OM paid a vibrant tribute to the supporters affected by the tragic bus accident which took place on Saturday morning on the A6 motorway and caused the death of two members of the MTP supporters club.
As they were making their way to Le Havre to encourage their team, a bus of the supporters group MTP crashed into a raod bridge on the A6 motorway close to Fontainebleau. As they arrived at the stadium, the OM directors, players and coaching staff paid tribute to the victims of this tragedy.
First of all the directors handed out black veils to the supporters for them to hold up before the match. Then OM’s president went over to the stand where the OM supporters were housed to talk and share the pain of the OM fans. A moment of strong emotion for Pape Diouf who was unable to hold back his tears.
During their warm-up session, the OM players wore t-shirt’s which were marked with the words « Homage to our supporters ». During the game, they wore black arm-bands to show their mourning.
Before the match, a minute of silence was respected by all present in the Jules-Deschaseaux stadium. The Norman supporters then deployed a banner which said « Together with you in your pain ». Bouquets of flowers were then placed at the foot of the away supporters stand by the presidents of the two clubs.
Just before the kick off, the OM starting eleven placed themselves in front of the Marseille supporters stand and respected a second minute of silence. Once again emotion was very strong. The most poignant moment of the evening was the fictional kick-off made by the wife of one of the victims, Lahcene Lazeb, with their 2 year old son in her arms.
After the goal scored byBolo Zenden, the entire team ran to the away end. There fingers pointing to the sky, they dedicated the goal to the supporters who lost their lives in the accident.
At the final whistle, the players and staff members went and applauded the supporters who are going through a difficult moment.
«It’s a catastrophe for the families. It’s painful for the supporters clubs, you come to a football game for a party, it’s something that isd a pleasure, you don’t expect to lose someone you are close to. The day has been very strange. Everyone stayed in their rooms … These are moments you do not like to go through.
The players know certain members of the supporters clubs, they didn’t know if the game was going to take place or not, it was a strange time for them. We are going to try and put in a good performance for the memory of these young people who lost their lives coming to see OM play.
When I spoke to Pape Diouf on the telephone this morning he was not feeling good at all. He had met with the wife of one of the two victims and it hurt us to see this young woman with her child.
What can you do, what can you say at times like these? I’m sad for the families, for the supporters clubs and for the club. For the supporters, making the trip to an away game is a party, but today the party has been ruined.
What is important is to try and bring some human warmth to these people who have been touched by this accident, afterwards the match is just an anecdote …
We quickly knocked up a t-shirt for the warm-up, the players will be wearing black armbands and we will be deposing flowers. The club is wholeheartedly thinking of the families of those who died or who were injured ».
«It’s difficult to prepare in these circumstances. The directors spoke to us during the day. OM is a big family, when someone is touched by such a drama, we all are. We are going to try and do our job, as even thogh they are not with us now, they would want us to play and win. The OM supporters are extraordinary and the best way for us to pay tribute to them is to go out and win tonight.
Everyone is thinking about and sharing the pain of the families and friends of our supporters. These moments are very difficult ».
«It’s been very tough … We had to work hard to prepare this match with everything that has happened. There are no words to describe what it is like to see all these supporters who have been touched by this drama. The club is doing everything to get people back to Marseille. It’s the first time that something like this has happened to us and the 23rd of August will forever be a black day ».
