Parliament expresses its regret over the deaths of Alexandre Batista and Minervino Pietra – Futebol Nacional

Paulo Abreu, captain of the Xico Andebol club, was also honored

This Friday, the Assembly of the Republic unanimously approved two votes of condolence for the deaths of former football players Alexandre Batista and Minervino Pietra.

Alexandre Batista, former Sporting and Portuguese national team player, died on March 3, aged 83.

Alexandre Baptista, who trained at Sporting, played in 163 games for the Lions and won two national championships, a Portuguese Cup and the Cup Winners’ Cup, in 1964, against MTK from Hungary.

The former player also played 11 times for the national team, having been a starter during the final phase of the 1966 World Cup, in which Portugal finished in third place.

He later returned to Sporting to be vice-president of João Rocha’s last management, between 1984 and 1986, he was a member of the Supervisory Board and was also part of the club’s Centenary Honor Committee.

In 2010 he was awarded the Stromp Prize in the Saudade category.

In the vote, presented by the PS, Alexandre Batista is remembered as a “remarkable figure in the history of Portuguese football” and “one of the best players in his position”.

Minervino Pietra, former footballer Minervino Pietra, former right-back for Benfica and the Portuguese national team, died at the age of 70, on March 7th.

Pietra played 26 games and scored one goal for Portugal and, with the Benfica shirt, he played a total of 227 games and 19 goals, after starting his career at Belenenses, all during the 70s and 80s of the last century.

After finishing his football career, Pietra coached Alverca, Estoril-Praia, Juventude de Évora and Barreirense, in addition to being an assistant at Boavista and Belenenses, but, from 2007/08, he was always linked to Benfica, as much as analyst as “resident coach of several technical teams of the professional squad” of the ‘incarnad0s’.

The vote of condolence, presented by the PS, highlights his “remarkable career” of a “remarkable figure in the history of Portuguese football”.

“Connected to football throughout his life, Pietra leaves a legacy of sporting successes and dedication to sport, recognized by fans, managers and the clubs where he was present for his personality and human and sporting qualities”, highlights the text.

Today, parliament approved, also unanimously, another vote of condolence, presented by Chega, for the death of the player and captain of the Xico Andebol club, Paulo Abreu, last week, at the age of 26.

In their vote, the deputies pay tribute and express their regret for this “emblematic figure of national handball, both for his exemplary performance on the field and for his integrity off it”.

“Paulo Abreu was not just a handball player; he was, despite his youth, a true legend of the sport, whose career was marked by countless titles won at the service of the University of Minho and Xico Andebol. More than his victories and trophies, Paulo Abreu distinguished himself for his exemplary character, for his unwavering dedication to sport and for his sense of ‘fair-play’, being himself a model of integrity that transcended the domain of sporting competitions”, they highlight.

The vote also highlights “his passion for handball”, noting that it was “palpable and visible in every game he played and in every interaction he had with his colleagues, filling the hearts of those around him with pride”.

By Lusa