The Euro Winners pitchside proposal

Real Munster’s Gabriel Mohagheghi proposed to his girlfriend Parandosh during the Euro Winners Cup in Nazaré

Beach soccer has been bringing people together for years and Nazaré seems to be the perfect place for it, a place where our beautiful sport meets love. 

The Portuguese costal town has seen several love stories in the past but at the 2019 Euro Winners Cup, Nazaré witnessed its first marriage proposal!

Real Munster goalkeeper, Gabriel Mohagheghi, picked the special moment to pop the question to his now-fiancé, just before one of his team’s match. 

“I chose to propose here because Nazaré is a beautiful place and, of course, I’m a beach soccer player and beach soccer is my passion.

I actually don’t usually play, as I am the coach, but when my team needs a player I play as the goalkeeper.” Despite playing between the posts, Gabriel managed to get on the scoresheet in the two games following the proposal; not bad for a goalkeeper, right?

The fact that Parandosh, Gabriel’s new wife-to-be, said yes clearly gave him that extra attacking boost.

The event in Nazaré obviously means a lot to the couple. “The Euro Winners Cup is a very special event. The organisation is perfect and a very nice environment for beach soccer. This is the first year in the Euro Winners for my team [Real Munster] but we want to come back.” 

Gabriel Mohagheghi is from Iran, but he has lived in Germany for many years. His team is his project and his passion. 

“Real Munster is my team. I sponsor the team, I coach the team. I am very happy with the young squad. We’ve come here and played against big side such as CSKA Moscow and Perwez, a very good team from Belgium team, and we had some very tight games.”

But back to the love story: how and where did Gabriel and Parandosh paths first cross? 

“We met in Germany but I am also from Iran.” Parandosh explains. “I have lived in Germany for five years and Gabriel for 15. At the minute I’m studying there.”

“We have been together from six months.” Gabriel adds, and then stops to think a little. “No, seven!” They look at each other and laugh.

Beach soccer, like many sports where two sides contest, has its confrontational aspects, but it is moments like this one between the newly-engaged couple that remind you of the companionship that the sport provides to so many.