From the outset, the detention of a Portuguese citizen would not be a topic for the zero zero. However, the 21-year-old arrested for drug possession in Indonesia brings together two points that aroused our interest and investigation: being the son of Rui Óscar and, until the summer of 2022, having been a footballer.
According to the local press, the possible consequences of a conviction for this type of offense in the country in question are heavy. Rui could be punished with a sentence of 20 years in prison, still lighter than a life sentence or the death penalty – scenarios raised in recent days, since the case was revealed.
In the search for more information about the young Madeiran, our portal got in touch with Alexandre Figueira, coach who accompanied Rui for three years in the youth teams of Câmara de Lobos.
The portrait is of a serene boy, with few conversations and prospects for a post-football future.
«He went to the Air Force, I never thought there would be another path»
We wanted to know more about Rui and his past. Son of Rui Oscara renowned former Portuguese footballer who wore the jerseys of, among others, Marítimo, FC Porto and Boavista in the 2000s. In fact, the right-back was also champion at the service of dragons and checkers.
Nando Teixeiraformer coach of the Câmara de Lobos senior team, mentioned to zero zero that Rui always appeared «very calm and somewhat quiet», and ended up not expanding his testimony as he only spent time with the young man at the beginning of the 2022/23 pre-season – before the player chose to abandon football.
Good with the ball, the young right-back was very compliant and assertive. In conversation with the zero zero, Alexandre Figueiracurrent coach of União da Bola, but who was in charge of the Câmara de Lobos juniors for several years, confided this to us.
Alexandre Figueira
«He was one of the captains because of his attitude. He never got into trouble with anyone and was a very loved kid by all the colleagues who worked with him. He just wasn’t the team captain because he said very little. He was always in his own corner, he didn’t get upset with anyone and he was a very respectful kid. »
After all the praise given, one question remained: How far could Rui Viana reach in football? The full-back’s former coach at youth level predicted a good future.
«He was a player who accomplished everything. I thought that, at least, I would reach the National Senior Championship or always follow the Câmara de Lobos team, at least that. I could even have a little more perspective. He had the quality for it. »
Rui at the Air Force @Personal Archive
«He was a full-back who had a lot of offensive projection and was very competent. He showed himself to be a very strong player in offensive moments. He always did what was asked and was one of those players that all coaches like to have because he didn’t fail in defensive moments », he recalled.
Regarding Rui Viana’s current delicate situation, Alexandre Figueira was disappointed and surprised, remembering that the young man seemed to have his future well defined.
«I didn’t expect any of this from everything he showed. When he leaves, in 2022, he goes to the Air Force and he was a new kid that nobody had anything to say about. I knew I wouldn’t continue in football, but I never thought there would be another path. I didn’t expect it to go the other way. I really didn’t have the slightest idea that he could go on to something like that because he was a five-star kid,” he concluded.
