© Breaking The Lines 2017-2021. All Rights Reserved.

Geovany Quenda: The Latest Teenage Wonderkid to Emerge From Sporting’s Academy

October 17, 2024
Player Analysis, Primeira Liga Analysis

When mentioning the name Geovany Tcherno Quenda, just know that you’ll be waxing lyrical about one of the most exciting and promising prospects in world football, no exaggeration. Déjà vu for Sporting Clube de Portugal. The aptly named Academia Cristiano Ronaldo in Alcochete know a thing or two about wide attackers. Only Cristiano to overshadow the factory who once housed the likes of Luís Figo, Ricardo Quaresma, Simão Sabrosa, Rafael Leão, Luís Nani and Paulo Futre.

 

Geovany Quenda is just the latest on the extensive production line of irreverent, creative wide players. Lions are the kings of the jungle, and ‘Os Leões’ have been reinforced by the exciting young cub with the objective of remaining as the Kings of Portugal while exploring the unfamiliar territory of the renovating UEFA Champions League. Imagine your first-team competitive debut coming against Futebol Clube do Porto. In the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira. Adapted as a wing-back. As a 17-year-old prodigy.

 

Now imagine playing 120 minutes, and scoring. To make the scoreline 3-0 inside the first 25 minutes with an excellently placed acrobatic finish at the back post. Becoming Sporting’s youngest ever goalscorer.

 

 

The result became irrelevant. With 25 minutes, Quenda already made it into the rich history books of one of Portugal’s greatest. And he was close to turning red. The footballing journey with the Guinea-Bissau born forward began with Amadora’s Sport Futebol Damaiense, where he caught the leering eyes of Sport Lisboa e Benfica scouts. The diamond in the rough spent two years with ‘As Águias’, and they lost out on the player because…they did not give Geovany a place to stay in the academy. 

 

Luckily (depending on who you ask), the light turned green, and Quenda found his home. 14 goal contributions in 24 matches for the Under-23s forced the 16-year-old into the B team fold, Quenda’s first taste of competitive men’s football in the Liga 3 as the youngest player ever to show out representing the green and white of Sporting. He would finish off an impressive individual season with four goal contributions in nine fixtures.

 

Sporting head coach Rúben Amorim acknowledged the rapid ascension of the wonderkid, calling Quenda up to the first-team squad for two matches. “He can play in several positions; he has a lot of quality and irreverence. He is another option,” the Sporting boss said after naming Quenda on the bench for the first leg of a round-of-16 UEFA Europa League tie against Atalanta.

 

Zeno Debast: Sporting’s New Colossus in Central Defense

 

Geovany would return for pre-season camp, where he would back up his father’s words with an audacious, standout display in what would become a convincing 3-0 victory over Athletic Club. Tcherno Quenda expressed gleefully to Portuguese newspaper A Bola – “We never know what tomorrow will bring, but right now he is ready and very excited.”

 

Managerial prodigy Amorim could not hide his satisfaction with Quenda, expressing the following to the club channel – “He’s very talented, very mature and understands the game like an adult…He obviously has a lot to grow into, but I think he played an excellent game and we have a player there.”

 

A footballer who has also shone in international football. Eight goal contributions in 18 appearances at youth level, consistently for age groups above his own. Consistent overperformance and development at alarming rates.

 

 

This solo effort against Morocco at U17 level speaks for itself.

 

 

These experiences of a grounded, humble and conscious individual convinced Amorim to take the bold decision of fielding Quenda in the aforementioned classico for his competitive debut. As an audacious manager who has sidelined the likes of Islam Slimani, Gonzalo Plata and Jeremy Mathieu with doubts for reasons escaping performances in competitive matches, it is crucial to underline the feat to convince the 39-year-old, who is one of world football’s most promising himself.

 

Additionally, “Quality that is not normal for a 17-year-old” convinced Roberto Martinez to promote Quenda to the Portuguese National Team. Experts unanimously share the same sentiment. We are witnessing the rise of a very special talent.

 

 

Technically proficient, athletic, keen dribblers aren’t usually praised for their intelligence, however mentally Quenda stands relatively unrivalled in top level competitive football as his 1×1 ability overshadows some of his strongest attributes. Geovany Quenda is a dynamic two-way dribbler, but what propelled him to this level at this premature age and stage of his career are his complementing attributes.

 

The winger turned wing-back was won 79.2% of his duels so far this season, recovering the ball approximately four times and completing a tackle at least once per 90 minutes. What these statistics can’t portray is his body manipulation, awareness and positioning while carrying out defensive duties. Quenda is extremely competent in defensive phases, certainly wise beyond his years – how many 17-year-olds are entrusted with such responsibilities at this level?

 

Numbers dictate that he is a boy among men, but within the field of play? His maturity stands out in final third for the archetype he represents. As an explosive and direct dribbler, Quenda’s decision making will always be questioned – it comes with the territory – however, the variation to his play removes elements of stale insistence and will never prejudice offensively dynamic sides.

 

Hidemasa Morita: The Japanese Midfielder Running the Show at Sporting

 

Far from perfect, but undoubtedly mature. Quenda often attempts thoughtful advancements in the final third. A smooth, effective ball-striker with the vision and execution for many midfielders to envy, his finishes prioritize placement over power.

 

Shorter, fluid combinations of fewer touches or rupturing passing behind opposition defences almost weighted to perfection – Quenda has the lot in his locker, with the audacity to attempt and the mentality to forget and advance. Geovany will avoid his right-foot, but still utilise it with some regularity if necessary. The definition of a rounded winger.

 

Consistently involved in shot-creating sequences, contributing to fluid, free-flowing football currently labelled as the best in Portugal.

 

 

And of course, you can’t mention Geovany Quenda without mentioning his ability to beat a defender. A take-on completion rate of 72.7% speaks for itself, but when an attacker has a potent explosivity, a hunkered, lower centre of gravity, the intelligence to manipulate his defender with twitches, faints, temporisations and elite ball control and footwork with the confidence to opt for this route consistently, cutting in or attacking the byline…

 

A defender’s worst nightmare. Destined for greatness. World-class is his ceiling.

 

Geovany Quenda. Remember the name.

 

By: Kevin Araujo Fernandes / @kevinaraujof

Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Gualter Fatia / Getty Images

EmailLinkedIn