Stopira

Ianique dos Santos Tavares (born 20 May 1988), commonly known as Stopira, is a Cape Verdean professional footballer who plays for Hungarian club Videoton FC as a left back.

Club career

Stopira was born in Praia. In 2008 he signed for Portugal's C.D. Santa Clara from local Sporting Clube da Praia, playing just six games in his first season but being first-choice in the following, as the Azores team competed in the second division.

On 10 July 2010, after a thwarted transfer to Primeira Liga club Vitória de Guimarães, Stopira signed a four-year contract with Deportivo de La Coruña in Spain, with 75% of his right being owned by IberSports. He spent his first and only season, however, with the reserves in the third level.

International career

Stopira received his first call-up to the Cape Verde national team in May 2008, for a friendly with Luxembourg and a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Cameroon. He was an unused substitute in the first two qualifying matches, and made his competitive debut against Mauritius on 22 June of that year, replacing Nando in the dying minutes.

On 24 May 2010, Stopira appeared in a friendly in Covilhã with Portugal – who was preparing for the FIFA World Cup in South Africa – playing the entire match as the minnows (ranked 117th) managed a 0–0 draw. He also won the 2009 Lusophony Games with the under-21 team.

Club statistics