The Beautiful Game

THE

BEAUTIFUL GAME

ONE GAME • ONE GOD • ONE GOAL

Footballers past and present talk about life’s greatest prize Kaka • Ferdinand • Hassell • Howard • Muamba • Ameobi • Moore • Sturridge • Hernandez Defoe • Taffarel • Speroni • Regis • Benteke • Dyer • Ward • Richardson • Jorginho • Cacau

Contents INTERVIEWS

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4 FROM MOTD TO MOTP Gavin Peacock discusses his life as a pastor

KAKA’S NOT AFRAID TO SHARE HIS FAITH

8 BRAZILIAN’S NUTS ABOUT GOD AC Milan star Kaka isn’t afraid to say that God is behind every victory 18 BACK FROM THE DEAD Fabrice Muamba remembers how his fight for life brought the UK to its knees 30 FAITH’S MY FOCUS TV presenter Dan Walker explains why you won’t find him working on a Sunday

18

THE DAY I ‘DIED’

17

WHAT HELPS JAVIER?

NEW LIFE PUBLISHING

PLAYER PROFILES

LEGENDS

6 KEIRAN RICHARDSONP 12 SHOLA & SAMMY AMEOBI 28 CHRISTIAN BENTEKE 32 BOBBY HASSELL

7 DARREN MOORE 14 BRUCE DYER 34 CYRILLE REGIS 40 LINVOY PRIMUS

FEATURES 16 THE STRIKE FORCE How faith helps three top forwards

36 WORLD AT THEIR FEET Stars who’ve reached the top but say soccer isn’t their priority

22 WEAR YOUR HEART ON YOUR T Meet the players that are happy to display their faith

38 THANK GOD FOR FOOTY Author explains why we should!

24 THE GREATEST SAVES Top stoppers reveal the biggest ‘net gain’ in their lives

42 BE ON THE WINNING SIDE Bruce Dyer explains how every one of us can be a winner

The Beautiful Game is produced by New Life Publishing Co, PO Box 777, Nottingham, NG11 6ZZ. Tel: 0115 824 0777 Email: info@newlifepublishing.co.uk www.newlifepublishing.co.uk All content is copyright and must not be reproduced without prior written permission. All rights reserved.

Printed by Buxton Press, Palace Road, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 6AE.

INTERVIEW

From MOTD He’s a familiar face on British TV, but Gavin Peacock left the limelight of TV punditry to become a minister Gavin Peacock during his days playing for QPR

Programme first aired: August 22, 1964 on BBC2

Facts about

Programme presenters: Jimmy Hill; Des Lynam; Gary Linekar Title music: Was written by Barry Stoller in 1970 especially for the show. It is the most recognisable tune in the UK, according to copyright organisation, PRS. 4

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Forget Match of the Day, Gavin Peacock is more interested in Match of the Pray!

The former Newcastle and Chelsea striker was a popular TV pundit after retiring – but quit in 2008 to become a full-time pastor.

Peacock, 46, now works as a minister at Calvary Grace Church in Calgary, Canada, and also travels telling his story. He enjoys teaching the Bible and regularly studies Greek and Hebrew.

He said: “It was all going very well, I might even have been better known as a TV pundit than I was as a player.

But around 2006, I started to get a real calling to take up full-time ministry. I had been a Christian since I was 18 and preached as a layer.

Around that time, though, the calling became even stronger.

“I started doing some preliminary Old and New Testament studies. I knew then I was being called to it full-time. I call it my joyful compulsion. I love it, but I must do it.”

Peacock says his conversion to Christianity caused quite a stir in

INTERVIEW

to MOTP! the football dressing room and even today people are shocked that he is so committed to his faith. He added: “Lots of people talk to me about my faith in Jesus Christ and it’s almost like they think it’s a superstition. “‘Why has he given up the BBC and gone to live in the mountains? He must be a lunatic.’

“I knew from a young age that money, fame and reputation wasn’t our purpose.

We were created to love God and live for him.

“Football was my god as a youngster. All I wanted to do was follow my dad, Keith, and play football. But it ultimately didn’t satisfy. I was empty. If I played well, I was up. If I didn’t, I was down. This is why you get players suffering. They earn big money and everything seems great, but they are depressed and they don’t know why.

“I realised that Jesus is around us all the time. He is here with us now and it is that reality of knowing Christ that really came home to me so I made a commitment. From then on it was a growing gradual realisation of God in my life.”

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PLAYER PROFILE

FACTFILE Trained as a youngster with Arsenal and West Ham before being snapped up by Man Utd C Was part of United’s 2006/2007 Premier League winning team C Played eight times for England C

Former Man Utd and England winger Kieran Richardson says the Bible has made him a better person

Wing-er and a prayer He played alongside the likes of David Beckham and Ryan Giggs in his early career, but Kieran Richardson says nothing compares to being a Christian.

The versatile winger – who is currently at Fulham – is known for his skill, pace and ability to fly past defenders on the left flank. But Kieran’s life changed off the field in 2009 when he became a Christian.

He said: “I’m a born again Christian and was saved in Sunderland. It’s changed my life for the better – through Jesus’ death.

People need to know if they feel they can’t talk to anyone, the church is here for them.

6

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The main thing is having a relationship with God. I think that I’ve always been well grounded, but the Bible is teaching me to do that a lot more. Football is important to me but so is being a good person.

“I’ve been reading about John the Baptist and about how he was a messenger from God and about how he introduced people to him. It’s been interesting.

“There are a few religious people in my team but I’m maybe not as open about it as them because I’m still learning.

“I just want to praise Jesus Christ and go to heaven. That’s all I care about.”

LEGEND

there’s moore to life!

Darren Moore was feared on the field, but he’s a gentle giant

FACTFILE Born: April 22, 1974 C Clubs: Torquay, Doncaster, Bradford, Portsmouth, West Brom, Derby, Barnsley, Burton C Appearances: 670 C Goals: 39 C

Standing at 6ft 3in and weighing more than 15 stone, you’d have been foolish to argue with big centre-half Darren Moore. In fact, the retired star jokes that his teammates never dared question his Christian beliefs because of his size.

Darren, who played for clubs such as Portsmouth, West Brom and Derby during an impressive career, revealed he converted to Christianity after Bradford City assistant boss Wayne Jacobs invited him to a Christians in Sport meeting back in 1999.

He recalled: “I had grown up in a Christian household and would go to Sunday school but didn’t understand the true meaning of God and Jesus. As I progressed in football, I didn’t give it much thought.

“Even though I had become a professional footballer, I had doubts that I wasn’t good enough. But after I attended that meeting I became a Christian and realised that God loved me. It was an amazing experience.”

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INTERVIEW

Brazilian’s just nuts about god Ballon He won football’s greatest prize – the al Madrid d’Or – in 2007 and transferred to Re tar for more than £50 million, but supers s is midfielder Kaka says all of his succes t down to one thing – his faith in Chris

AC Milan’s Kaka belongs to Jesus – and he isn’t afraid of telling the world. The Brazilian is a committed Christian, regularly telling his millions of fans about his faith as he dazzles crowds with his silky skills and fantastic flair.

Voted by his fellow professionals as the world’s best player in 2007, Kaka remained typically humble – and that was after becoming Real Madrid’s second most expensive signing in their history when he joined from AC Milan.

He said: “The Bible says God 8

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can give you more than you even ask for and that is what has hap pened in my life.”

And after winning Fifa’s World Player of the Year that same season, Kaka shocked the world by donating the prestigious trophy to his home church in Brazil.

The gold-plated masterpiece is now on display in the entrance of a São Paulo branch of the Apostolic Reborn in Christ Church, of which Kaka is a devoted member.

“I deliver this up joyfully to God, because he is the reason 2

INTERVIEW

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INTERVIEW

Kaka challenges Giacomo Bonaventura (centre) and Davide Brivio of Atalanta Bergamo during a Serie A game earlier this year

Kaka celebrates his 100th goal for AC Milan in January (above) and praising God after scoring for his home country, Brazil (below)

behind every victory,” reads the inscription on the trophy, penned by the player who celebrates victories by gesturing to the heavens and famously revealing an undershirt with the slogan: ‘I belong to Jesus.’

Kaka is adored in Brazil. He has won the respect of anxious parents in his home nation, advocating and practising sexual abstinence before marriage. In a rare stance for a professional footballer, he announced he was a virgin when he married childhood sweetheart Caroline Celico in 2005.

Born to a middle-class family, Kaka started to take Christianity seriously when he was 12. “I learnt that it is faith that decides whether something will happen 10 THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

or not. We can only win by being on Jesus’ side,” he said.

His commitment to God was strengthened in October 2000 when he slipped on a swimming pool slide and broke a vertebrae.

He said: “The doctors said that I was lucky to be able to walk normally. They were talking about luck, and my family was talking about God. We knew that it was his hand that had saved me.”

In terms of declaring his faith, Kaka has been there, done it and bought the t-shirt.

He wore his ‘I belong to Jesus’ vest when Milan won Serie A in 2004 and the Champions League in 2007, and has ‘God is faithful’ stitched on the tongues of his boots.

INTERVIEW

FACTFILE Kaka’s younger brother Rodrigo and cousin Eduardo Delani are also professional footballers C He was the first sportsman to reach 10 million followers on Twitter C Kaka and his wife Caroline have two children: son Luca Celico Leite (born 2008) and daughter Isabella (born 2011) C Since 2004, he has served as an Ambassador Against Hunger for the UN’s World Food Programme, the youngest to have done so at the time of his appointment C

‘I asked God for a sign and he made it clear that it was not the right time for me to leave’ On numerous occasions Kaka has been linked with a move to England, and it was reported in 2009 that Manchester City made a £100million offer to entice him to the Premier League.

But in true Kaka style, he turned to prayer and believed God told him to stay at Madrid. He said: “I listened to everything the club had to say and it was flattering to know

how badly they wanted me and what they valued me at.

“There was much talk of the wages on offer but to me that is not a big deal. They are now a very rich club and are quite rightly going to pay their players top wages.

“I asked God for a sign and he made it clear that it was not the right time for me to leave. I don’t regret not having signed for City.”

Having starred at Madrid for four seasons, he moved back to Milan and is nearing 100 caps for Brazil. But whatever Kaka might achieve in football, his faith in Christ will always be his number one goal.

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PLAYER PROFILE

Newcastle United duo and brothers Shola and Sammy Ameobi shine their light on and off the pitch

Brotherly love of god The Toon Army have a lot to thank the Ameobi family for. Popular striker Shola has been at St James’ Park since 2000 and has played more than 300 games for the Geordie giants. His younger brother Sammy has only broken into the first team in recent years – but both players have one thing in common off the field: they are committed Christians.

The Ameobis were raised in church and their father John is a pastor in Newcastle.

Shola, a striker who has been used more as a substitute in recent seasons, regularly attends church and prays, and in 2006 he felt God saved his life after a career-threatening injury. He said: “It was touch and go 12 THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

for a while. It was a terrible time, but I felt that God was going to see me through, and he did.”

