Gelson (Angolan footballer)


Jacinto Dala, best known as Gelson, is an Angolan footballer who most recently played for Rio Ave on loan from Sporting CP in the Portuguese Primeira Liga. He can play as an attacking midfielder or a forward.

Club career

Born in Luanda, Gelson began his career with local C.D. Primeiro de Agosto. In July 2015, it was reported that he was being scouted by Portugal's S.L. Benfica. He scored 23 goals in 27 games as his team won the Girabola in 2016, and subsequently he and teammate Ary Papel signed for Sporting Clube de Portugal for undisclosed fees on contracts with €60 million release clauses.
After arriving in Lisbon in January 2017, Gelson made his debut for Sporting B in LigaPro on 15 January, playing the full 90 minutes of a 4–0 loss at Portimonense. Eight days later he scored his first goal, opening a 1–1 home draw with S.C. Covilhã. He totalled 13 goals in 17 games in his first season in the league, including four on 2 April in a 5–1 win over S.C. Olhanense. He was first called up to Jorge Jesus' main squad for the Primeira Liga match at C.D. Feirense on 13 May, remaining unused in a 2–1 loss, but made his top flight debut eight days later in the final match of the season, replacing namesake Gelson Martins at the end of a 4–1 win over G.D. Chaves at the Estádio José Alvalade.
Back in the reserves on 30 September 2017, Gelson scored a hat-trick in a 4–3 home win over C.D. Santa Clara.

International career

Gelson made his international debut for Angola on 13 June 2015 in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification match against the Central African Republic at the Estádio Nacional da Tundavala, scoring twice in a 4–0 victory. On 4 July, he scored both goals in a win over Swaziland in Luanda to win the tie 4–2 on aggregate in the preliminary round of 2016 African Nations Championship qualification.

Honors

Angola

International goals

GoalDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.13 June 2015Estádio Nacional da Tundavala, Lubango, Angola1–04–02017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
2.13 June 2015Estádio Nacional da Tundavala, Lubango, Angola3–04–02017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
3.4 July 2015Estádio 11 de Novembro, Luanda, Angola1–02–02016 African Nations Championship qualification
4.4 July 2015Estádio 11 de Novembro, Luanda, Angola2–02–02016 African Nations Championship qualification
5.24 October 2015Estádio 11 de Novembro, Luanda, Angola1–11–22016 African Nations Championship qualification
6.13 November 2015Estadio Nacional de Ombaka, Benguela, Angola1–01–32018 FIFA World Cup qualification
7.21 January 2016Stade Huye, Butare, Rwanda1–32–42016 African Nations Championship
8.3 September 2016Estádio 11 de Novembro, Luanda, Angola1–11–12017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
9.10 June 2017Stade du 4 Août, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso1–11–32019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
10.9 September 2018Estádio 11 de Novembro, Luanda, Angola1–01–02019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
11.12 October 2018Estádio 11 de Novembro, Luanda, Angola4–14–12019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification