Bayo Questionined God

One of the lasting images I have of the last few minutes at the Millennium Stadium back in May is the sight of Bayo Akinfenwa in the centre circle clearly asking powers above why it had to be him to miss the penalty. That was just before I vacated my seat deciding that I couldn't watch the Barnsley celebrations any more.

Bayo's penalty had, just minutes earlier, sailed over the crossbar and with it Swansea's chance of plying their trade in the Championship in three weeks time. Tatey missed one right at the death but it was Bayo's miss from which Swansea never recovered and in an interview in today's News of the World, Bayo revealed that the penalty miss completely shook his faith in God.

"I've never felt anything like that before. When I came to Swansea it was my aim to help take us into the Championship and that penalty could have taken us there. I'm not that much of an emotional guy - I'm very religious and a spiritual person and I strongly believe everything happens for a reason. But at that moment I just couldn't comprehend what was going on.

"All that understanding went out the window and the emotion just took over. I couldn't believe what I was feeling and I have to be honest, standing out there on the pitch I asked God 'Why?'

"Half an hour later I realised what I had done and I apologised for doubting him and questioning him. But that was the emotion of the whole thing. It was an emotional time talking to God after it happened but I have apologised since. And I keep apologising to him because he has blessed me in so many ways. It wasn't right for me to question him the one time something didn't go the way I wanted it to. Who am I to question him?

"I guess it was just a thing you do when emotion takes over but we are still tight and that's what matters. What happened happened but I know that I am stronger because of it.

"Last season I felt the greatest of highs when I scored the winner at the Football League Trophy final and then sank to the deepest of lows. I still find it hard to describe but it was a nasty, nasty feeling which you wouldn't want to go through. The whole squad was confident we could win promotion but, after the game, I just wanted to forget all about football. I couldn't go back to the hotel with the players so I went home to my family.

"I needed to be with the main people in my life - my wife, my family and God. We sat down, talked and prayed and then I flew out of the country to meet up with my brothers on holiday.

"It took time but I began to get over it and I realise how much stronger I am because of it. If this season brings it's trials and tribulations then we will all be better for it. As an individual I'm stronger, as a squad we're stronger and as a club we're stronger."