Sammy is perhaps more vocal about his faith than his older brother, and while the rest of his team-mates might celebrate victory with a few beers, the youngster says he goes home on a Saturday night and prepares for church the following morning.

He said: “My faith is important to me and I go to church with all my family. It’s good.

It’s not just Shola who has been a massive influence on my life, so has my family and my religion and that’s helped to bring me to where I am today and helped me keep my feet on the ground.”

PLAYER PROFILE

A DEFENDER OF THE FAITH ys Christians are normal, sa d Cr ystal Palace’s Joel War

Crystal Palace defender Joel Ward has a message for football fans: Christians aren’t weirdos!

The full-back was part of the Eagles’ promotion team in 2013 and impressed in his first year in the top flight under new boss Tony Pulis.

Ward is a committed Christian who believes God helped him reach the top. He wants to use his influence as a believer to help spread the gospel message.

He said: “For me [I want] to be able to be an influence in the world of football, in my club, in the league and lower leagues; to be able to stand up and to be known as a Christian. Christians can be into sports – we’re not weirdos. We are normal people.

“I don’t think I’d be where I am if I didn’t have my faith. It’s probably been the biggest part of my life and in my career so far. I was very lucky, I’ve been brought up in a church and my parents were heavily involved in church and so was I from a young age.”

Ward joined the Selhurst Park outfit from Portsmouth in a £400,000 move.

He is popular with Palace fans and has dreams of playing for England – but football isn’t the defender’s only priority.

He added: “I realise football isn’t necessarily everything. I grew up in a church and I’ve always had a passion for making an impact and being an influence in people’s lives, in a positive way and through the church. I realise for a boy I’m very blessed to do what I do but the most important thing for me is impacting and influencing lives in a way that is positive and for the good.

“God’s my rock. When things are going wrong I can rest on him.”

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LEGEND

brucie’s bonus!

Bruce Dyer in action for Barnsley.

Below, with his wife Janine. Together they run Christian organisation LoveLife UK

He was the first teenager to be sold for more than ÂŁ1 million, but it was only after becoming a Christian that Bruce Dyer truly started loving life 14 THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

LEGEND

Footballer and committed Christian Bruce Dyer says the transformation in his brother’s life forced him to turn to God. The former Crystal Palace, Watford and Barnsley star was enjoying a life of fame and fortune when his brother was sent to prison and converted to Christianity.

Bruce, a former England under-21 international, recalled: “I’d dreamed about a lot of things and had achieved them but just wasn’t happy. I had a house, car and money and thought that would make me happy.

“I spoke to my brother who had become a born again Christian in prison. When he came out, the transformation in his life was unbelievable. I was talking to him and saw that Jesus was real.

“I wasn’t in a church or anything, but I just sat on my bed and repented of my sin and said sorry to the Lord. I asked him to help me to live the right way. It was weird and strange. I supernaturally changed.

“I had tried to battle issues with women and partying for years but could never overcome them in my own strength. As soon as I asked the Lord Jesus Christ into my life everything changed. The Bible says

anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. I remember going into the changing room at Crystal Palace and saying to the lads that I’d become a born again Christian. They looked at me like I’d gone crazy.”

A couple of months later, Bruce got a dream move to Barnsley, and was able to turn his back on his wild London lifestyle and settle in the more peaceful Yorkshire region. He soon became the club’s most popular striker, and off the field, became an evangelist. He was known at Barnsley for lifting his hands to God after scoring, and for gathering the team in a pre-match prayer huddle before big games.

The devout Christian says he prays about ‘everything’, so sees no reason why God wouldn’t help him out on the field.

“The Bible says in all your ways acknowledge God. I ask him for strength, for health and for my family. I literally pray about everything. True success in life is being a Christian and fulfilling God’s plan, not about winning a football match. True success for me is letting my light shine before all men and being a disciple of Christ. I want my success to glorify to God.”

How I’m loving life Bruce and his wife Janine – a gospel singer – run an outreach organisation named LoveLife UK. Bruce and his team visit prisons and host Christian events where they share the gospel. Bruce, who is now

retired as a player, said: “Jesus said that he wanted to give us life in its fullness. That’s what LoveLife UK is all about, showing people that living for Jesus is the best life possible.” Bruce has leaned

on some of his former contacts in the football world to appear at the events and the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Fabrice Muamba and Emile Heskey have supported him.

For more information, search Bruce Dyer on Facebook or follow him on Twitter: @Bruce10Dyer THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

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FEATURE

Javier Hernandez, Manchester United Super-sub Javier Hernandez says prayer is the best pep-talk.

The Mexican centre-forward confesses he asks God to keep not only his team-mates but the opposition players safe from serious injury.

Hernandez, who is known as Chico (little pea in Spanish) by Old Trafford fans, is not afraid to admit that faith plays a big part of his game. “I always pray on the pitch before

a game. It is an important routine for me but it is not superstition,” he said.

“I like to pray. I talk to God and I ask him to take care of the health of both teams because the worst thing for a sportsman is injuries, and there are a lot of accidents on the pitch that nobody wants. I like to ask God to take care of me, because he gave me the opportunity to play.”

Chico burst onto the Premier League scene in 2010 and has become a hit at Man-

E K I R T S THE

reckon their faith ns io at ns se ng ki ri st best Some of the world’s Jermain Defoe, Toronto FC He is set to make his mark on Canada after signing for Toronto FC early in 2014, but Jermain Defoe will always go down as a Premier League goal-scoring machine.

