Chapecoense survivors lift top trophy two months after
It is just unbelievable that they managed to rebuild the entire team, and the club board in such a short time.
The three surviving players of the air crash two months ago that killed 19 members of Brazil’s Chapecoense football club lifted the Copa Sudamericana trophy yesterday in honour of their dead teammates.
The moving moment came just before the rebuilt side played their first match since the November 28 tragedy, drawing 2-2 with defending Brazilian champions Palmeiras in a charity game.
The most emotional scene came when goalkeeper Jackson Follmann, who survived the crash but had part of his right leg amputated, lifted the trophy while seated in a wheelchair.
Defender Neto, who survived under the plane wreckage for almost Wayne Rooney celebrates after scoring his 250th goal for Manchester United, 10 hours, also held the trophy in front of 20,000 fans at Chapecoense’s soldout Arena Conda stadium, as did winger Alan Ruschel.
All three were in tears during the ceremony. Family members of the victims also broke down crying as they were awarded medals.
Chapecoense were awarded the trophy following the disaster, a move backed by Colombian club Atletico Nacional, who were scheduled to face Chapecoense in the Copa Sudamericana final.
Another survivor— radio journalist Rafael Henzel — announced the friendly match in a return to the broadcast booth.
The southern Brazilian city of
Former Chapecoense player Janca