Ex-Brazil star Rivaldo to quit Angolan club

LUANDA (AFP) –

Former Brazil midfielder Rivaldo, then of Greek club Olympiakos, reacts to missing a chance to score against Shakhtar Donetsk during a Champions League game in 2006. Rivaldo is leaving Angolan top-flight club Kabuscorp Sport Clube do Palanca at the end of a one-year contract, the country’s football authorities said Wednesday.

Former Brazil star Rivaldo is leaving Angolan top-flight club Kabuscorp Sport Clube do Palanca at the end of a one-year contract, the country’s football authorities said Wednesday.

“His contract was for one year and it ended”, Angolan Football Federation vice-president Joao Lusevikueno said.

But it was unclear whether the 40-year-old midfielder was planning to retire. He hinted at hanging up his boots after a shoulder injury in October ended his season early and threatened to end his career.

Rivaldo posted the news on his Twitter account on Sunday. “My farewell day here in Angola, but only for football, because Angola will always be my home,” he said.

The 1999 World Footballer of the Year and European Footballer of the Year was third-highest goalscorer in the league, although Kabuscorp finished fourth.

Rivaldo left Brazilian outfit Sao Paulo in January after another chapter in a globe-trotting career that took him to Spain, Italy, Greece and Uzbekistan before he returned home last year.

Attacking midfielder Rivaldo, who said the fact that Brazil and Angola are Portuguese-speaking countries played a big part in his decision, was part of Brazil’s 2002 World Cup-winning team and played for Barcelona and AC Milan in his heyday.