José Luís VidigalPortugalJacob Mulenga

Jun Marques Davidson

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José Luís VidigalPortugalJacob Mulenga

Jun Marques Davidson

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Fábio Maciel2Marcos Senna

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Marcos Senna

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JUN MARqUES dAVIdSON:Japan’s Jun Marques Davidson began selfishly chasing fame, but he found out that his purpose in life was far greater

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fáBIO MACIEL: Brazilian goalkeeper Fábio went through some trials, but the hardships led him to Christ

JACOB MULENGA: Despite not playing soccer until he was in high school, Jacob Mulenga’s fast rise has caused him to depend on God

ALExANdER SAMEdOV:Russia’s Alexander Samedov struggled through questions about his life and his career, until he found something that gave him the answers he had been searching for all along

MARCOS SENNA: Spain’s Marcos Senna realises that Christ, not life’s circumstances, provides joy and peace

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SCAN HERE to watch a video of fábio

Fans call Fábio “the blue wall”, a wall that no ball can pass, and consider him a hero.

But for Brazilian goalkeeper Fábio Deivson Lopes Maciel, who has won many titles and been on Brazil’s national team at every level,

the road to the titles is what’s most important.In 2007, his career was interrupted when he

ruptured the ligaments in his left knee during a key game for his club, Cruzeiro. Some thought he would never return.

“It was a difficult time but important for me to revise my way of living and it was essential so God could work in my life in a way that I had never allowed him,” he says. “God is the basis of my life.”

Adding to his troubles was the fact that people doubted that he was even injured because his right knee hit the goal post, but it was his left knee that was injured.

“People doubted my character, said I was lying, and I was actually taken off the team,” he says. “The pain brought me closer to God. It was the pain of an injury, the loss of a title,

to see the world doubting my character which led to the biggest and best decision of my life: to accept Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I gave my whole life to him.”

Despite doctors telling Fábio he would return in six months, he was back on the field in half that time.

The following season, Cruzeiro made the finals once again, and this time his team won.

“Many were saying I was not going to play soccer and not return to Cruzeiro,” Fábio says. “But God restored me by giving me the opportunity to walk with Him and He placed me where I am today. God is amazing. Exactly one year after the hard times I went through, He restored me. The pain I went through turned into a great victory. I played in 200 games for Cruzeiro, I was a champion and considered the best goalkeeper of a major tournament.”

Another title followed in 2013 and Fábio was named best goalkeeper of the Brazilian Championship. The experiences led him to the understanding that God is real and directs all things.

“Everything that happened in my life was planned by God,” he says. “He determined everything…My foundation in live is God. He waited to put me in places and give me things I never imagined. Not in my wildest dreams could I have imagined the life and blessed family I have today…He is a true God who makes it happen.”

Fábio MacielBrazilian goalkeeper FáBio went through some trials, But the hardships led him to Christ

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Men and women are serving sports teams as sports mentors and counselors for life and faith.

SCAN HERE to watch a video of Jacob Mulenga

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Football hasn’t always been at the top of Zambian national soccer team player Jacob Mulenga’s favourite sports list.

When he was young, he was committed to a sport similar to motor racing.

His weekdays were spent going to school, but his weekends were filled with the motor racing style sport.

Football didn’t become a part of his life until later in his schooling. Even then, he said he “mainly just watched.” Football was for fun.

“I didn’t play for any youth teams or academies – just playing for fun at school,” he recalls. “I learned a lot basically from watching

games and from watching on television.”But after finishing school he decided to get serious

about football. “I thought, ‘OK, now before you decide what you want

to do with your life, play football for a while and see what happens” (Former Zambian player and coach) Kalusha (Bwalya) saw me play and said ‘You know you could be good at it.’ For me it was still a dream. I would joke about it with my friends, ‘One day I will play professional football.’”

Despite not playing soccer until late in his teens his rise to elite level was fast.

He made Zambia’s national team when he was 20 and scored in his first game – a 1-0 victory against Togo in a World Cup qualifier. From there he went to the next two World Cup qualifying matches in Senegal and Mali and became a regular on the national team.

