Introduction
Arlindo Gomes Semedo (born 17 November 1977), known as Cafú, is a Cape Verdean professional footballer who plays for F.C. Maia Lidador as a forward.
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. Already in his 30s he moved to Cyprus, where he remained for five years in representation of several teams.
Internationally, Cafú played for Cape Verde.
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 debuts in the 1999–2000 season– 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 during his three and-a-half-year spell with the club.
In January 2006, Cafú moved to Sportfreunde Siegen in Germany's second division, his five league goals not being enough to avoid relegation (as last). He subsequently stayed in that level and joined SC Freiburg, where he would appear sparingly over one and a half years.
Again in the January transfer window, Cafú joined Cyprus' AC Omonia. After one-and-a-half seasons he moved sides but stayed in the country, joining Anorthosis Famagusta FC on a free transfer in the summer of 2009; in the start of his second season, in the 2010–11 UEFA 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 success and play-off stage qualification.
During 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 by the club, signing shortly after with AEL Limassol.
After leaving Alki Larnaca FC, Cafú returned to Portugal, going on to spend one season apiece in the Segunda Liga with Académico de Viseu FC, C.D. Feirense and S.C. Freamunde and scoring a career-best 15 goals (17 across all competitions) during his spell at the first club.