Rafael Fonseca says Mohamed Kaba is a strong example of "work" and "humility" after the forward's rapid climb from district football to the GIL Vicente first team. Kaba has already made 3 appearances this season and played 77 minutes, with a possible start against FC Porto now part of the conversation.

Fonseca's view of Kaba's rise

Fonseca, who first coached Kaba in Portugal and now works with Paços de Ferreira's under-19s, did not pretend the leap was obvious at the start. "I am not going to lie and say that we immediately realised that he would be able to reach this competitive level where he is currently," he told A Bola, in comments translated from Portuguese.

He added that Kaba was "a hardworking boy, humble, with a great desire to learn and improve", and said the striker made "a very big competitive leap" from the district championships to professional football in two years. Fonseca also said Kaba "had the capacity" to reach this level, then pointed to the habits behind it: ambition to learn, room to improve and a consistent work rate.

The scoring record helps explain why the push has come so quickly. Kaba scored 21 goals in 34 matches between the league and the Taça Revelação for Gil Vicente's under-23s. Fonseca also says Kaba had 10 goals in 9 matches for Lusos de Macedo de Cavaveiros, before he moved on through Canedo and into Gil Vicente's pathway.

The opening at Gil Vicente

Kaba's route to the first team has also been helped by a live selection call. Héctor Hernández has physical problems and is still in doubt for the visit of FC Porto, while Walace França has scored two goals in his last two league matches, both after coming off the bench.

That leaves space for Luís Pinto to make a choice in a game that is not being treated lightly at Barcelos. GIL Vicente beat FC Porto 1-0 in the presentation match on 22 July at Estádio Cidade de Barcelos, and Kaba came on in the 73rd minute. He later made his top-flight debut on 30 August against Famalicão, coming off the bench in the 64th minute.

His first-team usage is still modest, which is why the selection talk should stay measured. Even so, 3 appearances and 77 minutes is enough to show that he is no longer just an under-23s name in the background. FC Porto arrive top of the league, so any chance for Kaba would come in a high-profile setting, and it would be his biggest stage yet in the senior side.

Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →