The Hindu : Sport : Junior's body on way to Brazil

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 14, 2004

Sport

Sport

Junior's body on way to Brazil

By Our Special Correspondent

MUMBAI, DEC. 13. Cristiano Junior's mortal remains arrived in Mumbai on the last leg of its India journey. The Brazilian's heart will, however, remain in Bangalore until a formal request is made by the Brazilian government. It is learnt a CT Scan was done on the footballer's body at a Goa hospital by Dempo SC, as per All India Football Federation (AIFF) instruction.

According to AIFF sources, arrangements can be made for transporting the heart in case the Brazilian government seeks it. Till then the federation will follow advice from FIFA Medical Commission in dealing with the matter. Cristiano's heart is in custody of Bangalore's Victoria Hospital after the first post-mortem was done, attributing exhaustion and excitement as causes for the footballer's collapse and death on the field. "The FIFA Medical Commision has been informed about procedures," said the AIFF secretary, Albert Colaco, from New Delhi on Monday.

Our Special Correspondent adds from Panaji

Dempo bids adieu

Football fans and Dempo players bid a tearful farewell to Cristiano Junior on Monday. It was a solemn moment as the entire Dempo team gathered around the coffin for the last time even as a police band played. Coach Armando Colaco and Dempo Group of Companies chairman, Srinivas Dempo, were present on the occasion.

The team members, clad in their jerseys, then wrapped the Dempo flag around his coffin and carried it to the hearse van.

"Let Junior be your inspiration to play hard. He lived and died for the game, let him be the reason for you all to play to win," a Dempo official exhorted the players as they lifted the coffin.

Describing the death as "a very sad event," Mr. Dempo said there was an imminent need for improvement of facilities for football players. He reiterated that the Club would honour the full contract with Junior (to pay the entire contract fee) though he was with the club for hardly two months.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport