Atletico Sport Aviacao from Angola

The side is from Luanda, capital of Angola, and one of the major players in the Angolan league. The current champions won the 2004 season title by a three point margin over Sagrada Esperanca. How have they fared over the years. From what is available from various sources, heres how their story goes:
In the pre-independence days, the club won 4 championships on the trot from 1965-1968 under the name Atletico De Luanda. After independence, though, the club have had more difficulty winning silverware. In the early 80's , the club had to play second fiddle to other Luanda clubs like Petro Atletico and Primiero De Agosto. While those clubs were winning titles, Aviacao were not even in the top flight as late as 1984. In fact, not until 1991 did Aviacao achieve promotion to the Girabola, the top level of Angolan football, alongwith Desportivo Do Nocal and Inter Huila.
Their first season in the top flight though was an unqualified success. They finished runners-up in the league to Primiero Agosto, edging out Petro Atletico on goal difference, having finished with 40 points for the season.Notable victories over Deportivo Nocal, Desportivo Eka and Sporting Benguela paved the way for their impressive display.
The next season ,1993, saw the club finish in a highly creditable 4th place, behind familiar opponents Petro,Primiero and surprise packages Desportivo E.K.A. As it was the season, when civil war was raging in Angola, only 21 games could be played and sides from Huambo, Petro and Benfica, could not participate. Aviacao garnered 21 points from their 21 matches and although they finished high, a closer look at the table shows that they only finished 4 points above the relegation spot and a whopping 11 points off top. Demoralizing defeats at the hands of E.K.A., Primiero Agosto and Primiero Maio and even relegated Nacional Benguela didnt help their cause a lot. Still there was a high point in the season, when Aviacao managed to reach the National Cup final against city rivals Petro Atletico, going for the double. Although Aviacao took an early lead, it was their rivals who eventually turned the game around and ran away 2-1 winners to complete their double.
Season 1994 was a disappointment for the club, as they failed to mount a credible challenge for the title and faded away to mid-table obscurity, the low point being home and away defeats to old nemesis E.K.A. In the cup too, Aviacao failed to make it through to the final, losing their semi-final 2-0 to defending champions Petro Atletico. Things could only look up for the club. Read more here