Locals at Chapecoense's home town pay respects to crash victims

Tens of thousands of people packed Arena Condá, the home stadium of Chapecoense football club in Chapecó, Santa Catarina, last night (Nov. 30) to pay tribute to the victims of the plane crash in Colombia. The plane was flying the Brazilian club's delegation and journalists to Medellín, Colombia, to play their first final at the South American men's football cup against Colombia's Atlético Nacional in Medellín. The gathering took place the night the game had been slated to take place.

The crowd were reeling with emotion from the moment they arrived at the stadium. In the streets of Chapecó, there seemed to be no other possible destination than Arena Condá—groups of friends and whole families marched to the stadium wearing the Chapecoense colors and carrying the club's banners and flags.

There were simultaneous tributes at Arena Condá and Atanasio Girardot stadium in Medellín, Colombia, at the time of the match.

At the peak of the ceremony, a big screen at Arena Condá showed the names and pictures of all 71 people who died in the crash, bringing the crowd to tears.

Athletes swept away with emotional tribute

“I was supposed to be on that flight, but at the last minute I didn't go. Maybe this is a sign I was meant to stay here. Now I feel there's nothing I can say no to. Whatever I can do for this club, I'm willing to do,” said goalkeeper Nivaldo. After the crash, he had announced he was going to retire from the pitch.

The athlete, one of the oldest in the club, talked about the crowd that packed Arena Condá to pay their last respects to the disaster victims. “It's been as painful for the fans as it's been for us. I think they have done today what they couldn't do at the [South American Cup] final. They believed we could win the cup, and I think they're venting it all out today. The support from our fans has been really comforting for us at this moment,” Nivaldo concluded.

Translated by Mayra Borges