The Santa Cruz de Natal Sentinel
Match8 May 2027
The wait goes on for Santa Cruz de Natal
12 without a win now, and the ground has developed the special quiet of a crowd that expects the worst. One scrappy 1-0 would cure most of it; that is the maddening part.
Squad10 May 2027
Tempers go at Santa Cruz de Natal
Pedrão was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Squad10 May 2027
Words at Santa Cruz de Natal training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Felipe Cobo is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
Market10 May 2027
One of our own: André Correia joins the Santa Cruz de Natal first team
Clubs spend fortunes looking for players and occasionally find one down the corridor. André Correia is that, and the reception he gets on his first appearance will be different in kind from the one any signing receives.
The dugout10 May 2027
The manager makes an example of Jeremías Vargas
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
The dugout10 May 2027
Samuel Pereira: “We have to be better”
“It is not the end of the world and it is not good enough. Both of those are true.” The manager, after a 0‑0 draw, said the honest thing and then went to say it again inside.
The dugout10 May 2027
Paulinho Curuá asks for a word with the manager
“I would rather say it to his face than read about it.” The meeting was requested by the player, which tells you most of what you need to know.
Player ratings10 May 2027
Pedrinho was unplayable
Successful dribbles: 12. He went past people as if he had been told there was a prize for it, and by the end the full-back had stopped pretending to try.
Match8 May 2027
No goals between Santa Cruz de Natal and Tombense
Ninety minutes, two goalkeepers with clean gloves, and not one finish worth keeping. Tombense will be the happier side with the point.
In brief
- The dugout The plan did not have a place for Pedrão
- Looking ahead Pedrão faces his old club
- Market Agustín Rodríguez told to find a new club