Arlindo Gomes Semedo (born 17 November 1977), known as Cafú, is a Cape Verdean former professional footballer who played as a forward.
 Cafú in action for Anorthosis in 2010 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Arlindo Gomes Semedo[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 17 November 1977[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Lisbon, Portugal[1] | ||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1994–1997 | Almada | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1997–1998 | Almada | ||
| 1998–1999 | Amora | 29 | (11) |
| 1999–2002 | Belenenses | 60 | (8) |
| 2002–2005 | Boavista | 93 | (9) |
| 2006 | Sportfreunde Siegen | 13 | (5) |
| 2006–2007 | SC Freiburg | 23 | (1) |
| 2008–2009 | Omonia | 41 | (9) |
| 2009–2011 | Anorthosis | 58 | (24) |
| 2011–2012 | AEL Limassol | 29 | (4) |
| 2012–2013 | Alki Larnaca | 27 | (4) |
| 2013–2014 | Académico Viseu | 35 | (15) |
| 2014–2015 | Feirense | 42 | (6) |
| 2015–2016 | Freamunde | 28 | (2) |
| 2016–2017 | Salgueiros | 24 | (6) |
| 2017–2021 | Maia Lidador | 85 | (30) |
| Total | 587 | (134) | |
| International career | |||
| 2003–2007 | Cape Verde | 15 | (5) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
After playing in his country of birth for Belenenses and Boavista, amassing Primeira Liga totals of 153 games and 17 goals over seven seasons, he went on to have a brief spell in Germany with Freiburg. He moved to Cyprus already in his 30s, where he remained for five years in representation of several teams.
Internationally, Cafú played for Cape Verde.[2]
Club career
Cafú was born in Lisbon, Portugal. During his early career he played for Almada AC, Amora FC, C.F. Os Belenenses – with which he made his Primeira Liga debut in the 1999–2000 season[3][4][5]– and Boavista FC, appearing in six games in the Porto team's quarter-final run in the UEFA Cup in 2002–03 but starting rarely in his three and-a-half-year stint with the club.
In January 2006, Cafú moved to Sportfreunde Siegen in Germany's 2. Bundesliga, his five league goals not being enough to avoid relegation (as last). He subsequently stayed in that level and signed for SC Freiburg, where he would feature sparingly.[6]
Again in the January transfer window, Cafú joined Cyprus' AC Omonia.[7] After one and a half seasons he moved sides but stayed in the country, agreeing to a contract at Anorthosis Famagusta FC on a free transfer in summer 2009; at the start of his second season, in the Europa league third qualifying round, he scored a hat-trick against Cercle Brugge KSV (3–1 home win), being essential in a 3–2 aggregate victory and play-off stage qualification.[8]
In his two-year spell with Anorthosis, Cafú scored always in double digits but his team came out empty in silverware, respectively finishing second and third in the Cypriot First Division. In June 2011, aged 33, he was released, signing shortly after with AEL Limassol.[9]
Cafú returned to Portugal after leaving Alki Larnaca FC, going on to spend one season apiece in the Segunda Liga with Académico de Viseu FC, C.D. Feirense[10] and S.C. Freamunde[11] and scoring a career-best 15 goals (17 in all competitions) during his spell at the first club.[12]
