Benfica do Lubango was established as the 16th affiliate of Sport Lisboa e Benfica. The first chairman to be elected was Eduardo Gomes de Albuquerque e Castro.
Following the country's independence in 1975 and an attempt by the communist regime to erase all traces of colonial rule (even from sports), the club, which had been created as an affiliate to S.L. Benfica, was ordered to change its name and therefore became known as Desportivo da Chela, as it participated in the first edition of the country's post-independence premier league.
