Rivaldo signs one-year deal with Angola's Kabuscorp

[kdk4christ]

Brazilian World Cup winner Rivaldo has joined Angolan side Kabuscorp in a surprise move.

The former Barcelona star, who won the World Cup in 2002, has signed a one-year deal with the Girabola club.

Since leaving Italy's AC Milan in 2004, Rivaldo has returned to Brazil to play some of his club football but has also played in Greece and Uzbekistan.

The 39-year-old was unveiled to the Angolan media at a news conference in the capital Luanda on Friday.

"This is going to be a new experience for me," the 1999 World Footballer of the Year was quoted as saying by Angolan media.

"I am happy to be there and as happens with all the clubs I join, I will try to honour the shirt of Kabuscorp and hope to meet expectations on the field."

Angola hosted the last Africa Cup of Nations in 2010 and is a country with one of Africa's highest GDPs thanks to being one of the continent's biggest oil producers.

Like Brazil, where Rivaldo last played his club football until leaving Sao Paolo in December, Portuguese is the spoken language of Angola.

The attacking midfielder, who will wear the number nine shirt, says language played a key part in his decision and tweeted that he is 'very happy with this new stage of my career'.

However, the arrival of the former Brazil international has been greeted with some scepticism, according to local sports commentator Jose Cunha.

"Rivaldo's hiring by Kabuscorp - which is a very modest club in Angola - has not attracted as much enthusiasm as you might expect," says Cunha, who works for Luanda's LAC radio station.

"People think he's past his prime and wonder what contribution he can make, so everyone is very cautious."

Kabuscorp are looking to win their first Angolan league championship after finishing second last year, having missed out on the title by just one point.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/16561876.stm

[ROSSIKE]

Rivaldo never tire?

[ojafranpa]

Getting his pension.

[Skylolo]

The great man wants to continue playing, I am happy he is bringing his game to Africa..nothing wrong with that....

[omey2k4]

He is just there for the Angolan women,i know say dem fine and they speak Portuguese over there so he is at home...

[realtrouble]

Angola is wasting that oil money

[TonyStarks]

Angola is wasting that oil money

It could be good for the domestic league to have such a high profile and experienced player playing there. Let's not forget, he won the World Cup just 10 years ago, it could generate a lot of interest from fans and that can only benefit the clubs and players involved.

[Comrade Machel]

[Purity]

He was the best player at the 2002 world cup..