Teams

CELLE, Germany (AP) -Titi Buengo lets his soccer skills do the talking.

It's the best method he has for communicating with his Angolan teammates. Titi doesn't speak Portuguese, the language of Angola.

"I left Angola for France when I was 7 and never went back," the midfielder said. "My mother spoke to us in French, so I forgot all my Portuguese."

Titi says his lack of Portuguese does not affect his ability to follow instructions on the field.

"During training, there's no problem. I'm well integrated and I listen," Titi said. "The coach communicates once for the whole team, I don't ask him to repeat. But of course, once he's spoken, I'm not the first guy to jump on the ball and do the exercises. I watch the others and follow."

At training sessions, the French and Lingala speaker does not appear to be hindered. But he admits the other players occasionally tease him.

"We insult each other sometimes, but that's normal, I think it helps to create a relaxed atmosphere," he said. "But I like teasing people, too, so I accept that they tease me and really, I get on with most of them."

The Clermont striker was picked to play for the Black Antelopes by coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves last November. He returned to Angola for the first time last month, an experience that "warmed" his heart.

"I recognized the place where I used to live, next to the Petro Atletico football ground," the 26-year-old said. "I remembered my school and playing football in the street."

But the Angolan capital of Luanda had changed drastically since he was last there, and still bears the scars of a brutal 27-year civil war which ended in 2002.

"It was strange to arrive in my birthplace and to see the population, the Angolan way of life, the way people are just trying to survive. It's tough," said Titi, who has traveled to other African countries, including Nigeria and Cameroon.

"It's less developed than countries that didn't have a war. Angola is starting to rebuild but it will need time."

Angola is at the World Cup for the first time and is considered to be the weakest team in Group D, which also includes Portugal, Mexico and Iran.