But his rapid success didn’t turn into over confidence (do you mean arrogance?).

“It was scary. I was nervous. It was a whole new world to me,” he says. “I had never been in front of the public that much before. I had no idea what playing for the national team involved. You hear about it; you read about it. Now you put yourself in a position where you are ready to be criticized. Everything you do – good or bad – is going to be criticized and you are going to have someone

say something about it.”He gradually became comfortable and in 2010 he

scored two goals in two games at the Africa Cup. The following two Africa Cups, in 2012 and 2013 resulted in disappointment. He didn’t play in either, including 2012 when Zambia won the title.

“For me it was really hard as you knew in 2010 you played a big role in the Africa Cup but now you could not be part of it,” he says. “That was a big blow for me…you are happy but every time someone talks about it, that reminds you of not being part of it.”

“I used to ask God so many times, ‘Why is this happening to me when I come to you, pray to you…and everyone else is okay? What did I do to deserve this? ... For me it is always why? Why this? Why that? Stop with the why. First of all I learned…that I am not in control. No matter how much you try, you are not in control of things that happen...if I did not have Jesus...I would be so lost.”

“I know that I am extremely blessed. I am someone who can do anything in football. I know my strength does not come from me. It comes from above….God won’t take you to the next level if you don’t know how to handle the pressure…the higher you go the worse (the pressure) becomes.”

“Everything that is built without God is not worth building. I am not going to sit here and lie and say, ‘I live a perfect, God-fearing life.’ I have problems sometimes. My faith is tested…You have so many challenges. You have so many things that come to you. You want someone to talk to. I think when you bring someone to a faith in Christ, you really have to help them understand, ‘Listen, God is going to be the centre of your life.’…It is not saying you aren’t going to have challenges. You are going to have challenges as a Christian and you are going to have trouble…But you know in all that, you are going to be victorious.”

Jacob Mulengadespite not playing soCCer until he was in high sChool, JaCoB mulenga’s Fast rise has Caused him to depend on god

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Worldwide sportspeople are helping and encouraging each other in a holistic way, helping to understand that their self-worth is based on who they are not what they do.

00W E B S I T E : w w w. S p o r t s S p e c t r u m . c o m S P O R TS S P E C T R U M

Russia’s Alexander Samedov struggled through questions about his life and his

career, until he found something that gave him the answers he had been

searching for all along

7Francois Nel/ Getty Images

rowing up in a family split in their religious beliefs, Alexander Samedov decided he would live his life in his own way and on his own terms.

When trouble came and he was left searching for answers.

Samedov, who has represented Russia internationally on the U-21 and senior soccer national teams and has also played on several top Russian

club teams, started having trouble in his football career and in his life. That’s when the questions started, first in his mind and then verbally.

“Going back to the very beginning I lived my life in my own way. But a time came when I began to have problems in my career, in my life. I had already reached the age to be thinking about those things. And then I met my current wife, Yulia. She was a believer; she went to church. Seeing my problems, she simply said to me, ‘Sasha, such and such...’ I went to church once, twice, and I understood. My life began to change.”

Though Samedov admitted that “reading wasn’t the most important thing” for him growing up because he went to sports school and he “paid more attention to sports” than academics, he has loved reading the Bible since becoming committed to Christ.

But reading the Bible has been different. It’s a welcome change from the arduous reading of lifeless words from the pages of a school textbook or any book for that matter.

“I don’t look at reading the Bible like reading other books,

“We serve the local church.”

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SCAN HERE to watch a video of Alexander Samedov

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because the Bible is something spiritual; it’s about faith,” he says. “The Bible teaches us. It provides direction for our lives.”

Part of that direction has guided him in his career.Samedov began with Spartak Moscow when he was

16 years old. Five years later he moved to FC Lokomotiv Moscow for four years before joining FC Moscow for two seasons. After succeeding there, he made a jump to a bigger club, Dynamo Moscow, for three seasons while also making his first senior national team appearance in 2011 in a victory against Slovakia during a Euro 2012 qualifying match.