He bagged goals for West Ham, Spurs and Portsmouth – not to mention his decent England record – and the London-born striker says his faith in Christ helps him every day.

Defoe, who attended a Christian school, said: “I pray every day.

In the mornings, and before I go to bed. I think it’s important to pray, and not just when things are

16 THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

going bad. When things are going bad, it’s easy to pray and ask God to help you out, but it’s also important to pray when things are going well and show your appreciation.

“I think my faith is important.

I’ve always been a religious person, and I try to think that every disappointment might just be a blessing in disguise.”

Jermain Defoe

FEATURE

chester United, although many of his goals have come from the bench.

The youngster has already been compared to United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, which he admits is flattering.

He added: “Ole is is a legend at Manchester United. Usually people compare me to my dad or grandad.

“I’m only ten per cent of what Ole was. I need to work harder and keep improving to become like him.”

Javier Hernandez

FORCE

hand… gives them a helping

Daniel e Sturridg

Daniel Sturridge, Liverpool Having struggled to make an impact at Manchester City and Chelsea, Daniel Sturridge has found a home on Merseyside.

The Liverpool striker’s partnership with Luis Suarez earned them the nickname SAS, and Sturridge hopes he can now take his club form into England internationals.

But the Birmingham-born star – who starred for team GB in the Olympics – revealed the secret to his success is prayer.

He said: “My prized possession is probably my Bible. It’s important to me because I’m very religious. I believe you have to pray, as well as work hard, in order to get what you want from life.

“When I was growing up I prayed every morning and night – and I still do that to this day. I pray a lot and I’m just focused totally on my job and I’m enjoying it. I’m playing with a smile on my face.”

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INTERVIEW

Blackburn’s Yakubu Aiyegbeni was one of many footballers across the globe who asked people to pray for Muamba

back from the dead 18 THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

INTERVIEW

Fabrice Muamba brought Britain to its knees when he collapsed on the pitch. Matthew Murray met the man who put prayer on the front pages of the tabloids Football fans across the globe looked on in shock as Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba collapsed on the pitch as his team took on Tottenham Hotspur in a televised FA Cup quarter-final.

It soon transpired he had suffered a cardiac arrest and was dead for 78 minutes.

Paramedics rushed to the scene and the game was abandoned.

Everyone feared the worst. Muamba wasn’t responding and was rushed to hospital, his family being told to prepare a funeral for the 24-year-old.

But what happened next shocked the world – Britain turned to prayer. Backed by the Sun Newspaper – whose front page headline ‘Pray for Muamba’ was a historic moment for Christianity in the UK – everyone began to pray for Fabrice’s recovery. Footballers wore ‘Pray For Muamba’ t-shirts underneath their kits and churches up and down the country held prayer meetings for the former Arsenal youngster.

About two weeks after the incident, Muamba miraculously regained consciousness and posted a photo on Twitter thanking fans for their prayers. He later said: “I thank God because I am alive.

Without him I would surely be dead. This is a miracle, the power of Jesus Christ has raised me up and I thank everyone for their prayers and support throughout the world.”

Even secular media reports credited Muamba’s recovery to divine intervention while the cardiologist on the scene, Dr Andrew Deaner, told the BBC: “If you’re ever going to use the term miraculous, it could be used here.”

‘I’m proof of the power of prayer. I was dead for 78 minutes. Now I’m very much alive’ Not only did the miracle save Muamba’s life, but it got his faith back on track too.

He grew up in a Christian home in London but his church attendance slipped. He said: “One of the reasons I slipped when I moved to Birmingham, playing the field and being an idiot, was because I went from living in a God-filled home to not 2

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INTERVIEW

Bolton players pray as Muamba’s lifeless body lies on the pitch at White Hart Lane

FACTFILE

attending church at all. I paid the price for that and lost my way.

“I’ve made up for that though now and every Sunday I go church in Manchester where there’s lots of singing, praying and Bible reading. I read the Bible every morning and night and as long as Christ is in me I can have victory and glory in any situation I come across.

“My faith in God gives me inner peace, I serve him and he’s the person who can provide all my needs and wishes. I serve a God who will never change; he will always be powerful, awesome and a guide to my life. He is the driver to my car – I’m just the passenger.

“I am walking proof of the power of prayer.

For 78 minutes I was dead and even if I lived I was expected to have suffered brain damage. But I’m very much alive and sitting

C Career appearances: 201 C Career goals: 5 C England Under 21 caps: 33 C Transfer fees: Signed for Bolton from Arsenal for £5 million C Unusual fact: Took part in a Christmas edition of Strictly Come Dancing in 2012

here talking. Someone up there was watching over me. On the morning of the game I prayed with my father and asked God to protect me – he didn’t let me down.”

Following medical advice, Muamba decided to retire, and he now works as a pundit and has ambitions of becoming a sports journalist. He added: “While the news [to retire] is devastating, I have much to be thankful for. I thank God that I am alive and I pay tribute to the members of the medical team who never gave up on me.”

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FEATURE

Get yer kit off for the Lord! Some of the biggest names in football are believers – and they aren’t afraid to show it…

Adam Davy/EMPICS Sport

out n went public ab Kieran Richardso ier em Pr e th in ing his faith after scor land in 2011 League for Sunder

ars Roberto a few ye After joining Zé g his yin la sp di s again earlier, Lúcio wa lan Mi r te In at e tim faith during his

22 THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

Brazil’s Zé Roberto (left ) and Lúcio with t-shirts ‘God is my str eng th’ in German while playing for Bayern Munich

Stuttgart striker Ca cau thanks Jesus. His team wo n the German Bundesliga title in 20 07

FEATURE

wear your heart on your T!

