Petro de Luanda keeper reveals secret to Girabola title defence

Marques: Photo Credit: Petro de Luanda.

Petro de Luanda’s goalkeeper, Hugo Marques, has revealed that remaining focused amid distractions was key to the team’s Girabola title retention in the top-flight league for Angola.

The former Angolan international reflected on the club’s feat after defending the league championship for the fourth time in a row on Sunday, May 18, 2025. The keeper took to his Facebook page to recall the ingredients behind the success.

“The secret is in the mind, which is well armored against any distraction because the goals are stronger than any bad part that this beautiful sport can give us,” he wrote.

“I was a hero in many moments and a villain in a few, but in those less happy moments, I never lost my way. I owe this great stability that my best friend and the best wife and mother in the world gives me.”

The 38-year-old, who has renewed his contract for a year, was instrumental this season, conceding 13 goals in only 29 matches while keeping 17 clean sheets.

The former Cape Town City custodian did not concede on Sunday when Petro de Luanda defeated Sagrada Esperança da Lunda-Norte 1-0 in Dundo to claim the 19th overall title.

Julinho scored the all-important goal five minutes into added time for the visitors to take their tally to 65 points, five ahead of second-placed Wiliete FC on the 16-member log table with one round of games remaining.

It is the club’s legend Flávio da Silva Amad’s first league title as a coach after being in charge of just three games since replacing Richard Chieu earlier this month.