President Armando Guebuza described the footballer born Eusébio da Silva Ferreira as “a true source of inspiration and of joy for millions of Mozambicans and for citizens across the world”. In a message of condolences, addressed to Eusebio’s family, friends and fans, Guebuza said the news of his death was “sad and shocking because it has taken from us a man who, for decades, played football with elegance, grace and skill”.
Known as the ‘Black Panther’, Eusebio was born into a poor family in what was then known as Lourenço Marques (now Maputo). His father was a white Angolan who met his mother while working on Mozambique’s railway system during WWII. Mozambique was, at the time, a dependency of Portugal and the young Eusebio would have dreamed of representing Portugal when in 1960 he moved to the mother country, aged 18, having been spotted by Benfica scouts while playing amateur football, controversially for a feeder club of Benfica’s fierce local rivals, Sporting Lisbon.
From these humble barefoot beginnings in Africa, he went on to become a favourite son of one of Europe’s top clubs, scoring 474 goals in 440 competitive games for Benfica, still a club record, and to win the ‘Golden Boot’ for top scoring at the 1966 World Cup where Portugal’s progress was halted at the semi-final stage by eventual winners, England. In his 15 seasons with Benfica, the club won 11 league titles.
Eusebio remained a frequent visitor at Benfica’s Estádio da Luz (Stadium of Light) and appreciative fans were given an opportunity to say a fond farewell when their legend’s flag draped casket was paraded at the ground prior to Monday’s funeral at the nearby Seminary Church.
Former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano recalled that he had known Eusebio as a child. He told “A Bola”, the leading Portuguese sports paper, “I have lost a friend. When we were young we played together, we played football together. He was almost family”.
“Eusebio was a source of pride for the Mozambican people”, Chissano declared. “He was an ambassador for Mozambique”.
