday in Maputo at the age of 73.

Matine had a long career in Portuguese football, playing for the national team nine times, and for Benfica, Vitória de Setúbal, Estrela da Amadora, Portimonense and Desportivo de Aves, among other teams.

After ‘hanging up his boots’, Matine found himself missing his motherland. He returned to Mozambique shortly thereafter and coached the Mambas (2001-2002) and the junior national team, the Mambinhas. He was director of the Technical Office of the Mozambican Football Federation and also manager of Desportivo de Maputo (2011-2012) and Ferroviário de Maputo (2003).

In a note on its Facebook page, the Mozambican Football Federation addressed “its most heartfelt condolences” to Matine’s family, friends and colleagues.

The Portuguese Football Federation, the coach of the Portuguese national team, Benfica Vitória de Setúbal and other clubs in Portugal have all issued notes of condolence on Augusto Matine’s death.

The president of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), Fernando Gomes, recalled Augusto Matine as “an important player in Portuguese football”, expressing his “most sincere condolences to the family”.

Gomes also highlighted, on the organisation’s official website, “the contribution that Matine made to the national team”, expressing the Federation’s “recognition and gratitude for everything he gave to Portuguese football”.

Portuguese national coach Fernando Santos also expressed condolences on “the sad news” of Matine’s death, his ” great friend of many years”.

“I have already had the opportunity to convey my deepest sympathy to his entire family, but I could not fail to publicly pay tribute to the great man, an excellent player and the exceptional friend he was. May his soul rest in peace,” said Fernando Santos, a former soccer player himself, cited by the Portuguese Football federation.

Benfica also expressed condolences to Matine’s family and friends, Estrela da Amadora writing that Augusto Matine “will never be forgotten” by the Portuguese club.

Augusto Matine played for Benfica between 1967 and 1973, with a stint at Vitória de Setúbal in the middle. Between 1973 and 1976, he went back to Vitória de Setúbal, before moving on to play for Portuguese clubs Portimonense, Lusitano de Évora, Desportivo das Aves, Estrela da Amadora and Torralta.

After he retired as a player, Augusto Matine became technical assistant and then head coach at Estrela da Amadora in Portugal before returning to Mozambique.

Matine played 52 games at Benfica, (in the seasons 1967/68, 1968/69, 1969/70, 1970/71 and 1972/73). But it was at Vitória de Setúbal (club that he represented in the 1971/72, 1973/74, 1974/75 and 1975/76 seasons) where he played most of his matches (124 in total), scoring five goals.

His talent as a midfielder earned him the call to the Portuguese national team, for which he played nine times.

Augusto Matine was born in what was then Lourenço Marques on February 13, 1947.

Source: O País / Lusa