Kazakhstan mourns star Brazilian

Kazakhstan is mourning the death of Brazilian striker Nilton Mendes, who died of a heart attack aged 30 following a training session with his club FC Shakhtyor Karagandy yesterday.

Most successful
Nilton arrived in Kazakhstan in 1999 on the invitation of FC Irtysh Pavlodar coach Anatoli Chernov and proceeded to make an indelible mark on Kazakh football. The former Clube Atlético Paranaense player was not the first Brazilian to play in Kazakhstan but was the most successful, his array of skills and superb scoring record setting the Superleague alight. Nilton would register 79 goals in 200 league games for a series of local clubs, including FC Astana as well as Shakhtyor and Irtysh.

Player of the Year
He won the title with Irtysh in 1999 and also lifted the Kazakh Cup twice with Astana. In 2000 he top-scored in the Superleague with 21 goals for Astana and was voted Player of the Year. In 2002 he was named best foreigner. Nilton struck for the first time in European competition this season, netting in Shakhtyor's UEFA Intertoto Cup first-round tie against FC MTZ-RIPO Minsk. The fans' favourite scored his final goal on 4 August against former club Astana.

'Minute's silence'
"Tomorrow, before the match against FC Kaisar Kyzylorda, we will remember Nilton with a minute's silence. Before Nilton's body is taken home to Brazil, there will be a chance for everyone to bid a last goodbye to him," Shakhtyor president Grigori Loria said.