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FEATURE

THE greate Famed for their displays in between the Tim Howard

sticks, these top stoppers talk about life’s biggest net gain!

Tim Howard, Everton American Tim Howard – one of the Premier League’s most experienced goalkeepers – ­unashamedly admits: “Knowing Jesus is everything.”

The Everton stopper, who has made more than 300 appearances for the Toffees and played almost 100 times for the USA, said: “I have a personal relationship with Jesus and, like any relationship, you have to work on it ­every day.

I came to a point in my life where I could no longer sit on the fence, talk about knowing God 24 THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

or pretend I knew God. I wanted to live for him.”

Tim, who suffers from Tourette’s syndrome says he is ‘living the dream’ of being a professional soccer player. He added: “God has blessed me with the gift of athleticism. He has also done some powerful things in my life. He has shown me ways to use my position as a professional athlete to encourage others with Tourette’s syndrome.

“If it all went away tomorrow, I know I would still have peace. That may sound crazy to most people, but that’s the kind of peace Christ gives.”

FEATURE

eatest saves Brad Guzan

Brad Guzan, Aston Villa He’s taken the Premier League by storm with a string of impressive displays, but 6ft 4in Brad Guzan won’t get too big for his boots.

The Villa stopper said: “Money, fame, all those objects, they don’t mean anything if you don’t have Jesus in your life. All of those things can be gone in the blink of an eye. We can’t get caught up in it. As professional footballers we are very privileged to do what we do and to be role models.” Guzan – who starred in the MLS before moving to Britain – says Jesus helps him

through the ups and downs of being a professional athlete.

He added: “You have to have Jesus in your life. That is how I get through my personal life.

He helps me through the tough times. It hasn’t always been a rosy road to success, and there are always going to be bumps along the way but Jesus helped me through all of those struggles.”

Meanwhile, Guzan revealed he meets with Christian team-mates from the American national team to pray and study the Bible.

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FEATURE

Juilan Speroni

Julian Speroni, Crystal Palace He’s a legend at Selhurst Park, but Julian Speroni knows he’s nothing without his faith. The Argentinian became a Christian after attending church with his wife Maria when he was playing for Dundee.

He recalled: “I was going through a tough period in my career and I was growing tired of things. A friend told me that I could relax and leave everything in God’s hands.

I didn’t understand very much what he meant, so he invited me to go church.

“I went and slowly understood what he was talking about. He read the words of Jesus: ‘Come to me all you who have worries, and I will give you rest.’ It was a great 26 THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

passage for me at that time. So I decided to leave everything in God’s hands, and it worked for me.

“I had always believed in God, but up until that point I had never known what it was to have a relationship with him.”

Claudio Taffarel, Brazil One of Brazil’s best ever soccer stars believes God helped him lift the 1994 World Cup. Goalkeeper Claudio Taffarel, who won 100 caps for his nation, has revealed how his faith in Christ was secretly on show as Brazil overcame rivals Italy on penalties to lift football’s biggest prize. Taffarel, who is now retired, saved a spot-kick from Italian

FEATURE

Hans Segers

Claudio Taffarel

forward Daniele Massaro and believes God literally gave him a helping hand.

He said: “God has never failed me. At the final game in the 1994 World Cup it was no different. In the middle of the penalty dispute I looked at the score: 2-2. And I thought, ‘Now is my time to do something for my team and for my country. Lord, help me to catch this penalty kick!’ And he heard me.

“When Italian player Massaro kicked the ball, I felt like God had pushed me to my left corner and I was able to make a beautiful save. Since I invited Jesus Christ into my heart, I have felt the strength, the love and the power of God in the most important moments of my life.”

Hans Segers, ex-Wimbledon A retired goalkeeper has told of his greatest save yet – finding Jesus.

Hans Segers, who played more than 250 games for Wimbledon during the 80s and 90s, is now the goalkeeping coach at Fulham.

He said: “The best thing for me was to know that there really is life after death.

The Bible says that God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that whoever believes in him won’t perish but will have eternal life.

“God did this so that we can be saved – if we believe in Jesus, we go to heaven. This isn’t fantasy, it’s reality.”

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PLAYER PROFILE

Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke has every reason to point skywards after each goal It’s been a tough few years for Aston Villa, so fans will be glad to know that God is on their side – in the form of dangerous frontman Christian Benteke.

The goalscoring forward signed a new four-year deal at Villa Park in 2013, ending ongoing speculation that he was about to join a bigger club.

And now Benteke has revealed he is a Christian – and the reason behind his celebration.

He said: “I do the celebration because I believe in God. So when I score the first thing I have to do is say thank you to him. He has given me the power to score. I am a very religious person. I pray before the game and I pray after the game. This is my education from my family.

“I thank God for the good things that he has given me. Before each match I pray to him to make sure that nothing bad happens to all 22 players on the pitch. That is important. I ask for him to look after everyone.

Before we are footballers, we are men, we are people together.

“We have a good job. Other people wake up at 6am in the morning and go back home at 6pm in the evening. They work really hard. We have to enjoy what we do and give thanks for that. I see fans doing the celebrations on Twitter. They send me messages showing themselves in photos. It makes me laugh and makes me smile.”

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CHRISTIAN

FACTFILE

Christian Benteke was born in Kinshasa in 1990. He and his family fled during the Mobutu regime and emigrated to Liège, Belgium, where he developed his passion for football

PLAYER PROFILE

KEEPING THE FAITH!

THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

29

INTERVIEW

my life focus is more faith than football He’s seen by millions on TV every week, but you won’t see Dan Walker on your screens on a Sunday. Here he explains why

TV presenter Dan Walker

30 THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

INTERVIEW

Christian TV presenter Dan Walker has revealed that serving Jesus is more important to him than his role in the media.

The Football Focus frontman has interviewed the likes of David Beckham, Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho, yet he refuses to work on Sundays – even if it means missing out on the chance to meet his childhood hero, Glenn Hoddle.

He said: “Many people have asked me why I feel so strongly about the Lord’s Day. For me it seems quite obvious. God, our Creator, has given it to us for our own good. What does it say about us if we would rather be on a football pitch than in the presence of God’s people hearing his Word?

“Don’t get me wrong. I still get itchy feet when I drive past a game on a Sunday or see someone getting ready for a game of golf. But we live in a world where every corner of our Christian witness is being eaten away. By making Sunday special we show that God makes a difference to the way we live our lives. That’s important.”

Dan has not always had such strong feelings about his faith. As a youngster, he only looked forward to church so he could throw apples at the gravestones outside.

During the service, he would day dream – usually imagining himself scoring the winning goal in the FA Cup final for his local team, Crawley Town. He said: “Church for me was the height of boredom, broken only by the fun of seeing how many apples I could chuck at the gravestones before some adult told me off. I knew the prayers and the Bible readings by heart but they were just words. They didn’t mean anything to me or have any effect on my life.”

Then, aged just 12, Dan had a life-changing faith experience. He was at a prayer service where the speaker somehow managed to grab his attention. He warned that people needed to get right with God or they would end up in hell

Dan in the Football Focus studio

forever. Dan was so struck by these words, he did something special that evening – he gave his life to Jesus.

He added: “I had to ask myself if I was right with God and the answer was clearly not. I could see myself going off the rails as I got older. I was certainly heading that way. I was in fear of God, not in a negative way, but simply knowing that however hard I tried, I could not do enough to please him.

“The man giving the sermon said God offered us a free gift of salvation through his Son, Jesus. All we had to do was accept it. That night, I did.”

From that moment Dan’s life changed forever.

He felt a new joy and purpose. He felt at peace, yet full of life.

Dan says God also provides opportunities for him to share his faith with some very highprofile sports stars and celebrities. After one interview with David Beckham, the former England captain suggested they meet on Sunday morning for another chat.

“I told him I’d be in church and anyway, I didn’t work on Sundays,” said Dan. “Becks was intrigued and asked me about my faith. It was the same another time when I met Oasis singer Noel Gallagher.

“We are given these opportunities in a nice way, to plant seeds and tell people about Jesus, whether someone in the office or the England captain. I regard it as a great privilege.”

THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

31

PLAYER PROFILE

no hassell for bobby Despite enjoying fame and fortune Bobby Hassell felt empty inside – that was until he met Jesus He’s adored by fans at his beloved Barnsley and they affectionately call him ‘Sir Bobby’.

But full-back Bobby Hassell – who’s clocked up almost 300 appearances for the Championship club – says that fame and popularity proved a great way to spread his beliefs.

Hassell has seen two promotions, a play-off final, a Wembley FA Cup semi-final and two appearances at the Millennium Stadium during an impressive career. But Bobby says the real highlight was when he became a Christian in 2010.

He said: “I have played against Steven Gerrard, Matthew Le Tissier, Frank Lampard and Michael Essien, but the real moment for me was when I realised I needed a Saviour – that was when I became a Christian and asked Jesus Christ to be a part of my life.”

When Bobby first joined Barnsley he found himself reading the Gospel of Luke after being given a Bible by club chaplain, Peter Amos. He would also ask many questions about faith and watch DVDs about Christianity.

But Bobby didn’t feel ready to make a decision to become a Christian and he shelved spirituality for the best part of five years.

Then one night just before going to bed, he began to ponder life, and despite a fantastic football career and a happy marriage, he felt empty inside – until he prayed. “I started praying again and reading the Bible again, and six weeks later I told God that if he was 32 THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

real I wanted him to be part of my life. Two days later the chaplain said he was doing a Bible study and I went.

“I began to understand Jesus and realised that being a Christian isn’t about having a boring life but about living life and living it abundantly, as Jesus said. I had sudden peace come over me and I can’t explain the joy and freedom I felt. The only way to prove God is to ask him into your life.”

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LEGEND

an agent for Getting your leg pulled for being a Christian is part and parcel of having faith – especially in a football dressing room, says football agent Cyrille Regis Football agents are known for tricky deals, striking contracts and their wheelings and dealings in the transfer market, but Cyrille Regis is different from most.

The former England striker is a committed Christian who says his belief in Jesus Christ won’t allow him to take part in dodgy deals.

Regis, who represents several of the country’s top stars but refuses to reveal their identity, said: “I look after players and mentor them and advise them about their contracts. A lot is exaggerated about agents but I can encourage young players and tell them how to live as a professional footballer. I’ve been there and have a lot to pass on to younger players.

“Christians are everywhere and we need them in every area of life. It’s an opportunity to use my faith to bring input to others.

Of course I negotiate deals and get the best for my client as well – that’s ultimately what I’m paid to do.”

Regis, who starred for Coventry and West Brom in a glittering career, says it’s hard to stay on track as a Christian when you’re a famous footballer. “It’s difficult, Jesus never said it’d be easy. You’re a young man 34 THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

with no guidelines and of course there are temptations because you have a lot of time on your hands and you are paid good money.

