Post by QPR Report on Jul 14, 2009 8:28:34 GMT
Doesn't make him a better coach/manager - anymore than it did for Holloway - but still nice to read
Swansea’s Paulo Sousa helps kids
Jul 12 2009 by Robin Turner, Wales On Sunday
HE may have become rich as one of Portugal’s best-known soccer stars, winning Champions League medals on big wages with European giants Juventus and Borussia Dortmund.
But alongside his ruthless footballing ambitions, new Swansea City manager Paulo Sousa has shown a softer side – helping a team of children far less fortunate than himself.
Wales on Sunday can reveal that as well as being Welsh football’s hottest new signing, the 38-year-old father of two is “Football Godfather” to the Institute for Neglected Boys in Faro, Portugal.
Sousa – whose fashion-conscious ways have seen him dubbed “the Portugese man-of-phwoar” – agreed to take on the role of “Godfather” to the boys’ home when he was coaching Portugal’s Youth Team, and is enthusiastic about raising funds for the disadvantaged youngsters.
The boys, all between six and 18, are in the home for a variety of reasons, many for their own protection.
The home’s director António Barão, himself an ex-resident of the institution, met Sousa when he took two of the boys on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to a football tournament.
He said: “They were introduced to Paulo Sousa, and immediately struck up a friendship.
“When asked to become the football team’s official ‘Godfather’ – a role that includes coach, manager, trainer, friend and adviser – Sousa immediately accepted, honoured to have been considered for such a post.”
Barão said Sousa was determined to be more involved than just being a big name associated with the home’s team.
When he was appointed, he told the boys: “I want to help the players on and off the field. I want to share my experience with you, to help you develop in and out of football, and want you to know that I am readily available for whatever you may need.”
With financial backing from Faro city hall and Faro mayor Dr José Vitorino – who has also, over the years, lent considerable support to the home, which he considers to be “a model institution on a national scale” – the football team now aims to become champions of their league.
A self-confessed admirer of Sousa, Dr Vitorino said he expected “nothing less” of the former Portugal star who won 51 caps for his country.
According to Portuguese magazine VIP, the “Godfather” role is not out of character for Sousa.
A spokeswoman for the magazine said: “He is strongly religious and donated earnings from his teenage tenure with Portuguese giants Benfica to buying businesses for his dressmaker mother and motor mechanic father so they could work for themselves.”
The magazine reported that while other young players with Benfica were buying expensive cars, Sousa held off on buying a top of the range vehicle so he could provide for his parents.
Sousa was unavailable for comment this week, being on a seven-day training camp with the Swans in Portugal.
www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/07/12/swansea-s-paulo-sousa-helps-kids-91466-24131377/
Swansea’s Paulo Sousa helps kids
Jul 12 2009 by Robin Turner, Wales On Sunday
HE may have become rich as one of Portugal’s best-known soccer stars, winning Champions League medals on big wages with European giants Juventus and Borussia Dortmund.
But alongside his ruthless footballing ambitions, new Swansea City manager Paulo Sousa has shown a softer side – helping a team of children far less fortunate than himself.
Wales on Sunday can reveal that as well as being Welsh football’s hottest new signing, the 38-year-old father of two is “Football Godfather” to the Institute for Neglected Boys in Faro, Portugal.
Sousa – whose fashion-conscious ways have seen him dubbed “the Portugese man-of-phwoar” – agreed to take on the role of “Godfather” to the boys’ home when he was coaching Portugal’s Youth Team, and is enthusiastic about raising funds for the disadvantaged youngsters.
The boys, all between six and 18, are in the home for a variety of reasons, many for their own protection.
The home’s director António Barão, himself an ex-resident of the institution, met Sousa when he took two of the boys on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to a football tournament.
He said: “They were introduced to Paulo Sousa, and immediately struck up a friendship.
“When asked to become the football team’s official ‘Godfather’ – a role that includes coach, manager, trainer, friend and adviser – Sousa immediately accepted, honoured to have been considered for such a post.”
Barão said Sousa was determined to be more involved than just being a big name associated with the home’s team.
When he was appointed, he told the boys: “I want to help the players on and off the field. I want to share my experience with you, to help you develop in and out of football, and want you to know that I am readily available for whatever you may need.”
With financial backing from Faro city hall and Faro mayor Dr José Vitorino – who has also, over the years, lent considerable support to the home, which he considers to be “a model institution on a national scale” – the football team now aims to become champions of their league.
A self-confessed admirer of Sousa, Dr Vitorino said he expected “nothing less” of the former Portugal star who won 51 caps for his country.
According to Portuguese magazine VIP, the “Godfather” role is not out of character for Sousa.
A spokeswoman for the magazine said: “He is strongly religious and donated earnings from his teenage tenure with Portuguese giants Benfica to buying businesses for his dressmaker mother and motor mechanic father so they could work for themselves.”
The magazine reported that while other young players with Benfica were buying expensive cars, Sousa held off on buying a top of the range vehicle so he could provide for his parents.
Sousa was unavailable for comment this week, being on a seven-day training camp with the Swans in Portugal.
www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/07/12/swansea-s-paulo-sousa-helps-kids-91466-24131377/
Now look what we missed out on! 
