AS Aviacao finished fifth in last season's league

Portuguese coach Bernardino Pedroto has left AS Aviacao after being told the Angolan club's precarious financial situation would mean the sale of key players.

"The club is in a delicate financial situation and after a talk with the (club) president we have agreed on my departure," Pedroto told Portuguese sports daily A'Bola.

Pedroto spent seven years at the airline-owned club, during which he won the GiraBola title in 2002, 2003 and 2004.

The side also reached the group phase of the African Champions League in 2003.