Defender Gilberto Hernández was assaulted by unidentified people in the city of Colón. He had played his first match with Los Canaleros precisely against Argentina, in the duel celebrating the Albiceleste, after winning the World Cup in Qatar.
An unfortunate fact shakes football in Panama. In the last hours, it was announced the murder of footballer Gilberto Hernández, 26, after being assaulted on the public highway in the city of Colón. .
According to local media, the Club Atlético Independiente de Panamá defender was on the street with six other people when unidentified people got out of a taxi and shot at the group. Although the seven wounded by bullets were transferred to a care center in the region, a few hours later the footballer was confirmed dead. .
Hernández made his professional football debut in 2018 with CD Árabe Unido. He then arrived at Herrera FC in 2022 and then transferred the same year to CAI, which was his last club, becoming a key player in the institution’s last two titles.
The victim’s father demanded that the murderers surrender, assuring that he would excuse them for their actions. “I forgive those who did this to my son, but enough violence. “, he pointed out in a video.
“Many talented Colón players have lost their lives. I call on the authorities to start carrying out projects to save young people from violence,” added the father of the victim.
Support also came from his last team. “Club Atlético Independiente regrets the death of our player Gilberto Hernández, who, in an isolated event in the city of Colón, ends up passing away . We join in the pain of your children, family and friends. Fly high, leader and double champion,” they wrote on Twitter.
In turn, the Panamanian Football Federation (FEPAFUT) indicated on the same social network that it regrets “the sensitive death of Gilberto Hernández, player of Club Atlético Independiente and of the First Division of Panamanian football. FEPAFUT offers its condolences to his family and loved ones, as well as to the entire family of CAI and Panamanian football.
a dream come true
The defender’s good performance at Independiente caught the attention of Canal team coach Thomas Christiansen, taking part in several microcycles with his team. Indeed, in March, he had the opportunity to face the Argentine team world champions in Qatar 2022 in a friendly duel which was played at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires. .
There, after the game, he took the opportunity to take a photo with Lionel Messi and Ángel Di María.
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Source: Latercera
I’m Scott Moore, a professional writer and journalist based in the US. I’ve been writing for various publications for over 8 years now, and have been working as an author at athletistic for the past five years. My work has been featured by some of the leading sports websites and magazines across Europe.
