The chosen Juan Juan

The semmit in question carries a spiritual soundbite: ''Jesus Loves You''. Juan Sara, a recognisable figure in the iconography of Scottish football, is a player on a mission from God.

Earlier, I had feared that Sara, a handsome, reasonably articulate, but incredibly shy individual would pull out of our meeting on the grounds that he might have to attend a prayer meeting at the Central Baptist Church in Dundee, where he is a regular, or that his general sense of not wanting to be in the spotlight might finally get the better of him. But not today. Apart from his little episode of reticence in the changing room he is happy to be a prophet in a strange land.

I am encouraged by a previous press cutting that said Sara was bewildered by an incident at Love Street, when Dundee were playing St

Mirren, and he was sent off for his customary godly goal celebration - lifting his jersey to reveal a religious message that read ''I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.'' He told his manager he would keep the word of God hidden away in future and, instead, point skywards for people to know his belief. Some weeks later, after the celebrations had been on ice, the Almighty helped him break his promise. Sara has been lifting his top in praise of Jesus ever since. Great, I think, he tells little white lies. ''I was very unhappy over this and disappointed to be sent off for celebrating. It was just one referee who had a problem. All I want is to let people know how much I think about God and how much he has helped me. That's why I celebrate.''

Most footballers wouldn't know their gospels from the convertibles. Perhaps it's all just a stunt for the fans. ''No, no,'' he insists, ''I strongly believe that my faith in Jesus rules everything I do in my life. When I score I want people to know what I believe.'' The fans of Dundee obviously share his ''strengtheneth'' message from St Paul's letter to the Philippians. Like Paul, they have seen their fair share of physical hardships watching their team. Over the years they've also had to go without food and shelter in their quest for something heavenly: a decent team.

As he leaves the changing rooms, cutting a designer dash, Juan Sara is cheered by a few of his team mates and he smiles and apologises again to Angie for the incident in the shower. ''I'm sorry,'' he says, in an accent that could be spread on a burrito, ''but I feel very strongly about this.'' We head to another room and Sara tells me about the themes of his life. God, love, family, happiness and decency, in no particular order. Tall, with smooth, dark skin and deep chocolate eyes Sara, according to some of the comments on website message boards bearing his name, is ''the sexiest player I have ever seen!'' Another says: ''Juan is one of the best things to happen to Scottish football and boy is he scrummy . . . wohoo, go Juan.'' He is very handsome, with a deep laconic, saintly smile. He could almost be a paragon of holy

perfection if his copybook were not blotted by a speeding charge in September 2000 when he was caught driving at 103mph going from Edinburgh to Perth on the M90 motorway. His excuse? He said that having only recently bought the car he ''didn't appreciate how quickly it would go.'' More little white lies?

When Angie finally photographs him he stares insolently at the camera. It's not in defiance but more from a sense of not really wanting to be there. Vanity, of course, is a sin and while he might occasionally look arrogant he is not in the least. He is immensely likeable. And about as exciting as two wardrobes falling into each other.

Juan Sara, 26, was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, but found Jesus in Paraguay only a few years ago. Before this he was raised in a middle-class suburb by his doctor father, Guillermo, who is now a politician with the Partido Justicialista, and his mother, Susana, who runs her own fashion business. He has a younger brother, Facundo, and the two of them learned to play football on the streets. Although not quite the muddy banks of the shanty towns where Diego Maradona, that other rather well-known Argentinian star practised, his football skills quickly developed.

Like most young Argentinians the backdrop to his football skills was clouded by the Falklands War, an occasion he remembers well, or at least, its legacy. ''It was so stupid. My best friend lost his father in the war and for what? Argentina should not have gone to war. It was never equipped to do so. Galtieri (the leader at the time of the conflict) is not a popular man.'' And then he adds. ''But that is in the past. The country must look to the future.'' He waves his hand vaguely. His earliest football memories are of watching Ferro, a club from Buenos Aires that his father regularly took him to see. He played with Almirante Brown, at 16, spending three seasons there before moving to Chicaqo and then to Paraguay with Cerro Portino. It was here that he discovered God. ''In Paraguay I met an Argentinian player who spoke to me about Jesus and the Bible and I started to read it. I became very

interested in Jesus and his life. I was about 20 years old. Before this I was not very religious, although I did believe in God. It wasn't so important to me. My belief was very superficial.

''At the time I didn't feel very good about myself and my work. I was playing good during the week and doing well in training but when it came to Saturdays I could not play. Something would happen that I can't explain. I felt very

nervous and had no confidence. My legs were always heavy and I was confused. I wanted something to help me. I started to read and understand Jesus's life and things became clearer for me. Now I pray every day. It has been God's help to give me the peace to live and I have left everything in His hands. God has decided already. He has taken away the pressure and the nervousness. I have a good relationship with God. People have said I am a very religious man, but it is more important to say that I believe in God. It is a relationship. I am a Christian. I have become more peaceful in myself and I am even more relaxed and confident. I was drawn to his understanding and sense of social justice.''

Sara as a revolutionary, I say? He laughs. ''Maybe Jesus, but not me. I am a very quiet and private person.'' When I mention his own whiter-than-white image he shrugs. ''I am

comfortable with who I am. Maybe some more footballers need Jesus.''

