Chapecoense to play first match since tragic plane crash on January 29
Wednesday 14 December 2016 16:33, UK
Brazilian football team Chapecoense said they will play their first match since their squad was all but wiped out in an air crash on January 29.
Chapecoense rose from obscurity to make it to the final of the Copa Sudamericana regional tournament, but the crash cut short their dream as they flew to Colombia to play.
The crash on November 28 in the mountains of Colombia killed 71 people, including the team's key players, staff and management.
Now the side is scheduled to play at home against International de Lage on January 29 in a state championship game.
After burying their heroes on December 3, the club hired a new manager, Vagner Mancini, to rebuild the team in its hometown of Chapeco, in southern Santa Catarina state.
Nine of the club's first-team players were not on the flight and three miraculously survived the crash.
Two of the players who survived returned to Brazil on Tuesday, including goalkeeper Jakson Follmann, who has had his leg amputated.
The team's last match was the day before the crash. Palmeiras beat them 1-0 to win the Brazilian league.
