Boavista appoint from within

Portuguese side Boavista FC tonight appointed their Bolivian midfield player, Erwin Sanchez, as their new coach.

Pacheco farewell
The Porto-based side finished ninth in the 18-team top flight following yesterday's 1-0 victory against CD Nacional. The win marked Jaime Pacheco's final match in charge of Boavista after more than five years at the Bessa stadium. He will be replaced by one of his most loyal servants.

Title victory
The 32-year-old Sanchez has not contributed much on the pitch this season, largely due to injuries which could see him hanging up his boots this summer, but he has been a regular in the Boavista midfield in each of his two terms at the club, most notably in helping Pacheco's side win the championship in the 2000/01 season.

Two spells
Sanchez arrived in Portugal in 1990, when he left his homeland for SL Benfica. Yet he failed to settle in Lisbon and spent a season with GD Estoril Praia prior to joining Boavista in 1992. He stayed at the club for five years before being enticed back to Benfica, where he again failed to produce his best before seeking solace back at the Bessa.

Assistants named
Sanchez will certainly have the respect of the players after being unveiled by João Loureiro, the Boavista president. The new coach, who still has a year to run on his playing contract, will be assisted by Alfredo Castro and António Caetano.