Problems of Federated Football on Brava Island, an analysis by Adilson Bango

Adilson Bango did not hide his concern about the current financial situation of the clubs on the island of Brava. According to the president, the budget needed to sustain participation in regional competitions is out of step with the local economic reality. "With a budget of over 500,000 escudos for club expenses and revenues of around 200,000 escudos, it is impossible to maintain a constant presence in regional competitions without the necessary financial support," Bango stated during the interview. The lack of sponsorship and the scarcity of institutional support have made it difficult for the clubs to sustain themselves financially, compromising their performance and the continuity of sports practice.

Another factor that Bango points to for the decline of football on the island of Brava is emigration. The parish of Nossa Senhora do Monte, traditionally one of the largest support centers for local football clubs, has lost much of its interest in the sport, mainly due to mass migration abroad. "Emigration has led many people to abandon the island, and with that, the connection of young people and their families to football clubs has diminished considerably," explained the president. This change has directly reflected in the decrease in the support base, both in terms of audience and talent for the teams.

Bango also highlighted the difficulty of managing a football club on Brava Island, where responsibility falls almost exclusively on a single person. He reported that, due to the lack of commitment and engagement from other members of the community, it has been extremely challenging to manage a club with so many obligations and little help. "It is impossible to be in charge of a club where everything is under the responsibility of a single person. The lack of volunteers, support from the community and even collaboration from some members of the management team is a constant problem," said the president, who is still struggling to keep the club afloat.

Another point of criticism raised by Bango was the behaviour of local players. He said that many athletes now demand high payments to contribute to football, something that, in his view, compromises the essence of the sport and makes the competition less accessible and more elitist. Players who previously sacrificed themselves for the love of the club and the jersey are now asking for “large” sums of money. Football on Brava Island, as in many other areas, is becoming a business rather than a passion, Bango warned.

The lack of interest in football, especially among the younger generations, and the increasing "professionalization" of the sport, are seen as major obstacles to the revitalization of football on the island. For Bango, it is necessary to rethink the way football is promoted and supported on the island, with a greater emphasis on training and local grassroots.

For the president of Benfica da Brava, the current situation requires urgent reforms. Bango argues that a collective effort is needed to reorganise and adequately finance football on the island. "Football cannot be sustained by just one or two people; it requires joint action from all parties involved: clubs, federation, community and local authorities," he said.

However, he acknowledged that the solution will not be easy and that the path forward will require great effort and commitment from all involved. “If there is no real support, a true commitment to the sport and effective collaboration between all parties, football on Brava Island could enter into irreversible decline,” Bango concluded.

This interview exposes the difficult reality of federated football on Brava Island and serves as a warning of the challenges that the sport faces in several regions of the country. The combination of financial difficulties, lack of community engagement and the changing priorities of the population require a joint effort to save and revitalize local football.

MS