This article contains adult content that may be inappropriate for minors. Please confirm that you are 18 years or older to continue. This article contains images or details that some readers may find disturbing. Reader discretion is advised. There are many similarities between the life of Nuno Marques and the beginning of Duarte's journey. Like his father, he will leave home in pursuit of a dream, no matter how difficult the distance may be to bear. Like his father, he chose the position of goalkeeper, the one where one can suffer the most. "It's impossible not to see the similarities," admits the father. "You need to have courage," adds the son. "The most solitary place in football, where the error weighs more than in any other position," acknowledges Duarte, a lesson that Nuno passed on to him early on. "Look at the number of goalkeepers who spend almost their entire careers sitting on the bench, playing very rarely. Coaches don't frequently change goalkeepers, so luck plays a significant role. That's why I always tell Duarte that patience is often as important as talent." Nuno and Duarte agree on many things, especially the demands placed on those between the posts. At this stage, statistics come into play. "In a game, a goalkeeper is involved for just over a minute and a half. But they cannot make a mistake," explains Nuno, who feels that his son learned this reality early: "He identifies the mistakes himself. He no longer needs me to tell him. I often ask him if he still feels motivated. Because this is years and years of work. If there is no enjoyment, it's not worth it." The answer is affirmative; yes, he feels it. And he takes the opportunity to talk about his strengths. "I feel that my greatest asset is my ability to come off the line. This helps us avoid many problems. And my footwork as well. Having played in other positions while growing up gave me that advantage, and in modern football, it's increasingly important for someone in goal to initiate attacking plays," he states. It cannot be said that Nuno Marques had an impressive career in football. But he was happy, and it was the sport that led him to live in a country he learned to love, where he grew as someone recognized for his ability to work for the common good. On April 12, there will be elections in Hungary, and when discussing a possible defeat for Viktor Orbán, the Portuguese will be one of the observers. Nuno Marques is the vice president of a medium-sized locality in Norway, Notodden, and emphasizes that it feels good to know that people trust him. "My president and I have worked hard to ensure that the population has the best possible living conditions, but we also care about providing projects that affirm information and the well-being of the community. That work has been incredible," he states. Nuno Marques is 45 years old, arrived in Norway to play football, and now holds a significant role in politics. So much so that he accepted the challenge from José Luís Carneiro, the secretary-general of the PS, to join a collective of Portuguese in the diaspora who have roles and work done in politics. "You know, here at home we discuss politics more than football. Duarte is a very interested boy in what surrounds him and in people. He already has some political involvement, and besides his football friends, he received many messages from various political spheres when he celebrated his birthday. Let me tell you… one of them was from José Luís Carneiro himself," he mentioned. Who else sent him congratulations? Hugo Oliveira, coach of Famalicão, Leno, goalkeeper of Fulham, or Beto, former goalkeeper of the National Team, Sporting, or Sevilla, among others. And also Franco Israel, who was also a goalkeeper for Sporting.
The Goal Nuno Marques remains central to this story.
The Goal Nuno Marques remains central to this story.
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