Petro de Luanda is navigating a new chapter following the departure of their former captain, Carlos Morais, who joined Angolan rivals Interclube in January 2025. Morais, a pillar of the team, has left a big hole. The BAL squad currently in training is doing everything possible to address that gap ahead of the 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) season. Yanick Moreira, who succeeded Morais as captain, has voiced the challenges the team faces in adjusting without their former leader’s influence.
Morais’ exit marks a significant shift for Petro de Luanda, as he had been instrumental in shaping the team’s identity over the years. His exit was even more complicated by the departure of teammate Gerson Lukeny Gonçalves, further deepening a difficult situation for the team. Moreira acknowledged that Morais was irreplaceable, stating, “It’s not easy… You cannot replace Carlos with anybody. He’s a guy you cannot replace.”
Moreira’s sentiments are representative of the close-knit friendships that developed among teammates. Having played and been through so much with Carlos Morais over the last 10 years, the transition is even tougher. Teammate Aboubacar Gakou echoed similar feelings, stating, “It’s strange because I played with Carlos Morais for 10 years, so it’s hard to play without him.”
As Petro de Luanda adjusts to these changes, Samkelo Cele has been brought in to help bolster the team’s performance. Moreira remains optimistic about Cele’s potential impact on the roster. He noted that Cele could bring “a little aggression on defense and making shots,” suggesting that his presence might help alleviate some of the pressure created by Morais’ departure.
The loss of Morais has not only affected the team’s dynamics on the court but within the locker room. Moreira highlighted how Morais’ steady leadership and presence made the players feel comfortable and secure. He stated, “He was still part of a lot of stuff that was going on in the locker room [when his playing time decreased]. Everybody respected him.” The leadership role that Morais played went further than just his contributions on the court; his presence was needed to keep the team together.
With the 2025 BAL season already in progress, Petro de Luanda needs to change their approach. Now they have the task of developing that team chemistry without their now departed captain. Coach Sergio Valdeolmillos had already started to phase Morais out during the tail end of last season. This transition period provides openings for a variety of other actors to fill the void and really show what they can do.
Moreira stressed the power of working together as Petro de Luanda seeks to go far in this tough, competitive field. He emphasized, “For us, we’re trying to do something that no-one’s ever done before… The goal is to win back-to-back and we have to do it together.” This speech highlights the call for unity and joint effort as they move forward into this new testing period.
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