I ask if he ever cheats at football. ''No,'' he cries, almost recoiling in horror, ''but sometimes it is hard to be Christian on the field.'' Raised on a diet of Argentine and Paraguayan football somehow I can't imagine this strapping six-footer taking too many blows regardless of what God might think.

He attends the Central Baptist Church in Dundee every week, participating in Bible-reading classes, faith and friendship groups and evening fellowships. ''I attend prayer groups and work with people in the church. I spend a lot of time with the church. It helps a lot. I managed to encourage our goalkeeper (Julian Speroni) to come along, too.'' His missionary zeal is impressive and genuine, not least when I discover that Karina, his ''perfect wife'', whom he married last year, also shares his faith. This is no millionaire sportsman belatedly embracing God or Allah at the twilight of his career. Sara believes in God because he wants to, not because it might help with a contract or a product endorsement.

Away from the political and economic problems of Argentina and its near slide into total anarchy, his life in Scotland is comfortable. He likes the country and is thankful that he has been given the opportunity to showcase his talents here. Yet already he is honest enough to admit that if he wants to progress in football, truly make his mark, he must play in either England, Spain or Italy. (A few days after our meeting, Sara is on the verge of completing a loan deal with English First Division team, Millwall, for the rest of the season.) ''My future is in the hands of Him. I would love to play for Real Madrid or something to test myself and my ability. God has a plan for me. I don't worry about my future because there is no point. He will take care of things.'' Would he, I wonder, rule out the possibility of becoming a missionary if that is what God ordained? He nods, emphatically, in the

affirmative, even before I have finished asking him the question. ''Yes,'' he says, with a twinkle, ''if that is what God wants how can I refuse?''

The preachin' poacher also attends - whenever his hectic schedule allows - the Sports Outreach Scotland (SPS), run by pastor Steve Connor, who enjoyed a ''short and unillustrious'' NFL career playing for the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams. Connor, who arrived in the UK 12 years ago at the behest of the chaplain to English cricket, and in Scotland more than three years ago, has encountered varying degrees of scepticism but believes that now, in sports, ''you can hardly swing a cat without

hitting a Christian sportsman.''

Connor, who is the official chaplain to the Scottish Claymores, and who recently wrote A Sporting Guide to Eternity, began the SPS in order to develop an active and healthy sports ministry through churches, high-profile sports people, youth and school organisations, universities and amateur sport. Although not quite the Scottish branch of Davidian Footballers - ''give me half of your wages and repent!'' - Sara and a number of other soccer stars, including Marvin Andrews, at Livingston, Stuart Elliot and Derek Woods, both with Motherwell, Bert Konterman, at Rangers, Brian Irvine, formerly of Aberdeen and Richard Huxford, previously of Dunfermline, Alloa and Partick Thistle, are all involved with the pastor and his ministry. ''You just start talking,'' says Connor, ''meeting guys, discussing problems, and issues. The feedback has been very positive. We read our scriptures and we pray together.

We try to meet up regularly together but it's not always easy. We rotate around each other depending on whose house is available. It's a time to encourage each other in the faith, just like church should be. I am amazed by how much these guys are concerned about their team mates. I wish I could bring the average churchgoer to see their concern. Juan has been inviting friends to Bible studies, his church, whatever. They just want their friends to know about the Lord.''

The church, continues Connor, really engaged in sport before the rise of the professional game, and made it credible when a large number of football clubs were formed through church leagues, before they disengaged and pulled out of sport. ''Now we are trying to re-engage things. This is where Jesus would be. Jesus always got the flack from the flock for hanging out with the tough guys. Tommy Burns of Celtic is a great rep for us. He's a really keen guy but doesn't come along to the meetings because he's so busy. But he's very sympathetic to what we're doing. It's ecumenical. We transcend all faiths. We want to make sure it stays that way. We're a Christian, ecumenical and non-denominational organisation and we're trying to be a ministry that is not static.'' He pauses. Still looking like a well-honed athlete, Connor insists that being a Christian doesn't mean you need to lie down to your

opponents. ''You say a prayer and then you hit the opposition as hard and fast as the law allows.'' And if there's another Christian in front of you? ''You go right through him.''

Sara prays every day, and occasionally manages a nod to his deity during a game. He appears as calm as an iceberg and unflappable when I ask how he copes with the banter of a dressing room full of testosterone-fuelled males who pray, I imagine, as often as they write poetry. ''They respect me, I think, and they know how I feel and they know that it also helps me. There are no problems. I think many of them need God as well.'' Dario Magri, the club

co-ordinator and cousin of manager Bonetti, agrees. ''Not only is Juan the best-looking player we've got,'' he laughs, ''he's also one of the nicest. He is very respected by the other players and he's just as you see him. Decent, hard-working, genuine and Christian. He's the opposite of what you come to expect from most footballers.''

Sara's phlegmatic attitude is explained by his inner calm. He says that he has always had an easygoing attitude, although he was not always as firm a believer as he is now. The church and God, he says, used to be the dominant factor in many people's lives. Now it is sport. ''Maybe we can bring the two closer together.''

Christian missionaries are not unknown in Dundee and Juan Sara is not the only one to have made an impression. In the nineteenth century Mary Slessor devoted much of her life to missionary work in Africa on behalf of the United Presbyterian Church and reminders of her are seen in street names in the city. It remains to be seen whether Juan Sara Avenue or Sara Square will pop up in the next few years. It's in the hands of the Lord. n