By Chris Wright
With a 1-1 semi-final second leg draw against Rio Ave last night ensuring Sporting Braga safe passage into the Taça de Portugal (Portuguese cup) final, head coach Sergio Conceicao was left with a debt he needed to settle.
Having promised before the game that he would run home from Rio Ave’s stadium should Sporting Braga make it through to the final, Conceicao laced up his trainers after the final whistle and, along with his backroom staff, jogged the 24 miles back to Braga.
Braga went into the game leading 3-0 from the first leg and only needed to avoid a heavy beating to make it through to face Sporting Lisbon in the final, but nonetheless former Lazio winger Conceicao felt it necessary to lay his blisters on the line and make his wager.
“It’s not easy working for me. I’m a very demanding coach,” Conceicao told reporters after the game.
“It’s a deserved reward for the players.”
Presumably he’s talking about getting to watch their bossy gaffer having to run a marathon in the middle of the night.
(Photo: A Bola)