“You also get stick for your beliefs but that’s just part of dressing room banter.

One minute you’re one of the boys and the next minute you’re a Christian. But it’s all part of being a believer. When people see how committed you are they learn to respect you.

“Swearing went out of the window straight away for me but other issues took time. You don’t become perfect overnight and you never will be until you get to heaven. Every morning we have to get on our knees and ask God for forgiveness for our wrongs. The wonderful thing about God is that he’s a God of grace and we can

‘You get stick, but when people see how committed you are they respect you’

LEGEND

change!

Cyrille Regis, who once played for West Brom (above), is now a football agent... but one with a difference

approach him daily and have a relationship with him.”

Regis, who also coaches youngsters at West Brom, revealed how he became a Christian in 1989 when his team-mate, Laurie Cunningham, tragically died in a car crash. Regis said: “I had been in a car crash with Laurie two years previously in Spain and we came out of it alive. When he died I found it hard to take. There were a lot of

questions in my heart. What would have happened if it had been me? Where’s Laurie now? I went to church and started talking to friends and not long afterwards I gave my life to the Lord.”

Regis regularly speaks in churches and at charity events sharing his testimony, and he is an ambassador for WaterAid and has visited Africa to carry out humanitarian work.

He urges others to follow his lead and turn to God: “Look around at yourself and see what’s going on in this world. Ask yourself some serious questions. Is this all there is to life? Is there life after death? What’s the future hold for you?

“We all have a spiritual side and you need to be honest with yourself first of all. For me, there has been a peace that has come with the Christian life. A relationship with Jesus beats everything.”

THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

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FEATURE

THE world at thei They’re world stars who have played at the highest level, but being a Christian is the No1 one goal for these top players World Cup winner Jorginho has revealed how God raised him from a stretcher and enabled him to play against some of the world’s best players – as well as changing his bad boy image.

The former Brazilian international, who played more than 60 times for his country, told how he converted to Christianity the same day an awful injury threatened to end his career.

He said: “The 1986 World Cup was getting closer, and that was the chance I had to show off my soccer skills. But it turned out that I must have kicked the ball the wrong way and all this pain came upon me. I felt my body suddenly stop and I had to be taken off the field on a stretcher. I cried a lot. On that same night I made a decision to follow Jesus Christ.”

And despite initial fears that Jorgin-

Portuguese midfielder José Luis Vidigal says Jesus made his life complete.

The skilful player – who was part of the Portugal team that beat England in Euro 2000 – believes he will go to 36 THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

ho’s career could be over, he recovered almost immediately much to the shock of physios and doctors. He added: “Jesus changed my life completely. My pain just disappeared – it has never since returned!”

Jorginho is now a coach and was Brazilian assistant manager from 2006-2010.

heaven when he dies.

He said: “I don't believe that anyone has everything. I need Jesus because I believe that my life doesn’t finish here in the world. I have a very special place beside Jesus and he is

waiting for me. The change that Jesus made in my life was complete. Before that I believed that I could do everything by myself. I trusted in my own capabilities to reach my goals whether social or profes-

FEATURE

their feet!

German striker Cacau says fame and fortune is nothing in comparison to serving Jesus and being a Christian.

The forward was born in Brazil but was raised in Europe and went on to play more than 20 times for Germany. He is a committed Christian and says faith helps him get through the ups and down of being a professional athlete.

He said: “There is a verse in the Bible, ‘What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?’ I know that everything I have now is temporary and one day it will all be gone.

“But if I live for God and trust in his Word, those things will last forever.

“Jesus gives me security.

He loves me. I don’t have to

prove myself because he has done everything for me. It is not what I do but what he does that matters.”

This discovery has helped Cacau understand that his performance on the pitch won’t make a difference to the Lord.

He added: “Before I used to think you have to perform to earn God’s love. He has shown me that the absolute opposite is the case and that he accepts me just as I am.”

sional, but in reality things did not happen as I wanted them to.

Starting from the moment that I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour everything improved. Without a doubt my life has been transformed.”

THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

37

FEATURE

THANK GOD FOR F Few would link football and church, but the beautiful game and the house of the Lord have surprising ties, as author Peter Lupson found out When Peter Lupson’s book ‘Thank God For Football!’ was published in 2006, it caused a stir in the world of the beautiful game. A culmination of seven years of research, the book told the story of how 12 of England’s most famous clubs were formed either by churches or individual Christians. However, the seeds for the investigation were initially sown back in 1994.

“I started a church league for youngsters in Liverpool and Wirral churches, but it wasn’t long before they were being badly ridiculed at school for only being in a church league,” explained Peter. “They were told, ‘Church leagues don’t count. You’re all soft.

Bet you use Bibles for shin pads’, and it put a lot of them off.

“But I then made the connection that Everton

Author Peter Lupson

38 THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

Football Club is of church origin and that Liverpool is an offshoot of Everton, and so I was able to say to the boys, ‘Next time you get ridiculed at school, just mention that you’re following in the footsteps of these two great clubs who owe their birth to a Sunday school.’

“And it got me thinking whether there were any other clubs of a similar background, and I made the amazing discovery that a third of all the clubs that have played in the Premier League are in fact of church origin.”

As Peter delved further into his research, he realised that he was discovering facts that even the clubs themselves were unaware of,

FEATURE

OOTBALL and the idea was born to write a book on his findings.

“Traditionally, when people research football history, they look through old match programmes or the sports pages of newspapers. I went down a totally different route.

I read reports in parish magazines, went through church reports in newspapers and went to places like Lambeth Palace – to the archives there.

