Vata Matanu Garcia

Vata Matanu Garcia was born on the 19^th March 1961. He is a retired Angolan international football player who played the role of a striker for the country.

He spent most of his playing career in Portugal.

source of picture: anotandofutbol.blogspot.com

Vata was born in Damba, Uige region. He started his football career at progresso Associacao do Sambizanga. A after a good stint in Portugal with the club Varzim SC, he attracted the attentions of SL Benfica and he signed with the Red for the 1988/89 season and he was the top scorer of the season in his first year with the club.

In the following season, Vata achieved most of his infamous moment with the club when his club lost 2-1 to Olympique de Marseille in the semifinals of the European season. He was the first scorer in the game.

After two more seasons in Portugal with CF Estrela da Amadora and SCU Torreense, Vata, 38 retired from football in the year 1999.

Vata played his first international game for the national team of the country in the year 1985. He was among the players of the country that played in the 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifications. He played the total of 65 games for the national team of the country with the total of 20 goals to his name.

He was the full time manager of the club, Guntur Bali, winning the league in his only season with the club. He coached Mitra Kukar and the Kalimantan in the 2004/05 season.

Honours

Ø  Winner of the Portuguese League in the following season; 1988/89 and 1990/91.

Ø  Winner of the Portuguese Cup in the year 1988.

Ø  Runner-up of the European Cup in the 1989/90 season.

Ø  Winner of the Maltese Cup in the 1993/94 season

Ø  Winner of the Indonesian League as a coach in the 1999/2000 season.

Ø  Top goal scorer of the Portuguese League in the 1988/89 season with the total of 16 goals.

Top goal scorer of the Indonesian League in the 1995/96 season