Family, friends, and neighbours of Crumlin native Roberto Lopes surprised him today as they lined out to give him a send off ahead of this summer's FIFA World Cup.
The 33-year-old Shamrock Rovers man, known to friends as Pico, thought he was meeting his parents for Sunday dinner, but instead was greeted by loved ones waving Cape Verde flags.
Mr Lopes qualified to play for the nation off the coast of west Africa through his father Carlos.
Os Tubarões Azuis as they’re nicknamed (the Blue Sharks in Portuguese), qualified for the World Cup last October, and will play against Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia this summer.
Mr Lopes joined the national team seven years ago, having received a message in LinkedIn asking if he was interested.
He had initially thought the message was a joke, but fast forward to today and he’s been to two African Cup of Nations tournaments and now is on his way to the US.
His father Carlos said becoming a footballer was his son's "dream since he was a baby".
"He made it. "
His mother Judy said: "We couldn’t be prouder of him.
"Pico is a very happy man, always was, very calm, no trouble at all.
"He took to the football, I don’t know where he got his talent from, it’s not from either of us! But he’s worked hard and got his just rewards."
Neighbour Sheena Heavey helped organise his surprise, and said he spent his childhood on the green kicking a ball with his friends.
"It’s great that we have a national player playing in the World Cup, it’s given everybody a lift," she said.
"We’ll be out here hopefully in the gazebos watching a few of the matches this summer."
Dundalk’s Keith Buckley was among those who came to wish him well.
The pair played together in Belvedere at underage level, as well as Bohemians.
"You could always see his professionalism and dedication and will to want to go on to do further things.
"It’s just a testament to the person he is now. It’s ten days away, he’s so excited to go away and we’re excited to watch it. We’ll be up until all hours watching the games."
Speaking to RTÉ News, Mr Lopes said it was "amazing" to see everyone turn out.
"The support has been unbelievable, from the Cape Verde fans, and back here from League of Ireland fans, family, and friends."
He said he "can’t wait" to mix it with the best in the US, adding that they "don’t come much bigger than Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia, which will be a game where both teams will feel they can get something out of."
Mr Lopes won’t be traveling alone, his wife Leah O’Shaughnessy, seven-month-old son Diego, and other family members will be traveling to the games in Atlanta, Miami, and Houston in a campervan.
"We are really proud, they’re just amazing memories to be able to look back on with him (Diego), he probably won’t remember it, but we’ll be able to look at photographs and videos and say that he was able to watch his daddy in the World Cup."
