The Santa Cruz de Natal Sentinel
Boardroom22 Apr 2030
Santa Cruz de Natal run out of patience with Renato Martins
The end came on a Tuesday, as these things usually do: a short meeting, a shorter statement, and Renato Martins clearing his office by noon. Football’s cruellest ritual, performed to schedule.
Squad22 Apr 2030
A one-man rearguard from Warlen
There were 10 saves in it, and at least three that had no business being saves at all. The ten outfield players owe him a drink and they know it.
Boardroom22 Apr 2030
Santa Cruz de Natal have nobody left to take training
Not an interim appointment — an institution with an empty coaching office. Somebody unfamiliar will run the sessions this week, and the question of how a club gets into this state is one the board will be asked and will not answer.
Boardroom22 Apr 2030
Interim Coach takes charge at Santa Cruz de Natal
“Somebody has to pick the team on Saturday, and this week that is me.” An interim appointment with no promises attached, which is how most of them start.
Market22 Apr 2030
Luís Barbosa asks to leave Santa Cruz de Natal
“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.
Match20 Apr 2030
After 11 games, Santa Cruz de Natal finally taste it again
The first defeat in 11 matches. The manager will say it had to come; the dressing room will say it did not have to come against ASA; the supporters will say both, in that order, all week.
Squad22 Apr 2030
Words exchanged at Santa Cruz de Natal
Warlen and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
Boardroom22 Apr 2030
5 academy players handed senior numbers at Santa Cruz de Natal
The morning the pathway stops being a brochure and becomes a team sheet. Most of them will not be here in three years; all of them have already done the hard part, which was getting to today.
Squad22 Apr 2030
Rhyan Modesto falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
In brief
- Market Alex Queiroz steps up from the Santa Cruz de Natal academy
- Market José Pereira steps up from the Santa Cruz de Natal academy
- Market Sérgio Bezerra steps up from the Santa Cruz de Natal academy