Valencia, Venezuela ¨C ¡°Today more than ever, we remain united¡± read the banner brandished by the players of Venezuelan soccer club Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV) prior to the first major sporting event hosted by the country since the twin earthquakes that killed over 5,000 people last month.
The club played a South American Cup match against Santos, Brazilian legend Pele¡¯s former team, in Valencia, 170 kilometers west of Caracas, because its stadium in the capital was damaged in the disaster on June 24.
It was not only material damage that the club suffered, but also the tragic loss of one of its brightest young stars as midfielder Yimvert Berroteran, an under-17 international, was killed.
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