“When he shall die Take him up and cut him out in little stars And he will make the face of Heaven so fine That all the world will be in love with night And pay no worship to the garish sun” – William Shakespeare; Romeo and Juliet: Act 3, Scene 2
Over the past few weeks, the football world has collectively borrowed this leaf from Shakespeare in mourning not one but 71 (19 of whom were footballers) fallen victims of the ill-fated LaMia flight 2933 Air Disaster of 28th November, 2016. The aircraft was charged with transporting football and non-football staff of the Chapecoense Football Club from Bolivia to Colombia to take their first major step to glory which was the Copa Sudamericana Finals. Not since 1958 when members of the famed Busby Babes of Manchester United were sent to their graves when their plane had problems lifting off had football mourned with such vehemence. It was tragedy on some seismic proportions. A colossal blow delivered right smack unto the jugular of the world of football. A devastating tale of a team with a football season that had been nothing short of a fairytale sent to bring back a trophy but returned in coffins. Death, the uninvited umpire had sounded the final whistle on their lives The football world was united in such colossal grief. It wouldn’t let one of her own bear the heavy burden of grief on its own. Immediately the news touched down on the runway that were newspaper headlines, club sides and Football Assoiations around the world began to express solemn solidarity and deep respect for the fallen heroes. Many gestures were made to help Chapecoense. From a minute silence observed on virtually all football grounds to players wearing black bands to monetary donations, then legends like Ronaldinho and Riquelme coming out of retirement to play for free for the club and biggest of all, their opponents at the Copa Sudamericana finals, Colombian Club, Atletico Nacional offering to automatically crown Chapecoense 2016 Sudamericana Champions in a statement that read; “For our part, and forever, Chapecoense are champions of the 2016 Copa Sudamericana” On the day the coffins arrived the stadium they once graced as heroes and it, their stage, you didn’t have to be directly connected to those folks to have heart wrenching emotions evoked under the very powerful poignant atmosphere. A direct agreement with Shakespeare in King Richard 2 when he said, “On pain of death, no person be so bold.”
The heavy down poor didn’t rob the fans their chance from cheering their idols once last time and paying their deepest respects in acknowledgement of the ultimate sacrifice their heroes had paid. Family members of the deceased and surviving players were visibly shattered. From the powerful images from the memorial, the tributes pouring in and the general response globally, it is safe to say heroes are not always dressed in khakis or ceremonial Military dresses with order insignias and full size medals, sometimes they are just guys in tops, shorts and soccer boots. Our thoughts and prayers as lovers of football and sports at large remain with their family members, survivors, Chapecoense FC and Brazil as a whole. Thank you for your service to the round leather game. Heroes you were, heroes you’d continue to be. Till we meet on the other side. You belong with the ages now. #ForzaChapecoense
Olumide Obatuyi
