Massacre of Young Soccer Players Leaves Marítimo in Shock

The devastating earthquake in Venezuela has ravaged the city of La Guaira, the epicenter of the quake, where thousands are still missing. The soccer community and the city’s club, Marítimo, have also been severely affected by the tragedy.

On Sunday, Maritimo officially announced the deaths of the wife and two young children of player Lucas Trejo, who were found dead in the rubble of their home after three days of desperate searching. Another player on the team, Hector Bello, lost his wife, who heroically sacrificed herself to save their daughter’s life by shielding her from the rubble with her own body.

Lives were also cut short in the youth teams: Maritimo announced the deaths of three promising young players. Ricardo Veloz, 17, was one of Venezuela’s most promising talents. Victor Palacios, 14, was a player on Marítimo’s Under-15 team who had just been called up by the Vinotinto selectors for a training camp with the national team. And the youngest, Daniel Dominguez, who played for the club’s Under-12 team in La Guaira.

“Our prayers go out to the parents and their families during this difficult time. May their souls rest in peace,” Marítimo wrote on Instagram. “Overwhelmed by grief, our people embrace one another and rise again, stronger than ever. We are the sea, we are struggle, we are hope. United, we will move forward.”