Ricardo Rocha, a Santa Clara member, decided to climb Pico, the highest mountain in Portugal, with a sign asking Jorge Jesus, the national team coach, to call up Gonçalo Paciência for the National Team. The initiative was an original way to draw attention to the striker who plays for Santa Clara.
Ricardo Rocha took advantage of the visibility of the climb to Pico to make the request in an unusual way, showing the sign with the message addressed directly to the Portuguese coach. The gesture was intended to demonstrate the support of Azorean fans for the player.
Gonçalo Paciência, a 30-year-old striker, was representing Santa Clara at the time, a team from the Portuguese Primeira Liga. The player already had some international experience, having been called up to previous National Team squads.
This action falls within the context of frequent requests from fans for certain players to be included in the National Team, although the final decision on call-ups belongs exclusively to the national team coach.
