“To be grateful to all the Portuguese who live all over the world. They still had greater pride and joy than those who live here, because for them Portugal is a crystallization, a series of miracles that are even greater than the miracles that we are and without what we are not surprised. For the Portuguese, and I don’t mean those who were there in France, it was another unique day in their lives.”said Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa to the delegation led by the president of the Portuguese Rugby Federation (FPR), Carlos Amado da Silva.
In France, the ‘Wolves’ achieved their first ever World Cup victory by beating the Fiji Islands 24-23 in Toulouse, as a farewell to the competition, and the President of the Republic today, in Sala das Bicas, made a point of praise. in Belém, the “tremendous performance” of the athletes, which “made the Portuguese proud”.
“After that, thank you on behalf of Portuguese sport. Not only for what you have done for us, for Portugal, for our pride, but for Portuguese sport in general and rugby in particular, and for the young people I have in the Algarve have seen Children who are starting and for whom rugby seems a possible option of passion, and not football or athletics or any other sport, such as volleyball or handball, in which we do very well,” he emphasized.
Unlike most of the technical team and staff who accompanied the 17 players to the Palace of Belém, the coach, Patrice Lagisque, who is leaving his post, was present at the reception via video call and was also the target of a some words. of the ruler.
“We owe him so much because it’s not just the players who are extraordinary. He is the leader and now that he is gone, at the insistence of his family, leaving us all alone, we will never forget what he did for our rugby .” . He is exceptional,” he praised the president.
FPR was honored as an Honorary Member of Public Education, “for giving Portugal an unforgettable moment of self-esteem, self-love and pride in being Portuguese”, as highlighted by the President of the Republic, Carlos Amado da Silva, confessing “the pleasure and enormous honor” to be in Belém.
“It is historic that I am here today. It is a recognition of exceptional work done by a group of young people, some not so young, talented amateurs, superiorly led by Patrice Lagisque. A coach I have chosen for this task , those few believed in it, but I was sure we could do it and that makes us very honored,” said the leader.
Carlos Amado Silva not only revealed that he received “a lot of praise from colleagues of other federations, especially the more powerful ones”, and thanked the vote of confidence of the President of the Republic, but also said that the wolves “did a lot with little” and ” were professional for three months”.
“They left their jobs to be with us for three and a half months. In three and a half months we went from an average team to a top team,” the association president emphasized, asking Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa for support for the sport . to have material conditions and a stadium.
In France, in addition to their first World Cup win, against the Fiji Islands, Portugal recorded their first draw, against Georgia (18-18), after losing to Wales (8-28) and Australia (14-34). finished fourth in Group C, which qualified the Welsh and Fijians for the ‘fourth’.
Source: DN
