Académica OAF emerged as the winner of the 2nd edition of the Hospital da Luz Cup after facing União Desportiva de Santarém on 31 July, in a match that was ultimately decided by a penalty shootout. The friendly fixture brought together the football teams of two clubs supported by Hospital da Luz as Official Medical Services partners and once again highlighted the importance of connecting Health and Sport. This second edition of the Hospital da Luz Cup featured a group of very special guests. Accompanying the players onto the pitch were 12 player escorts wearing Hospital da Luz shirts. These young participants were children of Hospital da Luz employees, invited to Santarém to enjoy a unique experience and share in the excitement of football from the heart of the action. LU, the Hospital da Luz mascot, was a lively and constant presence throughout the event. LU cheered alongside fans from both teams in the stands, posed for photos with Égua and Touro, the mascots of União de Santarém, and entertained spectators during half-time by challenging three young fans to hit the crossbar or goalposts. Although none managed to complete the challenge, prizes were awarded to all participants. The match, which ended with a 4-3 victory for Académica, took place at Campo Chã das Padeiras in Santarém. At the end of the game, the Hospital da Luz Cup was presented to the winning team by Rita Paulos, Clinical Director, and Tatiana Silvestre, General Manager of the new Hospital da Luz Ribatejo, the next Luz Saúde hospital scheduled to open its doors. Speaking after the match, Académica OAF captain Leandro Silva highlighted the importance of the pre-season period in preparing for the new campaign. “We want to be as prepared as possible by next week, continue the work we have been developing, improve our physical condition and help the new players integrate quickly so that they feel at home as soon as possible,” he said. Académica head coach António Barbosa also thanked Hospital da Luz for the invitation and praised the initiative. “As one of our partners, it is a great honor to be here and to play against an excellent and very well-organized team,” he noted. On the UD Santarém side, head coach Gonçalo Carvalho spoke about the enthusiasm surrounding the start of the new season. “It is an exciting challenge at our level, and our expectations are very positive. In line with our mission, we want to win matches, play attractive football, count on the support of our fans, enjoy the journey and, at the end of the season, have something to celebrate,” he said. Representing Hospital da Luz Ribatejo, Executive Board Member Pedro Patrício underlined the importance of the Hospital da Luz Cup as an opportunity to engage with the community and promote healthy lifestyles through sport. “The opening of Hospital da Luz Ribatejo is scheduled for October. It will be the largest private hospital in Portugal between Lisbon and Porto, with 40 inpatient beds, intermediate care facilities, four operating theatres and three MRI scanners. The hospital is designed to serve the 480,000 residents of the Ribatejo region. Our goal is to create value in people’s lives and, above all, to be a place where people turn to us, live healthier lives and feel happier,” he emphasized. * english translation generated with AI and reviewed by the editorial team
