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Mozambique: Portuguese athletics coach detained
2:03 CAT | 20 Jul 2022
FILE - Alberto Lario coached his athletes at Parque dos Continuadores., in Maputo city. [File photo: Lusa]
Mozambican authorities have arrested coach Alberto Lário, a Portuguese national and a figure who has been a reference for new generations of athletics in Mozambique.
Coach Lário spoke to Lusa today from the police station.
Alberto Lário was arrested early on Tuesday afternoon at the Continuadores Park track by three officers, one of them from the Mozambique Migration Service, who claimed there were irregularities in his documents.
“They claim that it is an issue related to my residence permit document (DIRE), but I have a request for acquisition of nationality pending for over six years,” the coach explained by phone from the police station.
According to Alberto Lário, the case is being discussed at the ministerial level, but if it is not definitively solved, he says he will leave the country.
“If this is not definitively resolved, I’m leaving. What else can be done?” he asked, noting that he fears only having to abandon the work he has been doing with young Mozambican athletes for years.
“We were all shocked when they detained him, and if their idea is to deport him to Portugal, that will be very bad for Mozambican athletics,” an athlete who has worked with the coach told Lusa.
Alberto Lário, born in Mozambique and had been living in the country for several years, achieved the milestone of placing Verónica José amongst the six best female junior world athletes in a bid supported by the Portuguese Association (AP) of Mozambique.
The world championship in Cali, Colombia, scheduled for August, will be the first major international competition for the 1,500m runner, who beat the time of 4.29 minutes in Braga and has been improving her performance.
READ: Verónica José: The Mozambican quietly becoming an elite athlete
“I spoke to Verónica. She has to continue, regardless of what happens. Not only her, but all the other athletes I work with”, declared Alberto Lario.
Lusa tried, without success, to get a clarification from the Mozambican Migration Services.
READ: Mozambique: Mutola back on the track in honour of Craveirinha
— Carta de Moçambique (@CartamzOficial) July 20, 2022
Source: Lusa
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