Champion in the Saudi Arabian second division, the midfielder, who came up through Sporting’s youth system, crossed paths with several figures at Atlético, B SAD, and Casa Pia. At Casa Pia, he shared a locker room with Lelo and Jota Silva. Enthusiastic about the current state of Portuguese football, Afonso Taira cheers for his father and Belenenses, who are competing for promotion to the Second Division = PART II
Having secured the Saudi second division title = playing for Abha Club = Afonso Taira is two games away from completing his third season in Saudi Arabia. At 33 years old, the midfielder, who came through Sporting’s youth system, has also played in Romania and Israel, in addition to spells at Estoril, Atlético, B SAD and Casa Pia.
In an interview with Maisfutebol from Abha, in southern Saudi Arabia, Afonso Taira recalls discreet figures who, in the meantime, made the leap. These include Franclim Carvalho, Jota Silva, and Leonardo Lelo.
In a country where Cristiano Ronaldo’s name frequently echoes, the midfielder doesn’t venture a prediction for the 2026 World Cup, but assures that Portugal’s journey will be exciting.
Read also.
Part I. Taira and the conflict in the Middle East: It was calmer than it seemed in Portugal
Maisfutebol (MF): During your time at Sporting, you shared a locker room with figures like William Carvalho, Cédric, and João Mário. Did any of these names become particularly memorable?
Afonso Taira (AT): They are remarkable for the careers they achieved and for what they represented, both at Sporting and in the National Team. It’s a pleasure to see them succeed.
MF: Early in your career, after a short stint in Spain, you joined Atlético in the Second Division in 2012 and worked with coach Neca. What was the impact of this coach?
AT: Professor Neca is a marvel, with a special way of dealing with people, communicating in a traditional and correct style, like our grandparents. He treated me very well. Unfortunately, we didn’t have much success; it was a hard-fought period. But a good friendship remained. He never forgets me.
MF: In the ups and downs of his career, he returned to Portugal and the League to represent B SAD in 2020. He was coached by Petit, then assisted by Franclim Carvalho, the current coach of Botafogo .
AT: That’s true. I’m not very surprised. In Brazil, as Artur Jorge’s assistant at Botafogo, he gained exposure and this opportunity. The level of tactical knowledge, approach to the game, and performance required are not out of step with Franclim’s capabilities. He’s a very knowledgeable coach who helped complement Artur Jorge’s game plan. I’m very much rooting for Franclim’s success.
MF: In 2021, you reinforced Casa Pia, in the Second League, then coached by Filipe Martins, who was hospitalized . How did the group deal with this absence and achieve promotion ?
AT: It was the most difficult moment at Casa Pia. But also special, because the manager recovered. We had a fantastic group. Casa Pia had a fantastic structure, which prevented that moment from weakening us excessively. The then assistant coach, Vasco Matos, took over the leadership and did a fantastic job. The train kept moving.
MF: Time has proven that Casa Pia was a top-tier team for the Second Division. Besides Filipe Martins and Vasco Matos, they had players like João Bravim (U. Leiria), Lucas Paes (Torreense), Ricardo Batista (Casa Pia), Leonardo Lelo (Sp. Braga), Jota Silva (Besiktas), and Afonso Taira.
AF: Time proves it right. In the following season (2022/23) it was proven that it was a squad with league=level ability. At the time, it wasn’t said to be a luxury squad for Casa Pia.
MF: Leonardo Lelo and Jota Silva stand out in this group…
AT: I remember Jota perfectly when I arrived at Casa Pia, because he wasn’t a central figure, but he stood out for his determination, pressure, and distinctive movements. Combining that with his physical ability and shooting, he created many goal-scoring opportunities. I wasn’t surprised by his move to Nottingham, because he can play in England, or at the top level in Portugal.
MF: Did you speak to Jota Silva when the transfer to Sporting fell through ?
AT: We talked. No one is prepared for this. We spent the summer and the transfer window thinking about the next step, but the decisions don’t depend solely on the player. And often we don’t even know why a deal falls through. These are moments that require mental strength, and Jota is strong.
MF: Regarding Lelo, do you think he took too long to make the leap?
AT: It was obvious he could play for Sp. Braga. Lelo has a less media-savvy and commercial profile because he’s a player who excels at making the right decisions and understanding the game; he’s not a left=back built for physical contact like Nuno Mendes, for example. Even so, Lelo is comfortable in different positions and in tight spaces. He knows how to break down defenses and how to serve the forwards, hence the number of assists he gets.
MF: What is your assessment of national football? You even played against Rui Borges when that coach was in the Second Division.
AT: FC Porto is a worthy champion; the best defenses win championships . The most robust, stable, and compact team ends up being champion. It’s worth noting that there are two Portuguese coaches at the big clubs, which doesn’t always happen. And Rui Borges deserves the success he has achieved. The Portuguese league has increasingly more clubs that deserve to be at the top, due to their structures, financial strength, and long-term projects. All of these are positive steps.
MF: In Liga 3, Belenenses has José Taira as sporting director and is fighting for a return to Liga II. Will it happen?
AT: I’m really rooting for my father and for Belenenses. In the game where we became champions at Abha, I couldn’t play due to accumulated yellow cards, so I was in the stands and took the opportunity to follow Belenenses on my phone. I suffer for them. They were strong all season. I hope they get promoted.
MF: (…)
AT: My father and Zidane served as role models. Right now, as a midfielder, the player I most enjoy watching play is Vitinha.
MF: To conclude, will Portugal win the 2026 World Cup?
AT: (Laughs) We’ll have Portugal fighting. It’s going to be very exciting to see our national team.