Early into the 2012 January transfer window, Kuca joined G.D. Chaves. He achieved promotion to the Segunda Liga at the end of 2012–13,[4] making his debut as a professional on 11 August 2013 and scoring the only goal of the away match against C.D. Santa Clara.[5] He added a further 11 until the end of the campaign, as his team comfortably avoided relegation with an eighth-place finish; alongside compatriot Rambé, he was chosen by readers of daily newspaper O Jogo for the team of players competing in that level for the past 12 months.[6]
Kuca was summoned by manager Rui Águas for the finals in Equatorial Guinea,[16] featuring in all three group stage fixtures as the Blue Sharks were eliminated at that stage with three draws.
International goals
As of 15 November 2014 (Cape Verde score listed first, score column indicates score after each Kuca goal)[17]
^"Já lhe chamam o Licá de Cabo Verde" [They already call him the Licá of Cape Verde]. Record (in Portuguese). 4 August 2014. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 5 December 2015.