Founding. In Pastinha's own account (his manuscripts, and his 1967 interview with Realidade), his former student Aberrê invited him in 1941 to the Sunday roda at Gengibirra, at the end of Liberdade. There Amorzinho, a civil guard and the owner of that capoeira, shook his hand and offered him the academy to lead; Antônio Maré insisted that Pastinha accept. Pastinha writes that on 23 February 1941, in the Gengibirra neighbourhood at the end of Liberdade, the "Centro Esportivo de Capoeira Angola" was born. A Tarde (24 February 1969) gives the same date. Pastinha's list of the founders names Amorzinho ("the owner of the group"), Aberrê, Antônio Maré, Daniel Noronha, Onça Preta, Livino Diogo, Olampio, Zeir, Vitor H.D., Alemão (son of Maré), Domingos Magalhães, Beraldo Izaque dos Santos, Pinião José Chibata and Ricardo B. dos Santos.
Two versions of the handover. Pastinha's manuscripts say Amorzinho handed him the capoeira in person on 23 February 1941. Noronha's manuscripts (p. 17 of the 1993 edition) say the mestres handed the Centro to Pastinha because of Amorzinho's death, which later accounts place in 1943, and that Pastinha then registered it. The older Centro Nacional de Capoeira de Origem Angola is therefore dated until Amorzinho's death, and CECA from 1941.
Presidents and seats. Pastinha's manuscripts name three presidents: Athaydio Caldeira (1941–1944), Aurelydio Caldeira (1944–1952) and Paulo Santos Silva (1952–1955). Pastinha registered the academy in 1952. According to A Tarde (1969), the centre moved its headquarters several times, among them the Workers Centre, Fôrno in Cidade de Palha, Bigode and Brotas, before settling at the Pelourinho, where it occupied number 19 of the square from 1955. In 1973 Pastinha was asked to leave the Pelourinho building.