Connect with us

Premier League

EMILIANO SALA: BODY TO BE FLOWN HOME TO ARGENTINA FOR VIGIL

Published

on

Emiliano Sala’s remains begin homeward journey as the body is to be flown back to his hometown in Argentina where a vigil is planned.

Sala, 28, was travelling to Cardiff in a plane piloted by David Ibbotson, which went missing over the English Channel on 21 January.

His body was recovered from the plane wreck last week but Mr Ibbotson’s body has still not been found.

Sala was flying to join his new side Cardiff City from French club Nantes when the plane went missing.

Julio Muller, mayor of Sala’s hometown of Progreso, said the footballer’s family had arrived for the service.

Advertisement

Mr Muller said Sala’s body would arrive in the late afternoon on Friday and be taken to the gymnasium next to his youth club’s headquarters, where a vigil was scheduled.

His boyhood club San Martin de Progreso posted an emotional tribute on Facebook, saying: “We are waiting for you…like the first day you left but this time to stay with us forever.

“You went and you are an example for everyone. Eternally in our hearts.”

Authorities formally identified Sala’s body last week, with his family saying they could “now begin to mourn our son and our brother.”

Sala died of “head and trunk injuries,” an inquest heard on Monday.

Advertisement

His former teammates gave him a rousing send off on Sunday, playing a French league match in a special black kit with each player wearing Sala’s name on the back of their jersey.

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

Continue Reading
Advertisement