NOT ALL HEROES WEAR CAPES

Stars of the tournament are at it again

- BY ALANIS THAMES

THEY were scoffed at last year when they qualified, despite topping a group that contained Cameroon.

They were patronised when the draw put them in with giants Spain and Uruguay. Nobody is laughing any longer. Cape Verde's magical start to their first World Cup isn't over. In fact, it might just be getting started.

The tiny island nation that stunned Spain last week did it again against Uruguay, taking the lead and then coming from behind for a 2-2 draw.

Kevin Pina scored with a free-kick for Cape Verde's first-ever goal in the World Cup and Helio Varela netted the equaliser for what has become the most surprising team of the tournament.

Whisper it quietly but they will make it to the knockout stages if they beat Saudi Arabia in their final game.

"This is something we owe to other smaller national teams - teams that struggled to qualify for a world tournament," said Cape Verde coach Pedro Leitao Brito.