How on earth do you start to write about the tragic events of the past week? As I sit down to compose this blog entry, it is 6 days since the light aircraft carrying our new Argentinian striker Emiliano Sala and pilot Dave Ibbotson went missing over the English Channel en route between Nantes and Cardiff. The main search was called off last week when the authorities confirmed that there was no sign of the aircraft or any chance of survival in the January sea temperatures in the English Channel. A public GoFundMe page has raised money for the search to be privately funded and restarted this week, but this is likely to be only a task which may eventually (hopefully) give closure to his family and friends.
I'm not going to speculate here on the causes and events leading up to the disappearance of the plane, or try to apportion blame. There will be time for that in the weeks and months (or even years) to come. Suffice to say that a young life has been lost at the peak of his career and abilities, having just signed the biggest deal of his career only 2 days previously.
Emiliano Sala signs for Cardiff City.
The club finds itself the centre of World football attention. The club management, particularly the Chief Executive Ken Choo and Chairman Mehmet Dalman, have dealt with the situation impeccably in the circumstances. The club supporters have also played their part in tributes to a player who they never met and will never see play. However, he is already considered as "one of our own" and will never be forgotten. The supporters of his previous club Nantes are also grieving for a player they knew well.
The first team return to football this week but it seems a little unimportant at times like this. I'll resume my match reports soon. In the meantime, let's hope that Emiliano Sala is able to Rest in Peace.
Fan tributes outside the Cardiff City Stadium.
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