Cody Gakpo: ‘I try to transfer the lessons from my church to others as best I can’

From his room in the St. Regis hotel in Doha, Cody Gakpo regularly contacts the pastor of the Levende Steen Pentecostal church in Roermond. The 23-year-old international does not deviate from his daily routine at the World Cup in which the Christian faith plays a major role. “If I can’t go to church, I call the pastor. I do that at PSV, and now too. Faith gives me peace. And strength when I need it,” Gakpo explains at a table on the terrace of the Oranje players’ hotel. “I often read the Bible before I go to sleep. It is a kind of love letter that tells us how we should treat each other.”

Gakpo is certainly not alone in his confession of faith within the selection of the Dutch national team. In fact, within Orange there is a team of believers who come together in a separate room in the hotel to pray before every game. Striker Memphis Depay usually leads the prayer. “Yes, the upcoming match plays a role in this,” Gakpo said during an interview with three journalists. “But faith is of course much more than football. We are thankful to God for what we have. We feel blessed as football players of Orange.”

According to the attacker of Orange, the internationals are not ‘accidental’ at this World Cup. Gakpo believes that his life is largely predetermined. And that as an international professional footballer he should use the platform to spread a message. “As footballers, we are in the spotlight. People watch us. I feel it a duty to do something about it. I try to convey the lessons I learn from my church as best as possible to others who need it,” says the top scorer of Orange at the World Cup.

Dumfries’ eulogy

Although Gakpo did not score in the round of 16 against the United States, goalscorer Denzel Dumfries wore his title as man of the match on him for the cameras. “Gakpo is a religious person. He has prayed with us. They were special sessions. And that has brought me closer to God. That has given me a lot of strength and I am very grateful to him for that”, were the words of a reborn Dumfries, who hardly hit a ball properly during the first three group matches.

A modest smile appears on Gakpo’s face as the judge’s praise wingback is discussed. “I talk a lot about religion with Jurriën Timber, Denzel Dumfries and a number of other boys. I often take the floor because I am the one who has studied the faith the longest,” says Gakpo. “We support each other to be better people. Everyone should do what suits them best. Dumfries doesn’t get that power from me, but from God. It gives him the peace he needs in his head and his heart.”

Gakpo does not consider itself an exception in a society in which the Christian faith plays less and less of a role. He laughs and says: “When I go to the church in Roermond, it is always full. You will be surprised how many young people are engaged in faith.”

The topic of conversation at the table changes. From faith to playing football at a World Cup. Although his religion also plays a constant role there. Gakpo has been the revelation at Orange so far and his name is buzzing around in the national and international media. His name is known all over the world, from Costa Rica to Ecuador and from the Netherlands to Togo, the country of his father’s birth. “A lot is involved in a World Cup. You experience so much in such a short time. For example, it was nice that we could talk to migrant workers before the tournament. Because we also know what happened here. Still, we’re here to play football. And everything is aimed at that. You play with the best players in your country against the best players in the world. You live in a kind of tunnel towards the next training and the next match. Of course I know where I am and it gives a special feeling to score. But everything here revolves around performance with Orange. When I think about it, I realize what this unleashes. In the Netherlands. But also in Togo. There are bound to be people cheering for me. I think that is a very nice idea.”

Effective

Gakpo says he is far from reaching his ceiling. His figures at the World Cup – with three goals in four international matches – are almost as impressive as those at PSV. The Eindhoven ‘contortionist’ proves in Qatar that he can also be effective on the highest podium. Deep down, Gakpo is still the boy who prefers to find the shortest way to the goal while pinging. The Brazilian Pelé, the Argentinian Diego Maradona and to a lesser extent Lionel Messi were his idols for a reason. “When I was little, my father and I often watched old images of Pelé on YouTube. He made wonderful moves. Superb goals. Pelé put so much energy into his game. But most of all he was completely free to do whatever came to his mind. Totally uninhibited. It is sad to hear that Pelé is not doing well. Before, I just wanted to make actions. But interests have become much greater. I try to recognize the right times when I can go. I feel best when I’m facing the target. Then I come into my strength.”

During the World Cup, Gakpo’s thoughts automatically go back to last August. He played one of his weakest matches for PSV in the play-offs of the Champions League against Rangers FC. The elimination and missing out on a transfer to the Premier League was a double blow for him. “That was a tough period,” Gakpo sighs. “I learned from that. I’m going to do it differently. What comes, that comes. Suppose you want to go from RKC to PSV, but that club is not coming. Then you can panic. I thought about Manchester United, but when that didn’t happen, I couldn’t remember. And I started to doubt. Leeds United did come. Should I go there? Now I wait everything. I haven’t heard from Manchester United yet. When they come, I’ll think about it. I also seek the help of God in these decisions. I ask him what I can do best.”

Multicultural selection

Now everything is focused on the World Cup. It is a tantalizing thought for Gakpo that he will face Argentina and Lionel Messi on Friday evening at the Lusail Stadium. Although he says he is not working on it. “Of course I have always followed Messi. But we shouldn’t think about him. We have to win and it doesn’t matter who it is against. Argentina is here for a certain purpose, and so are we,” says Gakpo, who partly understands the criticism of the unattractive game of the Orange. “We are aware that we have to play better against Argentina. And we can. Although in a tournament like this it is about the result. We have to find the right moments on the field to use each other’s strengths.”

According to Gakpo, the team spirit is almost unprecedented in the current Orange. “Everyone respects each other,” he says. The multicultural selection of the Netherlands – with roots in Suriname, Ghana, Togo, Ivory Coast and Curaçao – is, according to Gakpo, a perfect example of how different cultures can interact. “At Orange we don’t look at where someone comes from. That is not mentioned. And that’s how it should be. It is very normal for us to be with this group. And we try to convey that. It would be great if we could convey some of that feeling. That in the Netherlands everyone celebrates together.”