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James Porteous

Agencies

Two Brazilian footballers in Hong Kong have paid tribute to friends who lost their lives in the Chapecoense team’s air crash.
Hong Kong Pegasus midfielder Joao Emir mourned a “friend and brother” Josimar who was among the 71 victims and from the same town, Pelotas, in Rio Grande de Sul.
And former Pegasus and South China coach Ricardo Rambo, who is also from the same state, was in shock at the death of the team’s coach and many others who were friends of friends.
“The world of football woke up sad today, and even more to find out my friend / brother Josimar left us that way,” wrote Joao Emir on Facebook, with a picture of him and Josimar in the dressing room.
“Tears and sorrow catch us by surprise but I believe you’ll be taking care of your friends and family from up there my friend.
“Miss you always! A kiss, brother!”


Thirty-year-old Josimar was one of the team’s most experienced players after stints with top teams such as Palmeiras and Internacional.
Both he and Joao Emir had played for the same club, Brasil de Pelotas.
“I’m okay, just really unhappy cause he is one of my best friends,” said Joao Emir.
“We’ve known each other around 16 years, it’s a hard moment
“I’m still waiting for some news from Colombia, I don’t believe he died.”

That club was involved in a tragedy of its own in 2009 when their team bus slid down a ravine, leaving three dead and several players injured.
Josimar, then at Internacional, requested to be loaned back to his former club to help them, according to Brazilian reports.
Que essa seja a última imagem dos nosso guerreiros.#ForçaChape pic.twitter.com/Q1ZxF5h4sV
— Chapecoense (@ChapecoenseReal) 29 de novembro de 2016

<![CDATA[// ><!]]>

Rambo, one of the best-known Brazilian football men in Hong Kong having been in the city since 1998, admitted he was in shock at the tragedy.
“It’s really sad , I still can’t believe what’s happened,” he said.
“Coach Caio Junior I know from my time playing. We played once together. Many others were friends of friends.
“Young talents lost their life in a tragedy like that. They were all happy to be in an important final.
“Football is all united all over the world in thought of all their families.”
Chapecoense had fought their way up from the fourth division in recent seasons and were on their way to face Colombia’s Atletico Nacional in the Copa Sudamericana final.
Tributes poured in from around football, with the world’s top clubs and players posting condolences on social media.
Together in Mourning #ForcaChape pic.twitter.com/wPfrN0psvE
— Libby (@VodkaKix) November 30, 2016

<![CDATA[// ><!]]>

Brazilian clubs announced that they would loan players to Chapecoense without fees next season and asked that they be exempt from relegation, while Atletico Nacional requested the Sudamericana trophy be given to the club.
Expressions of grief poured in as South America’s federation canceled all scheduled matches in a show of solidarity, Real Madrid and Barcelona interrupted training for a minute’s silence and Argentine legend Diego Maradona sent his condolences to the victims’ families over Facebook.
Wembley, Bayern’s Allianz Arena, the Eiffel Tower and Rio’s Christ the Redeemer statue were among landmarks lit in Chapecoense’s green to pay tribute.
#ForçaChape pic.twitter.com/35GfAl2k7J
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 29, 2016

<![CDATA[// ><!]]>

And Anfield rose in a rousing rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone before Liverpool’s League Cup tie with Leeds United.
pic.twitter.com/eafd50s4AM
— Neymar Jr (@neymarjr) November 29, 2016

<![CDATA[// ><!]]>

Brazilian star Neymar posted a picture of Chapecoense’s logo with the hashtag #ForcaChape that was trending worldwide on Twitter.
All-time legend Pele made a similar post.
Brazilian football is in mourning. It is such a tragic loss. My sincere condolences to the families of the deceased. Rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/jfoTMUBWtN
— Pelé (@Pele) November 29, 2016

<![CDATA[// ><!]]>

Chapecoense striker Tiaguinho, 22, was set to become a father for the first time – a video his teammates made surprising him with the news went viral after the crash.
¡No puede ser Dios mío! Al jugador Thiaguinho su esposa le había mandado esta sorpresa de que iba a ser padre. pic.twitter.com/vpcyIeRuQz
— Wilson Ganem (@WillyGanem) November 29, 2016

<![CDATA[// ><!]]>

Only three Chapecoense players are believed to have survived the crash: left back Alan Ruschel, defender Helio “Neto” Zampier and reserve goalkeeper Jakson Follmann. The latter had to have a leg amputated.
Pictures on social media from the Chapecoense dressing room showed stunned players who did not travel struggling to cope with the tragedy.

One player, the son of the team’s manager revealed on social media that he did not travel because he forgot his passport. His father was among the victims.
Clubs across Brazil put aside old rivalries to show their solidarity with the stricken side.
Even teams whose most hated rivals play in green turned their stadiums and their web sites green on Tuesday night. Corinthians, who once looked at the possibility of dying their pitch a different colour because Palmeiras play in green, turned their home page a bright shade of emerald.
Additional reporting: Reuters, AP, AFP

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Joao Emir (second from right) posted this picture on Facebook with his former teammate Josimar (left), who died in the Chapecoense tragedy.

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Brazilian town grieves loss of Cinderella soccer team Chapecoense

A boy sits alone on the stands during a tribute to the players and officials of Brazilian club Chapecoense Real who were killed in a plane accident in the Colombian mountains. Photo: AFP

People attend a mass in memoriam of the players of Brazilian team Chapecoense Real killed in a plane crash in the Colombian mountains, in Chapeco, in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, on November 29, 2016. Players of the Chapecoense were among 81 people on board the doomed flight that crashed into mountains in northwestern Colombia, in which officials said just six people were thought to have survived, including three of the players. Chapecoense had risen from obscurity to make it to the Copa Sudamericana finals scheduled for Wednesday against Atletico Nacional of Colombia. / AFP PHOTO / Nelson Almeida

Fans light candles in tribute to the players of Brazilian team Chapecoense Real killed in a plane crash in the Colombian mountains, at their football stadium in Chapeco, Santa Catarina, Brazil on November 29, 2016. Players of the Chapecoense were among 81 people on board the doomed flight that crashed into mountains in northwestern Colombia, in which officials said just six people were thought to have survived, including three of the players. Chapecoense had risen from obscurity to make it to the Copa Sudamericana finals scheduled for Wednesday against Atletico Nacional of Colombia. / AFP PHOTO / Nelson Almeida

People surround a church during a mass in memoriam of the players of Brazilian team Chapecoense Real killed in a plane crash in the Colombian mountains, in Chapeco, in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, on November 29, 2016. Players of the Chapecoense were among 81 people on board the doomed flight that crashed into mountains in northwestern Colombia, in which officials said just six people were thought to have survived, including three of the players. Chapecoense had risen from obscurity to make it to the Copa Sudamericana finals scheduled for Wednesday against Atletico Nacional of Colombia. / AFP PHOTO / Nelson Almeida

Rescue teams work in the recovery of the bodies of victims of the LAMIA airlines charter that crashed in the mountains of Cerro Gordo, municipality of La Union, Colombia, on November 29, 2016 carrying members of the Brazilian football team Chapecoense Real. A charter plane carrying the Brazilian football team crashed in the mountains in Colombia late Monday, killing as many as 75 people, officials said. / AFP PHOTO / STR / Raul ARBOLEDA

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Chapecoense player Josimar a ‘friend and brother’ to Pegasus midfielder Joao Emir, while Ricardo Rambo knew team’s coach, another of 71 victims
