• Reserved Mantorras Admits Winning Can-2010

  AllAfrica.com - Found Apr. 6, 2009 Lisbon Angolan striker with Portugal's Sports Lisboa e Benfica, Pedro Mantorras, said that the national team can continue dreaming about winning the

• Mantorras Calls Fellow-Players to Be Humble

  AllAfrica.com - Found Apr. 6, 2009 Lisbon Angolan football player, Pedro Mantorras, Sunday in Lisbon (Portugal), said that the poor results of the national team, after the CAN and the

• Belenenses suffer fatal defeat at Benfica

  SoccerWay.com - Found May. 24, 2009 The third and final goal came from Pedro Mantorras near full time.

• Belenenses, Trofense down

  The World Game - Found May. 23, 2009 Fellipe Bastos put the Eagles in front in the 63rd minute and Pedro Mantorras wrapped up the win in the final minute.

• Wolfsburg wins German championship

  Toronto Star Online - Found May. 23, 2009 The home team then replied through goals by Oscar Cardozo in the 21st, Filipe Bastos in the 63rd and substitute Pedro Mantorras in injury time. Veh tabbed as new coach of champ Wolfsburg - SI.com Wolfsburg Capturesfirst Bundesliga Title - New York Times Veh confirmed as new Wolfsburg coach - USA Today Sports Briefing | Soccer: Wolfsburg Capturesfirst Bundesliga Title - New York Times Explore All

• National Football Squad Already in Portugal

  AllAfrica.com - Found Jun. 2, 2009 Galiano (Nacional da Madeira), Ded ) Paos de Ferreira, Djalma (Martimo), Z Kalanga (Dnamo de Bucareste), Mantorras (Benfica de Lisboa) and... Govt And Venezuela Intend to Exchange News - TMC Net Defence Attache to Botswana Accredited - AllAfrica.com Angola: Portuguese Air Force Official Visits FAN Command - AllAfrica.com Coach Manuel Jos� Honoured About Managing Angolan Squad - AllAfrica.com Explore All

• Sports Briefs

  Taipei Times Online - Found May. 25, 2009 ... then replied through goals by Oscar Cardozo in the 21st minute, Filipe Bastos in the 63rd minute and substitute Pedro Mantorras in injury-time.

• Trofense and Belenenses relegated in Portugal league after losses

  Hamilton Spectator - Found May. 24, 2009 The home team then replied through goals by Oscar Cardozo in the 21st, Filipe Bastos in the 63rd and substitute Pedro Mantorras in injury time.

• Trofense and Belenenses relegated in Portugal

  Taiwan News Online - Found May. 23, 2009 The home team then replied through goals by Oscar Cardozo in the 21st, Filipe Bastos in the 63rd and substitute Pedro Mantorras in injury time.

• Benfica close to sealing Alvaro Pereira

  Portugoal.net - Found May. 15, 2009 ... making a return next season, Nuno Gomes is�getting on in age and is no longer the player he�once was, Mantorras has not earned the coach's...

Pedro Manuel Torres (born March 18, 1982 in Huambo), aka Mantorras, is an Angolan footballer who currently plays for S.L. Benfica, as a striker.

His nickname derives from the fact that, as a child, he suffered slight accidental burns, being then known as "Man torras", from the Angolan expression "Mano Torras", which means "Toasted brother". His professional career was also blighted by constant injury problems.¹

Football career

Mantorras started his career as a professional footballer in Angola, at Progresso do Sambizanga. He quickly caught the eye of Portuguese scouts, and transferred to F.C. Alverca shortly thereafter, as that club acted also as Sport Lisboa e Benfica's feeder club. Most notably, Mantorras scored a hat-trick in a surprising 4-1 home win over Sporting Clube de Portugal.

At only 19, Mantorras signed with Benfica, making a particularly good impression during his first season at the club. He was then referenced by FC Barcelona and did refuse an offer from Inter Milan. During the player's quick rise to stardom, he was frequently described as the best best player to come out of Portuguese Africa since Eusébio left Mozambique for Benfica in the early 1960s. Eusébio himself said of the youngster: "He has special qualities and is set for a great future".

In 2002, Mantorras suffered a serious knee injury that almost put an end to his short career.²³He spent approximately two 1/2 years recovering, during which he was subject to four surgical procedures.¹He returned to the pitches during the 2004-05 season, and managed to contribute sufficiently as the Reds ended an 11-year drought and won the national championship, with five goals in only 15 matches (four of those in the final two months).⁴⁵

Even though he was subsequently deemed to be fully recovered, Mantorras failed to re-establish himself as a first team player, playing only in a few games throughout the next seasons combined. However, he remained a favorite with the club's supporters, additionally stating he would like to see out his career at Benfica, and that he would remain in the club even if he was not paid a salary.⁶

He was part of the Angolan national team that was the first ever African Portuguese-speaking country to qualify for the World Cup, in 2006.

Honours

Team

• Portuguese League: 2004-05
• Portuguese Cup: 2003-04
• Portuguese Supercup: 2005
• Portuguese League Cup: 2008-09
• African U-20 Championship: 2001

Individual

• CAF Young Player: 2001

Personal

Mantorras did not forget his humble roots; soon after joining Benfica, he turned his thoughts to the less fortunate in his homeland, promising to donate a hefty percentage of his wages to set up a home for street kids in Luanda.

"I feel so sorry for children in Angola", he stated. "I know what it's like to go hungry and to sleep on the street. My father died when I was three months old and my mother when I was 16. I had a brother to look after and became the head of the family very young. I had a lot of difficulties early in my life. Now that my fortunes have improved, I'm going to do what I can to help the underprivileged".

Club statistics

References

External links

• Stats and profile at Zerozero
• PortuGOAL profile
• Girabola profile (Portuguese)

v • d • e Angola squad – 2006 Africa Cup of Nations 1 João Ricardo • 2 Pereira • 3 Jamba • 4 Lebo Lebo • 5 Kali • 6 Miloy • 7 Figueiredo • 8 André • 9 Mantorras • 10 Akwá • 11 Macaba • 12 Lamá • 13 Édson • 14 Mendonça • 15 Maurito • 16 Flávio • 17 Zé Kalanga • 18 Love • 19 Titi Buengo • 20 Locó • 21 Delgado • 22 Lundala • 23 Marco Abreu • Coach: Gonçalves

v • d • e Angola squad – 2006 FIFA World Cup 1 João Ricardo • 2 Marco Airosa • 3 Jamba • 4 Lebo Lebo • 5 Kali • 6 Miloy • 7 Figueiredo • 8 André • 9 Mantorras • 10 Akwá • 11 Mateus • 12 Lamá • 13 Édson • 14 Mendonça • 15 Rui Marques • 16 Flávio • 17 Zé Kalanga • 18 Love • 19 Titi Buengo • 20 Locó • 21 Delgado • 22 Mário • 23 Marco Abreu • Coach: Gonçalves