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Hundreds of people paid this latest tribute to Reinaldo Teles, a historic FC Porto coach, who died this Wednesday at age 70, due to problems derived from the covid-19 infection.
The president of the Porto club, Pinto da Costa, felt really bad and was forced to abandon the previous tribute, which included, in the mass of the present body, in the church of Bonfim, in Porto, with the presence of several personalities linked to world football, namely Antero Henrique, former administrator of FC Porto, and Pedro Proença, president of the League of Clubs.
The leader of the representative body of professional clubs mourned the death of “a friend” and highlighted the “high values” he always showed.
ESTELA SILVA
“It is the death of a great friend, a person with good affection, who had a very high sports spirit, recognized by his teammates, regardless of the colors of the club. Today a good person will be buried and that is what should make us sad, because It is a very sad moment ”, said Pedro Proença as he left the church.
For Pedro Proença, Reinaldo Teles “was clearly an athlete of high values, a person who knew in all areas and during all this time as a coach to be an example for everyone”.
“I am talking about my career as a referee and as a leader. He was always an individual to create bridges, to create solutions. A great athlete dies,” concluded Pedro Proença.
After mass, the funeral procession headed to the Prado do Repouso cemetery, but first passed the Estádio do Dragão.
Pinto da Costa, together with Sérgio Conceição and Pepe, coach and captain of the football team, and several members of the Porto emblem administration, received the hearse and, together with the family of Reinaldo Teles, had a minute of very emotional silence, together. to the banners with the half-mast flag.
The FC Porto coach placed a wreath at the urn of Reinaldo Teles and Pinto da Costa spoke a few words of comfort to the former coach’s relatives, but the former coach felt bad and was forced to abandon the tribute earlier.
The president was quickly helped into the car and directed to the stadium. Once inside the premises, he left the vehicle under his own power.
Club sources explained to Lusa that Pinto da Costa had a slight discomfort, but is now recovered and ready for the trip to the Azores, where FC Porto will face Santa Clara on Saturday, in the round of 16 of the I League.
With dozens of people following on foot behind the hearse, the procession passed in front of the FC Porto Museum, where fans paid homage, with chants and torches. At the end, and still with the presence of Sérgio Conceição and Pepe, the club’s anthem was sung.
The coach then went to the auditorium of the Estádio do Dragão, where he held the press conference for the preview of the match with the Azoreans.
Inácio on Reinaldo Teles: “He treated the players with such courtesy, I would even say with such affection …”
Augusto Inácio remembers “el chefinho” who “knew how to speak but above all, listen”.
