Boavista will debut in the Portuguese First Football League without reinforcements registered in time, given the obstacles to registering new players identified by FIFA, acknowledged this Wednesday the president of SAD, former Senegalese striker Fary Faye.
“Despite all the efforts made by the Board of Directors (BA) in practice over the last three months, we assume that this process will not be completed by the start of the championship. Its solution involves many procedures and complex negotiations, which is why it was impossible to overcome this in the short period of existence of this BA,” the presenter admitted in a message published on the official website of “Panther” on the Internet.
In early July, Boavista announced the signing of Nigerian international midfielder Ibrahim Alhassan, who had ended his contract with Birschot and was promoted to the Belgian top flight, and Brazilian striker Bruninho, who was on loan from Atletico Mineiro but was never prevented from doing so by FIFA from registering new players due to debts.
“We are currently facing another major problem, one of the biggest in the history of the society: the removal of obstacles. Boavista SAD is unable to sign new athletes in three transfer markets, which is absolutely unacceptable from the point of view of SA,” he stressed, seeking “solutions that will once and for all resolve this and other problems that hinder the normal functioning of South Africa.”
Fari suggests he has already completed the “four priorities” he set out since replacing Vitor Murta as company president in May, including preserving Liga I for the 2023/24 season, meeting registration requirements for the new season and removing national barriers that allowed players to be registered under contract until the July 22 deadline set by the Portuguese Professional Football League (LPFP).
“It is undeniable that Boavista’s credibility has suffered greatly in recent years due to behavior and practices that are completely contrary to the values I defend and that have damaged and continue to damage this 121-year-old institution. There is no other way to put it: we found a SAD that was financially destroyed and seriously damaged in its credibility abroad. Now it is time to rebuild and restore credibility – and this is one of the points of honor of this SAD,” he said. He noted, wanting to overcome problems of “strength and sustainability”, the obstacles already observed, “most of which were unexpected.”
In an effort to pay off debts and get FIFA restrictions lifted in a timely manner, the Bessa club recently sold right-back Pedro Maleiro to Turkish side Trabzonspor, netting them two fixed MEs plus €500,000 in goals, and Nigerian centre-back Chidozie to Cincinnati-based North Americans, for €700,000, €500,000 of which is fixed.
“I do not and will never make false promises. The situation is very delicate, we are fighting every day for our survival, and the only commitment I make is to do everything to once again offer dignity, trust and authority to Boavista. I want to build a Boavista that will make all Boavista fans proud, not only for its sporting results, but above all for its values and principles,” said Fari Faye.
The Senegalese recalled that, “as he said on the day” of his speech as president of the SAD, “there is a long way to go” until the “chess players” regain “everything they have lost in recent years.”
“I once again assume without any fear that I will never have the courage to make the right decisions for the good of Boavista,” said Fari Faye.
Boavista will make their debut in the 2024/25 First League against Casa Pia on Saturday, starting at 6pm, at the Rio Maior Municipal Stadium, starting their 62nd participation and 11th consecutive in the competition without Alhação and Bruninho, who played for several private teams under the newly hired Italian coach Cristiano Bacci.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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