Tragic end to Caio, a well respected man and coach

Dubai - Brazilian died in the plane crash that was carrying the Chapecoense team

Perhaps, Caio Junior had a premonition of what was to come. Moments after his team Chapecoense qualified for the final of the Copa Sudamericana, the Brazilian coach had told the media: "If I die today, I will die a happy man."
Few days later, the 51-year-old's life was snuffed out in a plane crash, which also took the lives of virtually the entire Chapecoense squad.
Chapecoense, who were on a fairytale run this season, were on their way to the Colombian city of Medellin to contest the first leg of the two-leg Copa Sudamericana against Colombia's Atletico Nacional, perished in the tragedy.
Lost for words, the Atletico Nacional team, said in an official statement, urging the CONMEBOL to award the Copa Sudamericana to Chapecoense.
"Pain overwhelms our hearts and invades our thinking in mourning. It has been unfortunate hours in which we have been dismayed by news that we never wanted to hear," the Atletico Nacional read.
"The accident of our football brothers, Chapecoense, will mark us for life and will leave an indelible mark on Latin-American and world football. All this has been completely unexpected, that's why the pain. They were all footballers, technical staff, journalists and crew, people with many dreams, that's why the tears.
"After being very worried about the human part we thought about the competitive aspect and we want to publish this statement in which Atletico Nacional ask Conmebol to give the title of Copa Sudamericana be given to the Chapecoense as an honorary award for this great loss, and in posthumous homage to the victims of the fatal accident that impute our sport. For our part, and forever, Chapecoense are champions of the 2016 Copa Sudamericana."
As the entire sporting world mourned the tragedy, closer home, in the UAE, the football fraternity were left in absolute shock as the news poured in.
Caio Junior was a known face in UAE football, having coached Al Jazira, on a interim basis after the Abu Dhabi club had shown Belgian Franky Vercauteren the door. A then clean-shaven Junior, didn't have much time to work with the Al Jazira squad, but he did go on to guide the Pride of Abu Dhabi to the prestigious President's Cup.
Junior was replaced with fellow Brazilian Paulo Bonamigo at the end of the season but his work didn't go unnoticed with Al Mamzar-based club Al Shabab knocking on his door.
Junior joined them in 2014 and then went about building a crack unit which always mixed it up in the top table of the Arabian Gulf League.
His crowning glory was winning the GCC Champions League last year when Al Shabab beat Omani club Al Seeb, 4-3 on penalties.
After his two-year stint with the Dubai club, Junior, now with a fully-grown beard, returned to his homeland to turn his attention to a new project that was Chapecoense.
And he was in the midst of writing a new page for a club which had just returned to the Brazilian first division after a really long wait, when fate had something else in store.
It was a sombre atmosphere in Hatta as Al Shabab played the League's newcomers at the Hatta Stadium on Tuesday. Quite naturally, perhaps, it was tough for the Al Shabab team and they ended the game with a goalless draw.
Prior to the game, the teams observed a minute's silence in memory of Junior.
A minute's silence was also observed at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium - Al Jazira's home turf, with the club also showing a black-and-white picture of Caio Junior on the screen.
"It is with great sadness and deep sorrow we bid farewell to our former coach Caio Junior. We express our condolences and our sincere sympathy to the families," Al Shabab club said in a statement.
They also had a message which read: "Our thoughts are with Caio Junior family, the victims, their families, fans of Chapecoense & people of Brazil on this tragic day #ForçaChape"
Meanwhile, Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro, who came across Junior when he managed Al Wahda, too joined in the tribute.
"Power to the players' families, entourage Chapecoense and to my friend Caio Junior in particular," said the former Real Madrid assistant coach.
james@khaleejtimes.com