Sawt Falasteen - 'Beautiful game' provides Venezuelans with welcome distraction in wake of tragedy

Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV) played a South American Cup match against Brazilian legend Pele's former club Santos in Valencia, 170 kilometres west of Caracas, because its stadium in the capital was damaged in the disaster on June 24.

It was not also material damage the club suffered but the tragic loss of one of their brightest young stars as midfielder Yimvert Berroteran, an Under-17 international, was killed.

As a tribute, they withdrew his number 20 shirt, and all players now wear a small number 20 on their jerseys.

"That was a heck of a hit, morale-wise," UCV goalkeeper Giancarlo Schiavone told AFP.

"He had a great future ahead of him. We still pray for him, we play with him in our hearts, always thinking of him."

"With the image on the shirt (number 20), Yimvert will always be with us," added the 32-year-old.

The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes on June 24 hit the north of the country hardest, especially the coastal state of La Guaira, outside Caracas.

The government has not given a figure for those still missing under mountains of rubble, but the UN estimates that as many as 50,000 people may still be unaccounted for.

Over 23,000 people have been displaced from the earthquakes, with camps getting set up across affected areas from stadiums to sidewalks.

Some of the displaced are in the stadium for the match.

Lizmar Mejias, 42, her husband Raymond Gosling, and their two children, aged seven and 13, found sanctuary with Mejias's brother in Valencia after their apartment in Catia del Mar was destroyed.

"Our building stayed upright, but the inside walls collapsed," she told AFP.

"My brother welcomed us into his home.

"We live a day to day existence."

Mejias says they decided to attend the game "above all for the children".

"They were hit hard by the disaster. A lot of their friends sadly died," she said.

"I do not know if I am going to feel guilty, because it is not easy owing to the losses we have suffered.

"Friends, family... anyway, we needed a distraction, mostly for the children and their mental health."

- 'Despite the grief' -

Mejias says the catastrophe has brought the best out of her compatriots.

"What is wonderful about Venezuelans is we are united," she said.

"The catastrophe took place in La Guaira, but all of Venezuela came together after what happened.

"We are all part of one very large family."

"Venezuela is as one," added Mejias, who was proudly sporting the Venezuelan national side's shirt.

Eduardo Rodriguez, 39 and a professor of social sciences, supports another club Carabobo, but he came along to "support national football" in what is the "first event post the earthquakes".

"Supporting sport after the earthquakes is fundamental," he said.

"Despite the grief... one understands human activities are precisely those which help in the cathartic process and what Venezuela requires in order to get over the tragedy."

UCV, despite their best efforts to further honour Berroteran's memory, were unable to deliver victory, but ultimately the 4-1 loss was irrelevant in the greater scheme of things.

"It is not an excuse but the first days following the disaster were tough," said an understandably emotional Schiavone.

"We downed tools for a week and a half.

"My teammates and I helped out at the central collection centre: we brought food, clothes, we tried to help everywhere.

"Now, I think the show should go on.

"For the children it is very important to watch football, to distract them.

"I know it is very difficult because a lot of people lost their homes, and they have nowhere to go.

"It is a huge blow but it is important to continue the process of moving on, and I know we will emerge from this on the other side."

Y.Shaath--SF-PST