Former Brazil player Romario of the Miami Football Club gestures from the bench during a friendly soccer match against Portmore United in Miami, Florida, in this April 16, 2006 file photo. Romario asked to be taken off the roster for Sunday's game against Parana in Sao Junario in the last round of game for the Brasileiro tournament. (Xinhua/Reuters File Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

   

 BRASILIA, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- The long awaited return of Romario to Vasco's soccer team will be prolonged again as Romario asked to be taken off the roster for Sunday's game against Parana in Sao Junario in the last round of game for the Brasileiro tournament.

    According to the team's head coach, Valdir Espinosa, Romario's travel to Miami last week wore him out. However, days before Romario's trip, he was practicing hard and playing well with the team.

    On Friday, Romario was in Colina, the team's training facility, and told the coach that he was not in any condition to play on Sunday against a Parana team who faces being lowered into the second division.

    The decision of the veteran star that has scored 1,000 goals goes against what the coach had said on Wednesday night after their 1-0 victory against Corinthians. Espinoza announced in the locker room that night that Romario would be starting in his usual position of forward. However, as the player has requested, the lack of energy and concentration of the athlete will cause the player to watch the game from the bench.

Romario postpones his retirement

    BRASILIA, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- The unending saga of Romario's retirement promises to give sports fans much more to talk about, local press reported on Thursday.

    Although not confirmed by Romario, Vasco da Gama's team president, Eurico Miranda, guaranteed the presence of the player in the 2008 Carioca Cup, a competition unique to the various soccer clubs inside the city of Rio de Janiero.  Full story

Coach-player Romario will not play for Vasco in 1st game

    RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Veteran striker Romario decided to stay on the bench in the South American Cup semifinal on Wednesday, his first game as head coach-player of Vasco da Gama.

    Romario decided to draft striker Alan Kardec for his position in the first-choice squad. Full story

Romario to coach and play for Vasco 

    RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's striker Romario, member of the 1994 World Cup winning team, will play for and coach Vasco da Gama in the South American Cup's semifinals on Wednesday, announced club president Eurico Miranda on Monday.

    The decision was released to the press only two hours after the announcement of the removal of team manager Celso Roth from his position. Full story

Coach fired following Romario's failure to score 1,000th goal

    RIO DE JANEIRO, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Football club Vascos head coach Renato Gaucho was fired two days after striker Romario failed to hit the 1,000-goal mark, and his team got eliminated from Rio de Janeiro State League.

    Gaucho got the news from the clubs Vice President of Football Jose Luis Moreira. The reason for his demission was not officially stated, but it was definitely related to the 4-4 tie with team Botafogo on Wednesday, which culminated in a defeat in the penalty shootouts and in Vascos elimination from the League. Full story