Belgian footballer Jeremy Doku has spoken about how his faith and the Christian unity shown by many players carried him through the World Cup, which for him included injury and scrutiny for leaving to attend the birth of his son.
In a candid mini-documentary released on Sunday, the Manchester City attacker spoke of his hope that “seeds have been planted” by Christian players praying on the pitch together and celebrations pointing back to Christ.
The 24 year-old shared how footballers from different nations came together before the tournament, wanting to use their platform to show “ there is a king above all kings and that he must be glorified.”
Doku also believes a calf strain and breathing problems, which would have kept him on the sidelines, was a moment of “the Lord using injury to his favour”. It allowed him to travel back to the UK as his wife Shireen went into labour with their son, named Praise.
The move drew both support and criticism, with one journalist being suspended from her role for saying Doku had abandoned the team because a father at the birth is “completely useless” at a birth, which is itself a “disgusting moment”. He used the documentary to criticise the backlash she received, praying that she would “be able to experience the love Jesus has for us”.
“In the kingdom of heaven, it’s Jesus first, then family, then football and the rest. My witness outside the pitch was even louder than my witness on the pitch … I wouldn’t have chosen [it], but that is the role I had.”
When Doku returned to America, his injury issues had disappeared and he was able to play: “I don’t believe in coincidences. For me, coincidence is a thief of glory that belongs to God.”
He shared about how the tournament had been a humbling experience, not meeting the expectations he set himself on the pitch.
“Sometimes our ambition stands in the way of what the Lord wants us to do. I was used in this World Cup in a different way than I expected. I thought I would be the guy that scores goals, and in that way point the glory to him. That was not what happened.
“Because he has been so gracious with us, we expect him to come, we expect him to let us be on the front page. If you’re not careful, you’ll start to seek his hand instead of seeking his face.”
Asked about a message to his son when he grows up, he said: “I pray that he will serve the Lord with his whole heart”.