“It was quite obvious that I’d tapped into something that was uncharted territory, and so I wrote Thank God for Football! to tell the story of how churches were the birthplace of some of our most famous clubs.

“The clubs never ignored their Christian heritage – they just weren’t fully aware of it.

So that’s what I wanted to do. I wanted to make people aware of the debt football owes to Christian pioneers.”

Peter’s wishes were duly fulfilled as the impact of Thank God for Football! spread far and wide – largely due to the fact that the book uncovered so much new material that the clubs themselves took an active interest in its contents.

“I found, to my amazement, that most of the clubs had very little knowledge about their origins, and in fact three were honouring the wrong founder! Thank God for Football! also enabled Peter to meet a vast array of people.

The foreword for the book was written by legendary commentator John Motson, while the launch event took place at the headquarters of the Football Association.

Clubs that can give thanks Tottenham Hotspur In September 1882, the Hotspur Football Club was formed by grammar school boys from the Bible class at All Hallows Church. Two years later it was re-named Tottenham Hotspur.

Swindon Town Swindon Town Football Club was founded by Rev William Pitt in 1879.

Rev Pitt used the formation of a football team to attempt to unite the communities.

Manchester City Members of St Mark’s Church of England, West Gorton, Manchester, founded the football club that would become known as Manchester City, for largely humanitarian purposes. Two church wardens sought to curb local gang violence and alcoholism with new activities, with football being the main focus.

Barnsley FC Barnsley St Peter’s was established in 1887 by a clergyman, Tiverton Preedy, who had a love for the poor. The club was later renamed Barnsley Football Club.

Bolton Wanderers The club was founded by the Reverend Thomas Ogden, the schoolmaster at Christ Church in 1874 as Christ Church FC. It changed its name to Bolton Wanderers in 1877.

THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

39

LEGEND

primus

Former Portsmouth footballer Linvoy Primus says his life wasn’t complete until he made a discovery

‘

When I was about 27 or 28, there were things going on in our lives that we had no control of; and because we couldn’t control them it led to a lot of frustration and unhappiness, and we were weighing up what this life was all about. My love of football had gone, my wife’s health was deteriorating and things were going wrong.

My dream had been to become a professional footballer, and I had achieved it. But being a footballer meant nothing because my family weren’t happy.

Then we were invited to church, and my wife wanted to go. I said that if we were to go, we would have to give it a real chance and go for at least a month.

We went, and the church was so different from what we had expected. It was a modern building, with single seats rather than pews, and a band up the front instead of an organ. And the people were very welcoming. I felt this love straight away.

I already knew about Jesus. I knew that he died on the cross, I knew that he rose again, I knew about Christmas and Easter; but I didn’t realise that I could have a relationship with him.

I had always seen Jesus and God as distant. I had faith enough to pray, but not enough to believe that my prayers 40 THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

LEGEND

position

would be answered. So when I started to hear that Jesus wanted to be a part of my life and could make it better, it got me interested. After about a month of asking questions I decided to pray and let him into my life.

I later found out that my wife had accepted Jesus a week before, but had not told me because she wanted me to make my own decision. Since then we haven’t looked back.

We’ve had plenty of ups and downs – but the ups have been fantastic and the downs we’ve been able to cope with because we’ve allowed God to deal with them.

Life throws lots of things at you, as does football. It’s a real roller coaster. I’ve learned that in football when you win you should take it at a certain level and when you lose you should take it at the same level – because if you’re up high when you win, the following week you can be right down if you lose.

God says: “Don’t look at your circumstances, just look to me.”

For the first time I’ve found a real purpose for my life. God says in Jeremiah 29:11 that he has a perfect plan for my life. If I try to pick my course of life, it’s never going to be as good as the plan that God has for me. He’s blessed me so much in so many ways, how can I not do what he asks me?

C Visit www.linvoyprimus.com for information about Linvoy and his ministry THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

’ 41

FEATURE

The Last Word

with Bruce Dyer

HOW YOU CAN BE ON THE WINNING SIDE...

By now you’ve hopefully read some incredible testimonies of footballers’ lives that have been changed by the power of Jesus Christ.

Fans and those on the terraces can sometimes think that life is perfect and easy for a footballer. They are well paid, their names are chanted from the stands and they work far less hours than people in ‘normal’ jobs. But I am living proof that fame, fortune and popularity doesn’t make a difference when your soul is empty and you’re looking for inner peace.

Despite being the first teenager to be sold for more than £1 million, playing at Wembley Stadium and breaking into the Premier League, I can honestly say that my life wasn’t complete until I met Jesus. The Bible even warns us: “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world but lose his soul?”

In football, there’s no worse feeling than being on the losing side.

The dressing room is a sombre and depressing 42 THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

Bruce Dyer says to be a winner you need to get to know Jesus

place after a defeat, but when you win, there is a sense of triumph, joy and victory. You know that you have produced the goods for 90 minutes and done your team-mates and fans proud.

In life, I want to urge you today not to be on the losing side. Give your life to Jesus, ask him to forgive you your sins and become a Christian. It’s a decision that you won’t regret – and it’ll certainly be more satisfying than your team picking up three points on a Saturday. Like in any football season, there’ll be ups and downs and sometimes you’ll be frustrated, but I can promise you that when you reach retirement and it’s time to slow down, you won’t regret following Jesus for one moment.

This magazine has been produced with YOU in mind. You’ve hopefully read how some familiar faces have become Christians and seen their lives turned around. Why not join them today and watch God do the same for you?

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