That success landed him back at FC Lokomotiv the following season when he began excelling even more and became a regular starter and a favourite among fans.

The questions he had about life had been answered, the way he handled success and failure had now changed.

He looks to God, who speaks to him and guides him as Samedov reads the Bible.

God used Samedov’s wife to show him the right path.“It worked out that way,” he says. Through her, I made it.”

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Alexander found direction when reading the Bible. In the Sports Movement obedience to the Bible is a core value to everything that is done on and off the sports field.

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Spain’S MArcoS SennA realiSeS that ChriSt, not life’S CirCumStanCeS,

provideS joy and peaCe

ith four knee injuries in his career, it would be understandable

if Marcos Senna was burned out, discouraged or

disappointed with football. But it’s quite the opposite

for the Spanish star. “I have had four knee

injuries but, with God’s help, I think I have responded well

and even experienced joy in the midst of them,” he shares. “I don’t know of another player with similar injuries who has been able to continue playing at the same level as I have. I give thanks, honour and glory to God for the strength He has given me.”

“I am at peace. I know God has a purpose in (for?) our lives. If I am injured, it is for a reason that I am injured and I understand that I will get better in time. I understand that God…will keep looking after me. And for that reason I am very calm.”

Senna, who was born into poverty in Brazil and began playing soccer in the streets at age 6, became a Spanish citizen after Luis Aragonés, Senna’s Villarreal CF coach, asked him to play for the Spanish national team.

“I was not going to give up my nationality by birth – Brazilian,” says Senna. “At that time, I thought it was the best move and a privilege to

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have dual nationality and the opportunity to play for Spain, one of the best teams in the world. The truth is that it has changed my life. It has been extraordinary.”

Senna, who played in two World Cups, helped Spain win the 2008 Euro Cup, beating Germany 1-0 for its first Euro title since 1964. Several publications named Senna player of the tournament after he helped Spain become the first team to go unbeaten in the Euro Cup since Germany in 1996.From November 2006 until June 2009, he also

helped Spain win or tie 35 consecutive matches, tying the record held by Brazil, and helped Spain win a record 15 straight games during that time while also helping Spain to

number 1 in the World Rankings for the first time in the nation’s history. The winning streak ended in the

Confederations Cup semifinal with a 2-0 upset loss to the United States.

“Winning the European Championship in 2008 was a highlight of my career and a wonderful celebration,” he says. “We eventually won on penalties. I knew that I would be one of the penalty-takers. We practiced penalties the day before, but on game-day we had played 90 minutes plus 30 minutes in extra time. I was exhausted and had cramps everywhere. Yet, when the time came, I was calm and felt God’s Spirit come on me, giving me peace and clarity. With His help, I was able to shoot confidently, score, and help Spain to victory. I knew God was in charge and had a plan for me to honour Him with this accomplishment.

“On the day of the final, I was completely focused on the match. It was a great day, especially with all of Spain sharing in the celebration. When we won, it was a time of great joy for all the players. Our lives will never be the same because of being part of winning the Championship. More importantly, my life has never been the same because of my relationship with Jesus.”

That relationship with Jesus began during a short stint with São Caetano in Brazil and it has made all the difference in his life.

“They invited me to a meeting and I went,” Senna recalls. “At that time in my life I did not know much about the Bible. I had been to church with my mother,

but as I grew up I stopped going for some reason. I was

not baptized or anything, but I knew some things from my mother and grandmother…I was 25

years old – nearly 26 - and they invited me to the

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meeting. I liked it and I kept on going. Then eight months after I became a believer in Christ, Villarreal signed me and I joined a church in Villarreal where I was baptized.”

Senna said that fame, money and other material things aren’t enough to satisfy anyone.

“If you are worried about anything, I do not think that money is the answer,” Senna says. “But God’s Spirit is above all things.

God can give you happiness, peace and joy. Just talking about it makes me smile. This has made me very happy and changed my life in every way. It is the best decision that anyone can make in their lives.”

