2023-12-24 05:10:00
“Marcel, we are with you,” was heard in the stands of the La Arena Sports Pavilion, in an exciting day that ended with many of those present unable to contain their tears, and that showed that Sporting, its environment, and, ultimately, Its people are up to the task. Even in the worst moments. Liliana, Sabou’s wife, her great supporter, was as broken by emotion as she was grateful for the efforts of those present. In total, more than 300 people attended the event organized by InvestiguELA to make visible that ALS exists. “Thank you, really,” “Lili” repeated over and over again when she passed by the pavilion with former teammates, friends, acquaintances and anonymous people who bought a ticket to raise funds against the illness suffered by the former soccer player.
In total a few thousand euros were raised. Today it is expected to finish counting the money. Yesterday it was known that between donations and row 0 the 2,000 euros had already been greatly exceeded. The majority was raised through the sale of tickets (5 euros each ticket). Although several details were also raffled among those attending the pavilion: a Guille Rosas t-shirt, with a ball signed by the entire squad; another from Cote (from his time at Porto); one from Babin… A luxury. Álex and Mario, Sabou’s sons, dressed in shorts to play for their father, who followed the duel excitedly from the stands.
The moment of the meeting was when the two teams left. The Sporting veterans and Marcel’s friends mixed and piled together on the court and began to cheer in the area of the pavilion where Sabou was located, who shook his head in gratitude. Liliana was broken. It was more than a minute of applause, and that alone made it all worth it. Jordi Velaure and Borja Blanco gave color to the event and were in charge of animating.
But, in addition to the money, which will be allocated entirely to research against the disease, the event against ALS demonstrated Marcel’s enormous legacy: whatever happens, after ten years fighting a disease without a cure, Sabou has already won. «Let everything be to help research against the disease. ALS is a very hard disease because the patient finds out everything. Here we are to help you. Marcel’s children have been very involved,” said Joaquín Alonso, responsible for institutional relations at Sporting and president of the Veterans Association, yesterday.
Introverted type, Marcel Sabou never wanted to play this game. Nor be news. But yesterday he showed that, although the disease has taken away his mobility, his voice, his energy… He is still standing: it was an exhibition – the match between Sporting Veterans and friends of Marcel, which ended with the red and whites winning by 4-2- but also a demonstration of life, and, above all, dignity.
“It has been very exciting, seeing former teammates that I had not seen for a long time…”, confessed Sabou, who followed the event with his team from the stands. Álex and Mario, his sons, dressed in shorts with their friends -among whom was Óscar Castro, son of Quini-, as well as the journalist Senén Morán, in front of a group of illustrious sportinguistas: Borreguero, Luisen, Fran, Arturo Enamorado , Miner, Tino, Pedro Muñiz, Ballesteros, Eraña, Rogelio, Caco Morán, David Cano, Pablo Álvarez, Alejandro Castroagudín and Pablo Acebal… with Redondo and Jiménez on the benches.
And in the stands, historic members of the red-and-white club such as Antonio Maestro or Juanele, Eloy Olaya… Representatives of the entity who wore the red-and-white jersey also attended, Fredi Lobeiras and Samuel Baños, and two members of the structure: Joaquín Alonso, accompanied by Antonio Maceda , and Alfonso Rodríguez. Also Jorge Pañeda, Sports Councilor of the Gijón City Council. «We are very happy to have organized the event and looking forward to doing another. Everything went very well and it was a lot of fun. “Marcel enjoyed it a lot and felt very supported,” the family said, satisfied.
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