Tears Flow Bitterly As Hundreds Of People Turn Out For Footballer, Emiliano Sala's Funeral (Photos)

Emiliano Sala's coffin carried through the streets of his hometown as a crowd of mourners watches on

Emiliano Sala's family wept over his coffin as hundreds of the footballer's friends and relatives gathered for his funeral today.

Mourners arrived wearing "Emi" number 9 shirts in tribute to the Cardiff City striker, before his coffin was carried out from his childhood club for a private cremation.

The footballer, who was killed aged 28 in a plane crash along with pilot David Ibbotson, is being laid to rest at a service in Argentina today.

The tragic star's sister, Romina, sobs as her brother's wake ends and his coffin is brought out of the gym

His sister, Romina, wept as her brother's body was moved from his first club this afternoon, San Martin de Progreso, where he played until he was 15.

The star's dad, Horacio, cried and looked to the skies as he watched his son's coffin emerge into the street, as his mum kissed it before sobbing into the arms of former Nantes teammate Nicolas Pallois.

Sala's father weeps as his son's coffin is brought into the street

Pallois helped to carry Sala's coffin to the hearse as hundreds of people came to pay their respects.

Sala's heartbroken aunt, Mirta Taffarel, sobbed earlier today as she said: "I do not understand it.

"I would like to find a responsible person, someone to tell me what has happened, but it only seems that fate led us to this."

Sala had signed for the Bluebirds in a club-record move from Nantes last month, but was killed when the private plane carrying him crash-landed in the English Channel.

His cousin, Martin Gatti, said today he thought the player was "forced" onto the small plane.

He said: "Making him board a plane that was not in good condition, with a pilot who wasn't prepared, alone, at night. Where were the representatives?

"If you happen to be the most important player sold in the history of the club, they could have at least taken care of him, at least they would have taken care of him."

Following the memorial at the club, the striker's body was taken back to the city of Santa Fe for a private crematorium service for family members.

The coffin carrying Sala's body was carefully put into a hearse ahead of the private cremation

Today fans wore the red and black shirt of their local side, and some hung a banner outside the club which said: "Emi, You'll Never Walk Alone."

The town's 3,500 residents are expected to have queued up to say their farewell to the beloved player.

Emiliano Sala’s sister, Romina, was seen leaving the wake looking heartbroken, with reports saying his mother, Mercedes, had remained in the gym all morning.

Devastated friends and relatives clung to each other as they saw Sala's coffin carried out
Romina has been a devastated public figure throughout this tragedy, travelling to the UK and Guernsey to push for the privately funded search that eventually located the football star.
Ahead of the vigil, she wrote on Facebook this morning: "Tell me it’s a nightmare, Emi, come back please brother. Please. Love you so much."
A neighbour of the footballer's father told reporters: "I believe God needed a number nine up there. Now he has it."
Sala's body was driven from Buenos Aires airport to Progreso, around 334 miles northwest of the Argentine capital, for the service today.
Outside the club where the vigil is being held, fans have put up a banner saying "Emi, nunca caminaras soloa" which means "Emi, you'll never walk alone."

Roses were placed on top of the coffin before a private cremation
San Martin de Progreso posted an emotional tribute on Facebook earlier this week, 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."
Cardiff manager Neil Warnock and chief executive Ken Choo will attend the funeral after flying to his Argentinian home.

Sala's mum wept in the arms of his Nantes' teammate Pallois
Warnock said: "It’s been a very emotional morning.
“I think Mercedes has been an immense woman this morning. Everyone she’s met has had memories of Emiliano and it’s brought tears to her eyes.
“She’s very very proud of her son. We’ve met his father Horacio. His father’s the same and the brother and sister. "
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Source: The Sun UK

#CorpersNotSlave: The Plight, Unjust And Unfair Treatment Of NYSC Members

There should be dignity in labour and dignity of labour. Corps members shouldn’t have to suffer serving their country. Sadly, the silence of some candidates and stakeholders on how corps members were treated seems pathetic. It shows that they've only been concerned about their chances of winning the election.

The youth in any nation represent the future of that nation because they play a very vital and crucial role in the development of their nation in all ramifications and have always been the major key actor to any of the activities in the country. 

Few days ago, Corps members across the nation were stranded in an horrifying and terrific state. The lamentation and complaints by corps members in various RACs across the nation over the very poor and shoddy welfare condition underscores the inhumane treatment, highly egregious preparations and pathetic welfare conditions for corps members in Nigeria especially during elections.

Sadly, various RACs were looking like displaced settlements with no adequate shelter, poor security, no water and other basics. Many took a lot of risk, journeying through the cold night, sleeping in the classrooms, on bare floors, many fought the 'mosquitoes infestation' war. Corps members displayed 'patriotism' on their own part to carry out the assignment with all sense of diligence while INEC reciprocated by treating corps members as "slaves". 

Few weeks ago, the management of INEC in collaboration with NYSC repeatedly assured that the welfare of corps members had been adequately factored into the welfare and security arrangement for administering the 2019 elections but the ridiculous situation and heart-rending images which was widely seen few days ago scornfully depicted the faux pas, unreadiness of the commission and the unfair treatment melted out to corps members. 