“Now I am truly at peace because I am certain God has a purpose for my life. God is looking after me, and because of that, I am able to be calm and confident, and experience great joy.”

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SCAN HERE to watch a video of

Marcos Senna

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WHEN FOOTBALL BECOMES AN

AVENUEJapan’s Jun Marques

davidson began selfishly chasing fame,

but he found out that his purpose in life was far

greater

Derek Leung/Getty Images

o Japanese soccer player Jun Marques Davidson, religion always seemed far too complicated. The rules. The regulations. The

structure. Raised in Tokyo, Japan—Davidson had

little interest in Christ, even though his mother was a believer.

Instead, he had his sights set on one thing: soccer. There were signs that he could be a special player early in life, and at 15 years old he left Japan to play soccer at an international school in England. Success, money and fame became his primary drive in life. Attaining superstar status in the soccer

sphere became his goal.

But it was in England, while he was alone in a foreign country, barely able to communicate, hardly knowing anyone, that he realized there may be more to life than soccer.

“It was tough to be alone in a foreign country,” Davidson said. “But it was there that I began to understand my need for God. I started attending church on my own and learned more about what it meant to be a believer in Christ. I committed my life to Him and found a peace and confidence I had not felt before. My purpose for going to England had been for football, but His purpose was to prepare me for my future.”

After England, Davidson and his family moved to California to be together while he played football in high school. He was surrounded by other strong believers on the team, as if God was bringing him to maturity after the rebirth he had in England. “Again God was shaping me by providing Christian fellowship and encouragement,” Davidson says.

Following his secondary education, Davidson returned to Japan to play professional football. His homecoming was like a clash of two ideals. When he left Japan four years earlier, his heart and mind were completely different. He was selfishly driven, determined to make an impact on the game of soccer to attain both money and fame. When he returned four years later, he was becoming more of a selfless person and he wanted to use football as an avenue to impact others for the Gospel in his country.

“I think God created me as a football player to do something greater, to serve God,” Davidson said. “There are not many Christians in Japan, so it is very hard to follow, study and have a growing faith in Christ.

Etsuo Hara/Getty Images

Serving through sports in every country every city.

the Sports Movement helps athletes to Live, Represent and Share their stories of faith in the World of Sport.

“I believe God took me to England and to California to put me in a situation where I saw a lot of believers and people with great faith. And that helped me to grow and learn more about God.”

His return to Japan made him realize how much he had changed, how much work God had done in him, and how much God wanted to do something through him to impact others.

“Since giving my life to God, my perspective had changed,” Davidson says. “I began to think about how I could use my role to share the gospel. God was showing me that my career was less about me and all about Him.”

Since moving back to Japan, the defensive midfielder’s performance has been steady. He spent his first three seasons in the second division of Japan’s J. League and helped his team earn a promotion to Japan’s first division in 2004. His next six seasons were spent in J. League Division I and followed by two seasons in lower divisions including a stint with the Carolina RailHawks in the United States. He spent all of 2012 and 2013 playing for the Vancouver Whitecaps in Major League Soccer. He was awarded the

Whitecaps FC’s “Jock MacDonald Unsung Hero Award” in 2012 for his consistent presence on the field.

“Serving God through sport is important to me,” Davidson says. “I try to share the Gospel, serve others and be an example. It’s not always easy when the competition gets tough, but even then I seek forgiveness and pray God will use me. My career is in His hands and I seek to follow Him wherever that may lead me, even if and when it doesn’t involve football —for my purpose is to serve Him.”

In the offseason, Davidson does missionary work through a sports ministry group and now his heart and mind are in a very different place to they were 15 years ago. His life is no longer his own; it belongs to God. Football is no longer his own; it also belongs to God which has led to both surrender and peace.

Joseph from the Bible in the Old Testament was a normal kid who God shaped into a great man,” Davidson says. “Even when his brothers sold him into slavery and his future looked bad, Joseph sought to live for his God. Then, when he was blessed with great power and influence, he used his role to help others and do God’s work.”

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SCAN HERE to watch a video of Juan Marques

davidson