DILI (16 Sept 2012) – Emerson Alcantara of Brazil has been charged to lead the campaign for Timor Leste as they look to win their first ever spot in the region’s biggest football event, the AFF Suzuki Cup.
As a player, Emerson started his career in 1991 with Sport Clube Paraguacoes in Sao Paulo before moving the year after to play for Brazilian second division side Criciúma Esporte Clube, who had the previous year won the Copa Do Brasil.
He then ended his playing career with one of Portugal’s oldest club Sport Clube Belenencias FC in 1996.
Emerson began his coaching career in 2005 with a small club, Sport Clube Ipanema, which is based in the Alagoas state before moving to XV de Piraciceabea, a club playing in the Sao Paulo state championship. In 2009, they finished fourth in the regional league.
Prior to his arrival to take up the coaching position in Timor Leste, Emerson had coached North Stars FC in Trinidad and Tobago.
Timor Leste will be up against hosts Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Brunei in the qualifying round of the AFF Suzuki Cup in Yangon slated for 5-13 October 2012.
Only two teams will make the cut into the final round in November.
For the record, Timor Leste had never made the final round of the meet in the last three editions of the qualifiers.
PLAYING CAREER
1991 – SPORT CLUBE PARAGUACOES, SAO PAULO, BRAZIL
1992-1993 – CRISIOMA FC (BRAZIL)
1995-1996 – SPORT CLUBE BELENENCIAS FC (PORTUGAL)
COACHING CAREER
2005 – SPORT CLUBE IPANEMA, ALAGUANO, BRAZIL
2009 – XV DE PIRACICEABEA FC, SAO PAULO, BRAZIL
2011-2012 – NORTH STARS FC, TRINIDAD and TOBAGO
