Cafú (footballer, born 1977) explained
| Cafú |
| Upright: | 0.7 |
| Fullname: | Arlindo Gomes Semedo |
| Birth Date: | 17 November 1977 |
| Birth Place: | Lisbon, Portugal |
| Height: | 1.77 m |
| Position: | Forward |
| Youthyears1: | 1994–1997 |
| Youthclubs1: | Almada |
| Years1: | 1997–1998 |
| Years2: | 1998–1999 |
| Caps2: | 29 |
| Goals2: | 11 |
| Years3: | 1999–2002 |
| Caps3: | 60 |
| Goals3: | 8 |
| Years4: | 2002–2005 |
| Caps4: | 93 |
| Goals4: | 9 |
| Years5: | 2006 |
| Caps5: | 13 |
| Goals5: | 5 |
| Years6: | 2006–2007 |
| Caps6: | 23 |
| Goals6: | 1 |
| Years7: | 2008–2009 |
| Caps7: | 41 |
| Goals7: | 9 |
| Years8: | 2009–2011 |
| Caps8: | 58 |
| Goals8: | 24 |
| Years9: | 2011–2012 |
| Caps9: | 29 |
| Goals9: | 4 |
| Years10: | 2012–2013 |
| Caps10: | 27 |
| Goals10: | 4 |
| Years11: | 2013–2014 |
| Caps11: | 35 |
| Goals11: | 15 |
| Years12: | 2014–2015 |
| Caps12: | 42 |
| Goals12: | 6 |
| Years13: | 2015–2016 |
| Caps13: | 28 |
| Goals13: | 2 |
| Years14: | 2016–2017 |
| Caps14: | 24 |
| Goals14: | 6 |
| Years15: | 2017–2021 |
| Caps15: | 85 |
| Goals15: | 30 |
| Totalcaps: | 587 |
| Totalgoals: | 134 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2003–2007 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 15 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 5 |
Arlindo Gomes Semedo (born 17 November 1977), known as Cafú, is a Cape Verdean former professional footballer who played as a forward.
After playing in his country of birth for Belenenses and Boavista, amassing Primeira Liga totals of 153 games and 17 goals over seven seasons, he went on to have a brief spell in Germany with Freiburg. He moved to Cyprus already in his 30s, where he remained for five years in representation of several teams.
Internationally, Cafú played for Cape Verde.[1]
Club career
Cafú was born in Lisbon, Portugal. During his early career he played for Almada AC, Amora FC, C.F. Os Belenenses – with which he made his Primeira Liga debut in the 1999–2000 season[2] [3] [4] – and Boavista FC, appearing in six games in the Porto team's quarter-final run in the UEFA Cup in 2002–03 but starting rarely in his three-and-a-half-year stint with the club.
In January 2006, Cafú moved to Sportfreunde Siegen in Germany's 2. Bundesliga, his five league goals not being enough to avoid relegation (as last). He subsequently stayed in that level and signed for SC Freiburg, where he would feature sparingly.[5]
Again in the January transfer window, Cafú joined Cyprus' AC Omonia.[6] After one and a half seasons he moved sides but stayed in the country, agreeing to a contract at Anorthosis Famagusta FC on a free transfer in summer 2009; at the start of his second season, in the Europa league third qualifying round, he scored a hat-trick against Cercle Brugge KSV (3–1 home win), being essential in a 3–2 aggregate victory and play-off stage qualification.[7]
In his two-year spell with Anorthosis, Cafú scored always in double digits but his team came out empty in silverware, respectively finishing second and third in the Cypriot First Division. In June 2011, aged 33, he was released, signing shortly after with AEL Limassol.[8]
Cafú returned to Portugal after leaving Alki Larnaca FC, going on to spend one season apiece in the Segunda Liga with Académico de Viseu FC, C.D. Feirense[9] and S.C. Freamunde[10] and scoring a career-best 15 goals (17 in all competitions) during his spell at the first club.[11]
Notes and References
- News: Ricardo Rocha troca Sandro e Cafu por Zico e Romy. Ricardo Rocha changes Sandro and Cafu for Zico and Romy. A Semana. pt. 31 January 2007. 12 February 2018. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20180213021658/http://www.asemana.publ.cv/?Ricardo-Rocha-troca-Sandro-e-Cafu-por-Zico-e-Romy. 13 February 2018.
- News: Cafú: "Sinto-me realizado por ter marcado". Cafú: "Fulfilled to have scored". Record. pt. 24 December 2001. 12 February 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180213021713/http://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-nos/belenenses/detalhe/cafu-sinto-me-realizado-por-ter-marcado.html. 13 February 2018.
- Web site: Cafú (Belenenses) sobre a estreia na I Liga: "Era o que ambicionava e senti-me realizado". Cafú (Belenenses) on I League debut: "It was what I had hoped for and I felt fulfilled". Mais Futebol. Magda. Magalhães. pt. 26 March 2002. 12 February 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180213021554/http://www.maisfutebol.iol.pt/geral/26-03-2002/cafu-belenenses-sobre-a-estreia-na-i-liga-era-o-que-ambicionava-e-senti-me-realizado. 13 February 2018.
- News: Cafú acabou despedido com justa causa. Cafú ended up being fired with just cause. Record. pt. 15 June 2002. 12 February 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180213021645/http://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-nos/belenenses/detalhe/cafu-acabou-despedido-com-justa-causa.html. 13 February 2018.
- Web site: Breisgauer verpflichten Cafú. Breisgauer sign Cafú. Kicker. de. 26 April 2006. 27 October 2023.
- Web site: Omonia promove regresso de Konstantinou. Omonia promote return of Konstantinou. UEFA. John. Leonidou. pt. 21 January 2009. 12 February 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180212201903/http://pt.uefa.com/memberassociations/association=cyp/news/newsid=794160.html. 12 February 2018.
- News: Cercle Brugge Europees uitgeschakeld na 3–1 verlies. Cercle Brugge European elimination after 3–1 loss. Het Belang van Limburg. S.. Simons. nl. 5 August 2010. 5 February 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160205124317/http://www.hbvl.be/cnt/aid960489/cercle-brugge-europees-uitgeschakeld-na-3-1-verlies. 5 February 2016.
- Web site: Aos 40 anos, antigo avançado do Boavista concilia trabalho e golos. Aged 40, former Boavista forward works and scores at the same time. Mais Futebol. Vítor. Maia. pt. 15 March 2018. 27 October 2023.
- News: Cafú esqueceu a 1.ª Liga em nome da família. Cafú forgot the 1st League in the name of the family. Record. pt. 8 June 2014. 12 February 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180213021618/http://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-nos/feirense/detalhe/cafu-esqueceu-a-1-liga-em-nome-da-familia-887527.html. 13 February 2018.
- Web site: Freamunde reforça ataque com cabo-verdiano Cafú. Freamunde bolster offence with Cape Verdean Cafú. SAPO. pt. 2 July 2015. 12 February 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180916235553/https://desporto.sapo.pt/futebol/segunda-liga/artigos/freamunde-reforca-ataque-com-cabo-verdiano-cafu. 16 September 2018.
- News: Pontaria de Cafú na base da ascensão. Cafú aim the basis for the rise. Record. pt. 14 March 2014. 12 February 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180213021648/http://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/2--liga/ac-viseu/detalhe/pontaria-de-cafu-na-base-da-ascensao-872748.html. 13 February 2018.
