The Valongo roller hockey team has a new coach, Raúl Meca, who’s returning to the club where he started his coaching career in the youth teams.
Meca takes over from the technical staff that guided the team over the past two years, including Nuno Conde, João Lapo, and Renato Garrido.
Team Performance
The team’s most recent result was a 4-4 draw against Barcelos, which kept them just outside the playoff spot.
Despite missing the playoffs, they’ve secured their spot in the top division, finishing ahead of Valongo.
Meca’s Legacy
The Riba d’Ave Hockey Club praised Meca’s work on social media, thanking him for his contributions as a player, captain, and coach.
The club highlighted his achievements, including:
- Promoting the team to the top division in the 2021-22 season
- Three consecutive seasons in the top division
- Debuting in the Elite Cup for the 2024-25 season
- Reaching the quarterfinals of the national championship playoffs in 2023-24
- Playing in the Champions League
- Reaching the WSE Cup Final 7 in 2020-21 and Final 4 in 2024-25
The club noted that Meca leaves behind an “unforgettable mark” on the team.