'Vamos Chape': Tragic Brazilian football team play first home game after air disaster (VIDEO, PHOTO)
Fans of the Brazilian football team who were decimated in a plane crash travelling to an historic cup final turned out in force to celebrate the club’s first game since the tragedy.
Chapecoense hosted Brazilian Serie A champions Palmeiras in their home city of Chapeco, less than two months after the disaster claimed the lives of 20 players and staff.
READ MORE: 71 dead after plane carrying Brazilian football team crashes in Colombia
The team’s unprecedented appearance in a Copa Sudamericana final - the second most prestigious club competition in South America - was cruelly snatched away when the aircraft carrying the team to the match ran out of fuel and plummeted into a hillside as it approached Medellin, Colombia, on November 28 last year.
Entrada em campo, vai começar o #JogoDaAmizade na Arena Condá. #AvantiPalestrapic.twitter.com/aJgirMExyP
— SE Palmeiras (@SEPalmeiras) January 21, 2017
A total of 71 passengers were killed. Scores of fans descended on the Arena Condá stadium, Chapecoense’s home stadium, on Saturday to pay tribute to their fallen heroes and celebrate their rebuilding.
The club have been frantically recruiting players in preparation for the start of the new season.
Goalkeeper Jackson Follmann, who survived the crash but whose right leg was amputated as a result, led supporters in remembering those who died by carrying the Copa Sudamericana trophy onto the field prior to kick-off.
Uma imagem que não precisa de legenda 🙏💚 #VamosChapepic.twitter.com/LVqfuKxyb0
— PENTA CAMPEÃO 🏆 (@NACAO1903) January 21, 2017
Que imagem #VamosChapepic.twitter.com/fIyWIzbEmd
— Renatinha (@RenatinhaCEC) January 21, 2017
Chapecoense had earlier praised opponents Palmeiras in a tweet, saying: “Without you, our new start would be different #VamosChape.”
Well wishers also took to social media to express their joy at Chapecoense’s return to action.
“Sometimes it does not really matter where your body is, but where your heart is… And mine is in Chapecó today,” one fan wrote.
Another supporter expressed her delight at the “return of the team, the return of families, and the return of a city.”
“Today is a special day. An end and a fresh start,” one Instagram user wrote.
“Let’s face today as a beautiful start. It is after a long winter, finally comes spring.”
