João Ricardo

João Ricardo Pereira dos Santos Batalha Ferreira ( born January 7, 1970 in Luanda ) is an Angolan former football goalkeeper.

Already at the young age of five years came João Ricardo how many Angolans Portuguese descent to Portugal to escape the raging since 1975 in his home country civil war.

Career

He began his football career in Portugal at Viseu Académico Futebol Club. These were followed by switching to SC Salgueiros and FC Moreirense. After the descent of the FC 2005, his contract was not renewed, since he considered himself fit at Portimonense.

He decided due to the climatic conditions against a participation in the African Nations Cup in 1998 in Burkina Faso. His national team career seemed so abruptly ended. 2004, however, as national coach Luis Oliveira need an experienced goalkeeper, he returned to João Ricardo. He played so far 29 caps for his country (as of 9 July 2006).

He is one of the most consistent goalkeepers in Africa. It is characterized mainly by its good reflexes, but also has often weaknesses in the penalty area.

João Ricardo is since June 2005, with a brief interruption in 2007 in any football club under contract, but he was also during qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany and the Africa Cup 2006 Egypt member of the Angolan national team.

He and his team could for the first time to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany. This means the greatest success in the sports history of the African country. He retired with the " Palancas Negras " ( Black Antelopes ) after the first round.

In the championship game of Angola against the Iranian team in charge of Iran's Zob Ahan FC clubs were aware of him. However, the goalkeeper did not sign the contract because he wanted to stay in Portugal. In 2007, he stood in the Champions League Squad from Atlético Petróleos Luanda.

Participation in international competitions

• 2004 Qualification for Soccer World Cup 2006
• 2006 Africa Cup 2006 in Egypt
• 2006 Football World Cup 2006 in Germany