Wolfsburg, Germany – Wolfsburg will decide on Sunday on whether to go ahead with a training camp in South Africa following the death in a road accident of midfielder Junior Malanda.
The 20-year-old Belgium Under-21 international was on his way to join the squad due to fly to South Africa on Saturday evening when he was killed in a car crash on a German motorway.
The club called off the departure and will hold a news conference later Sunday.
Hundreds of fans of the German Bundesliga club gathered at the team’s home ground, the Volkswagen Arena, late on Saturday to light candles, lay flowers and mourn.
“We are distraught and can simply not find the words to express our bewilderment,” club sports director Klaus Allods said.
“We all loved him dearly. He was the positive spirit within the team and a young man full of the joys of life.”
Messages of condolence and tribute have poured in. Bundesliga clubs have sent their commiserations, and Bayern Munich players held a minute’s silence Sunday at their training camp in Doha, Qatar.
Bayern sports director Matthias Sammer said in Doha: “We feel great sorrow. It is terrible thing for which words are difficult to find.”
Among many Bundesliga clubs with messages of condolence, Borussia Dortmund tweeted: “Words fail us. We are shocked, sad and with you (at)VfL_Wolfsburg. #RIPMalanda.”
Malanda was a passenger in an all-terrain vehicle which skidded off the A2 motorway and hit a tree amid heavy rain near the western German city of Porta Westfalica on Saturday afternoon. The driver and another passenger were seriously injured.
Police quoted witnesses as saying no other vehicle was involved in the accident. Malanda was thrown from the vehicle and died from his injuries at the accident scene.
Malanda, who joined Wolfsburg at the start of 2014 and had appeared in 10 Bundesliga games this season, was regarded as one of Belgian’s biggest talents.
“We cannot believe that he is no longer with us. Our thoughts at this dreadful time are with his family and relatives,” Allofs said.
Coach Dieter Hecking said: “I can’t even begin to explain how I am feeling right now and what is going through my mind.
“We just had a discussion with Junior yesterday and he was eagerly looking forward to his future. It was a joy to work with Junior and we had big plans together. I am unspeakably saddened.”
The club’s supervisory board chairman Francisco Javier Garcia Sanz said: “We are deeply saddened and totally shocked. Junior Malanda was a really young guy and a promising player, who had a great future ahead of him – his life has been cut brutally short far too early.
“Our thoughts are with his family, who we will attempt to assist at this difficult time. Speaking as a father, there are things that a person should never have to experience. His death is also a huge loss to VfL Wolfsburg.”
Malanda’s death caused sorrow in Belgium where many of the nation’s internationals tweeted their condolences.
“Indescribable... What sadness. Thoughts with all my heart to the relatives of Junior Malanda,” Belgium captain and Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany posted.
Belgium international and Wolfsburg team-mate Kevin De Bruyne posted on Instagram: “We have lost a great friend too early. Rest in peace. You will always be with us.”
The Belgian football federation said in a statement on Saturday: “The football world today lost a great talent. Junior Malanda lost his life this afternoon, at the age of 20. The Belgian Football Association extends its sympathy to family and friends.”
Fifa president Joseph Blatter also posted condolences, saying he was “shocked and saddened” at the news.
Malanda began playing for Belgian side Anderlecht before moving to French side Lille as a 12-year-old. After five years he moved back to Belgian to play for Zulte Waregem.
He joined Wolfsburg before the 2013-14 season but was loaned back to Zulte for the remainder of 2013, returning to Wolfsburg at the beginning of 2014. He was under contract until June 30, 2018. – Sapa-dpa