UNITED IN GRIEF

   “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

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