Two thousand Vitória de Setúbal fans watched the team’s debut game at Estádio do Bonfim in 2024/25, a season in which the club participates in the II district division of the Setúbal Football Association.
Among the 1,812 spectators who went to the stadium were former glories of the past, such as Herculano Santos, who is the only Setúbal native to have won two Portuguese Cups for Vitória (1965 and 1967), and also emblematic players from the club’s recent history, such as forward Zequinha.
Herculano and Zequinha, body and soul
Speaking to Lusa, former defender Herculano , 83, who was coached by Fernando Vaz and José Maria Pedroto in the club’s golden days, explained the reasons why he sat in the stands next to his fellow countryman and former teammate José Mendes (a former star of the Setúbal and Sporting teams) to watch the district match.
“ I’m here because I’m from Setúbal and because I have a great love for the club. It’s hard for me to see it in this situation, but I couldn’t turn my back on it because this is, and always will be, my Vitória, regardless of the division it’s in. I feel sad to see Vitória as it is today and I’m afraid I’ll never see it at the same great level it was in the past ,” he confessed emotionally.
Also at the stadium cheering for Vitória was Zequinha , the club’s former striker who now plays for neighbouring team Comércio e Indústria in the Campeonato de Portugal. In a box at Bonfim, next to another one where there were also former teammates, the athlete confessed the reasons that brought him to the stadium.
“ It’s always good to come home and support Vitória in a critical phase. Everyone who loves Vitória hopes that the club can turn things around. As a Setúbal native and a Vitória fan, I will always be one of those on the outside, giving my energy so that things go well ,” he said.
Comments are closed.