Tete police stop search for football player killed in crocodile attack

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Tete police stop search for football player killed in crocodile attack

12:58 CAT | 22 Mar 2017

Lusa (File photo) / Football player Estevão Gino was attacked by a crocodile on Thursday evening, when he went to the river for water, during practice

Tete police in Mozambique have called off the search for the body of a football player who was killed last week by a crocodile, the corporation said on Tuesday.

“The search, conducted with the navy, was called off today without finding the player’s body,” Tete police spokesman Leonel Muchano said. The five-day search operation had covered the Zambezi River and its banks around the area of the attack.

The search for the second division Atlético Mineiro player began on Thursday night after the club’s coach asked the authorities for help.

“The search began on Thursday evening, on the banks of the Zambezi River at first because of conditions at the time, and on Friday they were widened along the river itslef, thinking that perhaps some limbs might be found. They have now ceased as we face the possibility that the body may have been devoured in its entirety,” Muchano explained.

Nineteen-year-old central defender Estevão Gino was attacked early Thursday night during training for the provincial championships at the club’s field on the banks of the Zambezi River when he went to wash his hands, the club coach said.

“The two friends who were with him claim that the crocodile was five metres long and that they were unable to subdue the animal,” Eduardo Carvalho told Lusa, describing the loss as a “hard shock” for the club.

The former captain of Atlético Mineiro’s junior team was described by Carvalho as a young man “of exceptional talent” and one of their “most promising players”, whose dedication had ensured that he always stood out in the 30-player club.

Crocodile attacks are frequent along the Zambezi River, affecting mainly people who go to the river to fetch water for consumption or cleaning. Mains drinking water is scarce in Tete province.

Source: Lusa