Introduction
Geny Cipriano Catamo (born 26 January 2001) is a Mozambican professional footballer who plays as a winger or wing-back for Primeira Liga club Sporting CP and the Mozambique national team.
Club career
Maxaquene and Black Bulls
In Mozambique, he started his football training in CD Maxaquene, becoming a youth international for Mozambique, and then he moved on to the Black Bulls youth academy, another club from Maputo. Under a protocol with FC Porto, the Black Bulls' best players travelled to Porto in 2018 to play with FC Porto's youth team. Catamo played well, but bureaucratic problems at the beginning and different views on the transfer model with the Black Bulls prevented Catamo from moving to FC Porto. He also had a trial at Benfica, but he didn't stay there either. He ended up at Amora FC, a Portuguese club whose football SAD was owned at the time by Mozambican investors.
Amora FC
Catamo arrived in Portugal in 2018. His performances for Amora FC's junior and senior teams prompted Sporting CP to recruit Catamo in 2019.
Sporting CP
On 11 June 2019, Catamo joined the youth academy of Sporting CP from Amora FC in a loan deal. Catamo signed a professional contract with Sporting in September 2020 after spending the 2019–2020 season at the club's Cristiano Ronaldo Academy. He made his first bench for the first team in September 2021 against Porto, wearing jersey number 57.
After two loan spells with Vitória Guimarães and Marítimo, and back to the Sporting CP's main squad, on 22 December 2023, Catamo signed a new five-year contract with Sporting CP, with his release clause being set at €60 million.
On 6 April 2024, Sporting CP beat SL Benfica with two goals from Catamo and this victory increased their lead at the top of the league. With his two goals in Sporting CP's 2-1 home win in the Lisbon Derby, Catamo decided the game, helped his team win the three points and was the player of the match.
International career
Catamo represented the Mozambique U20 in December 2018, scoring on his debut in the 2018 COSAFA U-20 Cup. He had previously played in the 2017 COSAFA Under-17 Championship.
Catamo debuted with the senior Mozambique national football team in a 2-0 win over Mauritius on 10 September 2019, again scoring in his debut. In October 2021 he scored in a world cup qualifier with his goal being Mozambique's only goal in a 3–1 loss to Cameroon.
Style of play
Catamo stands out above all in attack, with many duels won per game, a statistic that reflects the assertiveness of his actions. Added to this is his effective dribbling and finishing ability. Another skill he excels at is his ability to add speed to his team's play down the right.
Personal life
Catamo is the partner of Jennifer Bule, also Mozambican and daughter of DJ Damost.
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 19 February 2024
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Amora | 2018–19 | Campeonato de Portugal | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 1 | ||||
| Sporting CP B | 2020–21 | Campeonato de Portugal | 17 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 17 | 0 | ||||
| 2021–22 | Liga 3 | 13 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 13 | 2 | |||||
| Total | 30 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 30 | 2 | ||||||
| Sporting CP | 2021–22 | Primeira Liga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023–24 | Primeira Liga | 17 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 26 | 3 | ||
| Total | 18 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 3 | ||
| Vitória SC (loan) | 2021–22 | Primeira Liga | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 10 | 0 | ||
| Marítimo (loan) | 2022–23 | Primeira Liga | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 11 | 1 | |
| Marítimo B (loan) | 2022–23 | Campeonato de Portugal | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Career total | 72 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 83 | 8 | ||
International
- As of match played 10 June 2024
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mozambique | 2019 | 3 | 1 |
| 2020 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 7 | 1 | |
| 2022 | 4 | 1 | |
| 2023 | 4 | 2 | |
| 2024 | 4 | 2 | |
| Total | 25 | 7 | |
- Scores and results list Mozambique's goal tally first.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 10 September 2019 | Estádio do Zimpeto, Maputo, Mozambique |  Mauritius | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2. | 8 October 2021 | Japoma Stadium, Douala, Cameroon |  Cameroon | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 3. | 8 June 2022 | Stade de l'Amitié, Cotonou, Benin |  Benin | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 4. | 18 June 2023 | Stade Huye, Huye, Rwanda |  Rwanda | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 5. | 16 October 2023 | Estádio Municipal, Albufeira, Portugal |  Nigeria | 1–0 | 2–3 | Friendly |
| 6. | 22 January 2024 | Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan, Ivory Coast |  Ghana | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2023 Africa Cup of Nations |
| 7. | 10 June 2024 | Ben M'Hamed El Abdi Stadium, El Jadida, Morocco |  Guinea | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
Honours
Sporting CP
- Primeira Liga: 2023–24