# Sports in Fogo, Cape Verde

The island of Fogo in Cape Verde in the westcenter of the Sotavento Islands is home to several teams and clubs. The major professional clubs is Botafogo, semi-pro teams includes Académica do Fogo and Vulcânicos, the remainder including the youth club Juventude and Spartak d'Aguadinha are amateur. The football competition was the third along with Sal to have its own first held in 1976 after the nation's independence. From its foundation to 2005, the island had a single league of each sport, it is currently divided into two divisions, the Premier and the Second.

## Football (soccer)

Football (soccer) remains to be the most popular sport both in the island and the nation. It is governed by the Fogo Regional Football Association, the association has the third most clubs in Cape Verde, though less populated than São Vicente today, but has more registered clubs than that island. The island has 20 football (soccer) club, each has 12 in the Premier and Second Divisions. There is one professional club, two amateur semi-pro clubs, the top three are the most popular clubs in the country.
The oldest football and sports club on the island as well as São Filipe is Vulcânicos founded in July 1953. Académica do Fogo is the second oldest club founded in 1962 and the third oldest is Botafogo founded in 1968. In title numbers, Botafogo is the most successful on the island, Botafogo also won a national title which is the only club from Fogo to do so. Cutelinho may be the first club outside São Filipe to be founded in 1983.
Of the 20 existing clubs, the largest are concentrated in São Filipe numbering seven, around 40% of the island's clubs, 11 all are based in the municipality of São Filipe, more than 50%, 4 are based in Santa Catarina do Fogo and lastly Mosteiros Municipality, of which two are based inside the town.
Since 1976, the winner of the island championships heads to the national championship game each season.
Overall, São Filipe has the most titles won numbering about 60, 13 since the breakup. Tarrafal was the second place to win a title on the island for the South Zone, it is the first in the South Zone, second in the island with seven, Santa Cruz with six and Santa Catarina and São Miguel with a title each.
Also there are two regional cup competitions, super cup competitions in which features a champion and a cup winner (sometimes a second place cup winner when a champion is also a cup winner) and an opening tournament.

## Basketball

Basketball is the second most popular sport on the island. Its most popular clubs are Académica do Fogo and Spartak d'Aguadinha. The champion competes in the national basketball championships each season.
Basketball venues include Simão Mendes in the island capital and Luzia Nunes.

## Volleyball

Volleyball is another sport in Cape Verde, one of the most popular. Its facilities are at Bila Baixo at São Filipe and probably at Mosteiros' beach.

## Other sports

Futsal, athletics, water polo and chess are other sports on the island. Athletics are competed at Estádio 5 de Julho, one of the only on the island. Futsal matches are played at Simão Mendes.

## Sporting events

Numerous National Championship finals took place several times at Estádio 5 de Julho. Some Colonial Championships was held at the stadium between 1953 and 1975. The 2002 championship winner Sporting Praia the celebration took place at the stadium. Since the number of final matches was doubled in 2000, each match took place at Várzea from 2004 to 2009, also in 2011 and in 2012. Two national super cup matches took place at the stadium, in 2014 and in 2015.

## Stadium and arenas

| Stadium | Town / City | Capacity | Type | Tenants | Opened |
| Estádio 5 de Julho | São Filipe | 5,000 | Football | Académica do Fogo, Botafogo, Brasilim, Juventude do Fogo, Nova Era, Spartak d'Aguadinha, União de São Lourenço, Valência, Vulcânicos | |
| Estádio Francisco José Rodrigues | Mosteiros | 5,000 | Football | Cutelinho, Grito Povo, Nô Pintcha dos Mosteiros | 2010 |
| Estádio Monte Pe Largo | Cova Figueira | 1,000 | Football | Baxada, Desportivo de Cova Figueira, Parque Real | 2006 |
| Mendes, Polidesportivo Simão | São Filipe | 1,000 | Basketball Volleyball Futsal | Académica do Fogo, Spartak d'Aguadinha | |
| Nunes, Polidesportivo Luzia | Luzia Nunes | 200 | Basketball Volleyball Futsal | none | |
| Estádio de São Lourenço | Curral Grande | 1,000 | Football | União de São Lourenço | |