PORTUGAL MOURNS HIS KING EUSEBIO
The funeral has taken place in Portugal of the football legend Eusebio after tens of thousands turned out to pay their last respects in Lisbon.
E
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usebio died on Sunday of a
heart attack aged 71.
He was laid to rest in wet weather at
the Lumiar cemetery in the north of the city soon after nightfall.
Earlier, thousands lined Lisbon's
streets as the funeral cortege passed on its way from Benfica's Luz stadium
where cheering fans paid tribute.
Mourners applauded and held up flowers
on seeing the coffin draped in the colours of Eusebio's club Benfica.
At the stadium, some 10,000 fans sang
and let off firecrackers. The coffin was placed briefly on a golden plinth at
the centre of the pitch before the hearse took it on a circuit of the stadium.
"For me, he is simply the creator
of football," said 24-year-old fan Luis Marques.
One banner left at a statue of Eusebio
read: "I haven't come to say goodbye, but to say thank you."
Tributes were also paid at a Mass held
in the city's Seminary Church and attended by dignitaries including Prime
Minister Pedro Passos Coelho.
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| EUSEBIO & PELE |
