"Of course I'm not going to walk down the street praising God. We must respect the locals and not do anything to offend their culture. In the same way, we hope that if they come to us, they will also respect our culture," said Fernando Santos, the deeply religious Catholic coach of the Portuguese football team.
Portugal will play their first World Cup match in Qatar against Ghana on Thursday. On the occasion of the sporting event, the Catholic news site The Pillar
In 2016, he also thanked God for the victory of the Portuguese national team
Many athletes testify to their faith, and it often happens that they dedicate their victory to God at a world competition, or even give thanks to him. Fernando Santos did the same in 2016, when he was able to win the European Championship with the Portuguese national team - for the first time in its history - as the team's head coach. At the press conference after the victory, he read the following letter:
"Last but not least, I would like to thank my best friend (Jesus) and his mother. I want to offer this victory to Him and thank Him for choosing me. He has given me the grace of knowledge, perseverance and humility to lead this team. Thank you for guiding and enlightening me. I hope and wish that all this will be for His glory".
The news site The Pillar asked if he received any positive or negative feedback after the religious display. Santos said he hasn't received negative feedback, but he has received affirmation from people who think the same way as him.
According to Santos, we must respect other people's faith, but we cannot give up our own because of that
The newspaper's journalist also wondered whether it was possible to pray for victory during a match. The coach replied that of course it doesn't work that way, you can't expect God to take sides in a match. Especially when, let's say, both sides are praying for victory.
"Prayer is a conversation with God. I tend to do that too. When I'm at home, I sit in the car, whenever. It's an intimate thing. But there are also prayers that I often say, the Lord's Prayer or the Hail Mary. But most of the time I just talk to God and give myself to Him.”
He added, of course we can ask God and he will give it to us.
"Most of the time, I ask Him to fill me with the Holy Spirit and give me the grace of wisdom, strength, determination and endurance. I ask Him for support every day."
The Portuguese national team captain was also asked if there had ever been a time when he did not dare to accept his faith in a particular community. He answered this with a specific example.
"Many years ago, I invited a couple of friends to our house in the country and I didn't go to mass on Sunday. My wife asked why not and I said I didn't want to leave my guests alone. But then I realized that was stupid. The next time I went to church, those who wanted to came with me, those who didn't, waited for us at home.
We must respect the customs of others, but we must not set aside our faith because of this".
In this regard, he also said that he does not talk about his faith to the football players in the dressing room, as there are many who are not believers or are committed to another religion. If someone from the team approaches him with a religious question, he is happy to discuss it with them.
"Even during the big world tournaments, I go to church every Sunday, the players know that. Everyone knows I'm Catholic, I don't make it a secret. It wouldn't be right to hide this from them, and I never will."
As a Christian in Qatar
This year, the World Cup will be held in a Muslim-majority country for the first time. Santos said that he had not received any instructions from either FIFA or the Portuguese Football Federation about what religious symbols he could wear or whether he could show his religiosity outwardly. He said that even if such a request had been made, he would not have complained.
"Of course I'm not going to walk down the street praising God. We must respect the locals and not do anything to offend their culture. In the same way, we hope that if they come to us, they will also respect ours."
Featured Image: Portugal captain Fernando Santos is seen with one of his players, Cristiano Ronaldo, during a break before extra time of the Euro 2016 quarter-final between Poland and Portugal at the Velodrome Stadium in Marseille on June 30, 2016. Source: MTI/EPA/Oliver Weiken
