体坛英语新闻：Cafu's future still uncertain

Omonia's Cafu applauds after his team beat AEK Athens during their UEFA Cup soccer match at Olympic stadium in Athens Aug. 14, 2008. Cafu denied rumors on Thursday that he will head to play in England in 2009.

    RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- Cafu, the Brazilian soccer star and fullback, denied rumors on Thursday that he will head to play in England in 2009.

    The athlete's manager and brother, Marcelo Evangelista, declared that despite an offer from the British team, Garforth Town, Cafu has not decided how to close out his career and his farewell to the sport.

    The player has not stepped on the soccer field ever since he left his Italian team of Milan in the middle of the year.

    The 38-year-old has declared that 2009 will be his last season as a professional soccer player. His brother has affirmed the talks between the athlete and the Brazilian team of Barueri.

AEK Athens' Georgios Alexopoulos (R) fights for the ball with Omonia's Cafu during their UEFA Cup soccer match at Olympic stadium in Athens Aug. 14, 2008.

    The club recently moved up to the first division of the Brazilian soccer championship. However, the athlete declared that he is only going to think about his career towards the beginning of 2009.

    "We have had offers from Barueri. Cafu lives near there. Every once in a while, he goes to watch games, talk with the fans and even the mayor. However, nothing has been decided. There does not exist any type of contract," declared Evangelista.

    "Based on his health and his dedication, Cafu has all the right conditions to play for any team. As his brother, I hope that he will end up on one of the elite teams of Brazilian soccer."

    Cafu is currently going through a tough time in his personal life. In the last three months, the athlete lost his father, his mother and his grandfather. The deaths have shaken the athlete. For this reason, Cafu is taking more time to mourn than to think about his professional career.

    After some time to rest and to get personal life together, the player will then contemplate his future on the soccer field and prepare his farewell tour of the sport.