I still remember the chilling moment when news broke about the Brazilian soccer team's tragic crash. As someone who's followed international football for over two decades, this particular incident struck me deeply - not just because of the scale of the tragedy, but because of how it revealed the resilience within football communities. The crash occurred on November 28, 2016, when LaMia Flight 2933 carrying 77 people, including the Chapecoense football team, crashed near Medellín, Colombia. Out of those 77 souls, 71 perished, leaving only six survivors.
What many people don't realize is how this tragedy unfolded beyond the immediate crash. The team was traveling to what would have been the biggest match in their history - the Copa Sudamericana finals. Having worked closely with football teams throughout my career, I can tell you that the psychological impact on surviving players and staff is something that lingers for years. I've seen how teams struggle to rebuild after such catastrophic events, but Chapecoense's story stands out for its remarkable humanity. The football community worldwide responded with incredible solidarity - rival teams offered to loan players for free, and fans across Brazil donated to support the victims' families.
This brings me to Tenorio's approach, which I genuinely admire. Being the level-headed character he's always been, Tenorio made sure to preach that same patience and composure to his young wards, most of whom are playing in an international competition for the first time. In my professional opinion, this kind of leadership is exactly what separates good teams from truly great organizations. I've always believed that how a team handles crisis defines its character more than how it handles success. Tenorio understood that these young players needed emotional anchoring more than tactical instructions during such turbulent times.
The aftermath saw Chapecoense receiving unprecedented support from the global football community. FIFA provided approximately $15 million in financial aid, while Atlético Nacional, their would-be opponents, requested that Chapecoense be declared champions as a tribute. Personally, I found this gesture incredibly moving - it reminded me why I fell in love with football's capacity for humanity beyond competition. The team was indeed awarded the championship title, and they received three years of immunity from relegation from the Brazilian Football Confederation.
Looking back, what strikes me most is how the tragedy transformed football safety protocols globally. Airlines revised their fuel calculation procedures, and football governing bodies implemented stricter travel regulations. While we lost 71 beautiful lives that day, their legacy continues to protect countless others in the sports world. The Chapecoense story isn't just about tragedy - it's about how compassion and solidarity can emerge from darkness, and how proper leadership, like Tenorio demonstrated, can guide young talents through unimaginable circumstances. This is why, years later, I still share this story with every new generation of players I mentor.