Just like the case of corps members, a lot has been said about the appalling state of welfarism of Nigerian workers in general. Rather than improve or get better, the situation seems to be getting worse. The dignity for which corps members are known for in various communities has been eroded and the Nigerian authorities seems to be uninterested.

Using the employer-employee analogy as an example to illustrate the whole scenario, it should be of note that treating employees fairly in the workplace is not just a moral responsibility, it is highly necessary to ensure maximum company growth. So therefore, when an employee is treated 'unfairly', it results in decreased employee 'morale'. Low morale results in decreased employee 'productivity'. 

While the paid 19,800 monthly allowance of a pittance still remains a conundrum, the invaluable services that corps members provide to the country is such that the government cannot truly afford to pay for it. Nigerians are left to wonder if the government has any iota of care left for the plight of the corps members scattered across the country serving the nation under the sun and in the rain as instructed and mandated. 

There should be dignity in labour and dignity of labour. Corps members shouldn’t have to suffer serving their country. Sadly, the silence of some candidates and stakeholders on how corps members were treated seems pathetic. It shows that they've only been concerned about their chances of winning the election. 

Apart from working in inclement environments, corps members actually deserve a raise in the elections stipends to meet their basic needs and complement their various efforts. As a kind advice, the NYSC should stop allowing corps members to be used as adhoc staff if there is 'zero' or no provision for their welfare and accommodation.

Meanwhile, the Director General of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the Corps Welfare and Inspectorate Department in charge of INEC as a matter of urgency should consider a review of the Memorandum of Understanding the scheme signed with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the participation of corps members in the electoral process.

Despite the over N140 billion budget by Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) for the 2019 elections, INEC had 4 years to plan for this election, yet the reality has dawned on them, it is crystal clear that the commission has displayed incompetence on its own part to ensure proper logistics and welfare are put in place.

Corps members have shown determination to serve their fatherland, they've have collectively resolved to conduct free, fair and credible polls hence INEC and other concerned agencies must commensurate their efforts with good welfarism, this can help in boosting the morale of corps members in the discharge of their duties. 

It's highly imperative to stress that 'Corps members are not slaves' - the concerned and respective agencies must as a matter of urgency before the 2019 rescheduled General and the state elections respectively re-modify a reasonable welfare package to restore confidence and erase the grimaces on the faces of corps members.

We need to learn from yesterday and live with hope for a better tomorrow - the current situation shows that INEC has tactically wasted another opportunity to showcase its readiness for a system which guarantees hitch-free elections in Nigeria especially with respect to inadequate preparation, delay in deployment of equipments, poor staff welfare and poor mobilisation of logistics.

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Gianfranco Zola insists Chelsea players do care but are playing as individuals instead of a team

Gianfranco Zola insists Chelsea's players do have character - and they do care - but he thinks they are reacting to hardship as individuals instead of a team.

The Blues slumped out of the top four to sixth in the Premier League after a 6-0 hammering at Manchester City last week and assistant boss Zola believes they have reacted well by beating Malmo in the Europa League.

His boss Maurizio Sarri recently accused his players of lacking motivation in another poor result at Arsenal, but Zola believes their difficulty has been in trying to gel as a team.

Asked if the current group have strong leaders like Marcel Desailly, whom Zola played with for Chelsea, or John Terry, the Italian said: "I believe so. They are different personalities but characters (are similar).

"I think this group, like in the one I had in my time, didn't like losing. Maybe they are showing it in another way but it's wrong to make comparisons like that. We believe that we didn't like (losing to City) and they reacted yesterday and they continue to react.

"It would be good if we could react more as a team rather than as individuals. Against Manchester City we reacted, yes, but reacted individually. There were players taking the responsibility and they wanted to change the situation on their own.

Gianfranco Zola insists Maurizio Sarri is trying to build an 'ambitious' way of playing at Chelsea

"But what we are building here is a philosophy of playing and we need to learn to react altogether. It's not enough that just one player gets the ball and tries to beat two players. That's not the way we try to win games.

Chelsea responded to their hammering at Man City by winning away at Malmo FF in the Europa League knockouts

"But if you ask me, I don't believe that this group doesn't care. They care. They just need to get this understanding of working together."

A resurgent Manchester United usurped Chelsea into fourth as they continue to enjoy their football under popular caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, while Sarri and his staff try to instil a playing style at Stamford Bridge that will lead to sustained success.

The Blues prepare to host United in the FA Cup fifth round on Monday night, and Zola says the players must accept there will be times they enjoy playing less than they could in pursuit of 'Sarriball'.

"Of course when you lose 6-0 you don't enjoy it, but we also won 5-0 and everyone enjoyed that," Zola said. "But again, there is a stage when you are working on something that, when it's still not in place, it can be hard, but there will be a moment when you are going to enjoy it a lot more than at the moment.

"I always loved this game but there were moments when I was playing that it wasn't pleasant because I was working on it. I believe the players are enjoying what they're doing, and like what we're doing.

"But I also know that there are moments when we lose and things don't work it's painful. But we continue because we believe in what we're doing."