THE BEAUTIFUL GAME ⚽
The Search For Sala
It's been days of sorrow for the football family and humanity at large, as everyone anxiously awaits the fate of missing Emiliano Sala.
On 19 January 2019, Sala joined Premier League side Cardiff City on three and a half-year deal for a club record transfer fee reported to be £15 million. Sala rejected a late bid from a club in the Chinese Super League to join Cardiff, despite being offered a higher transfer fee and salary, due to his desire to play in the Premier League.
After completing his medical at Cardiff, Sala returned to Nantes on the morning of 19 January on a plane arranged by football agent Mark McKay. His intention was to return to Cardiff on 21 January in order to attend his first training session with his new club the following morning. Sala had been invited to attend Cardiff's match against Newcastle United by manager Neil Warnock but chose to return to France in order to say goodbye to his Nantes teammates and collect personal belongings.
On 22 January, there was reported to be "genuine concern" that Sala was onboard a missing aircraft, a Piper Malibu, which was flying from Nantes to Cardiff. The aircraft, the same which he had travelled to Nantes in two days earlier, had gone missing off Alderney on 21 January. It was confirmed later the same day that he was a passenger on the missing aircraft, along with 59-year-old pilot David Ibbotson. On 23 January 2019, Channel Islands Air Search said there was "no hope" of finding any survivors in the water.
An audio message allegedly sent by Sala to his friends via WhatsApp from the plane was released by Argentine media outlet, in which he can be heard telling them:
"Hello, my brothers, how are you? Boy, I’m tired. I was here in Nantes taking care of things, things, things, things, things, things, and it never stops, it never stops, it never stops. Anyway guys, I’m up in this plane that feels like it's falling to pieces, and I’m going to Cardiff. It's crazy, we start tomorrow. Training in the afternoon, guys, in my new team. Let's see what happens.
So, how's it going with you guys, all good? If in an hour and a half you have no news from me, I don't know if they are going to send someone to look for me because they cannot find me, but you will know… Dad, I'm scared!"
On 24 January 2019, after a "very thorough and extensive search" including 80 hours of combined searching undertaken by three planes, five helicopters and two lifeboats, Guernsey Police announced that they had called off the search for the plane or survivors. The decision led to calls worldwide for the search to continue which included numerous other footballers, including fellow Argentine players Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuaín, Sergio Agüero and former player Diego Maradona.
The president of Argentina, Mauricio Macri, stated his intention to issue a formal request to the British and French governments for the search to resume. An online petition also attracted over 65,000 signatures and Sala's family later announced their intention to fund a private search. Over £280,000 has been raised for a private search on GoFundMe started by Sports Cover, a sports agency that represents Sala. The funds enabled the search to resume on 26 January, with two boats being launched, led by marine scientist David Mearns.
On 28 January, plans were announced for an underwater search to begin "within a week", dependant on weather conditions, using an unmanned remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) to search an area of seabed north of Hurd's Deep.
On 29 January, Cardiff City included Sala on the team sheet for their game against Arsenal, with a daffodil next to his name in lieu of a squad number.
Prior to the match, a moment of reflection was observed in honour of the Blue Bird.
On 30 January 2019, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch reported that they had found two seat cushions, which had washed up on a French beach, that were believed to be from the missing aircraft.
Our prayers and thoughts are with the family, friends and loved ones of Emiliano Sala. ♥
Whatever happens, it still remains...
The Beautiful Game ⚽
Post by: Wisdom Joseph
Facebook: Wisdom Joseph
Instagram: Wizflames
It's been days of sorrow for the football family and humanity at large, as everyone anxiously awaits the fate of missing Emiliano Sala.
On 19 January 2019, Sala joined Premier League side Cardiff City on three and a half-year deal for a club record transfer fee reported to be £15 million. Sala rejected a late bid from a club in the Chinese Super League to join Cardiff, despite being offered a higher transfer fee and salary, due to his desire to play in the Premier League.
After completing his medical at Cardiff, Sala returned to Nantes on the morning of 19 January on a plane arranged by football agent Mark McKay. His intention was to return to Cardiff on 21 January in order to attend his first training session with his new club the following morning. Sala had been invited to attend Cardiff's match against Newcastle United by manager Neil Warnock but chose to return to France in order to say goodbye to his Nantes teammates and collect personal belongings.
On 22 January, there was reported to be "genuine concern" that Sala was onboard a missing aircraft, a Piper Malibu, which was flying from Nantes to Cardiff. The aircraft, the same which he had travelled to Nantes in two days earlier, had gone missing off Alderney on 21 January. It was confirmed later the same day that he was a passenger on the missing aircraft, along with 59-year-old pilot David Ibbotson. On 23 January 2019, Channel Islands Air Search said there was "no hope" of finding any survivors in the water.
An audio message allegedly sent by Sala to his friends via WhatsApp from the plane was released by Argentine media outlet, in which he can be heard telling them:
"Hello, my brothers, how are you? Boy, I’m tired. I was here in Nantes taking care of things, things, things, things, things, things, and it never stops, it never stops, it never stops. Anyway guys, I’m up in this plane that feels like it's falling to pieces, and I’m going to Cardiff. It's crazy, we start tomorrow. Training in the afternoon, guys, in my new team. Let's see what happens.
So, how's it going with you guys, all good? If in an hour and a half you have no news from me, I don't know if they are going to send someone to look for me because they cannot find me, but you will know… Dad, I'm scared!"
On 24 January 2019, after a "very thorough and extensive search" including 80 hours of combined searching undertaken by three planes, five helicopters and two lifeboats, Guernsey Police announced that they had called off the search for the plane or survivors. The decision led to calls worldwide for the search to continue which included numerous other footballers, including fellow Argentine players Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuaín, Sergio Agüero and former player Diego Maradona.
The president of Argentina, Mauricio Macri, stated his intention to issue a formal request to the British and French governments for the search to resume. An online petition also attracted over 65,000 signatures and Sala's family later announced their intention to fund a private search. Over £280,000 has been raised for a private search on GoFundMe started by Sports Cover, a sports agency that represents Sala. The funds enabled the search to resume on 26 January, with two boats being launched, led by marine scientist David Mearns.
On 28 January, plans were announced for an underwater search to begin "within a week", dependant on weather conditions, using an unmanned remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) to search an area of seabed north of Hurd's Deep.
On 29 January, Cardiff City included Sala on the team sheet for their game against Arsenal, with a daffodil next to his name in lieu of a squad number.
Prior to the match, a moment of reflection was observed in honour of the Blue Bird.
On 30 January 2019, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch reported that they had found two seat cushions, which had washed up on a French beach, that were believed to be from the missing aircraft.
Our prayers and thoughts are with the family, friends and loved ones of Emiliano Sala. ♥
Whatever happens, it still remains...
The Beautiful Game ⚽
Post by: Wisdom Joseph
Facebook: Wisdom Joseph
Instagram: Wizflames
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