SLO fights for deceased colleagues: “We want to win so that Elia can be proud up there”

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The ritual has been the same for every match at Stade-Lausanne-Ouchy since play resumed in January. Players enter the field wearing a shirt with the number two on it. It was the jersey worn by Elia Alessandrini, who was tragically killed at the age of 25 in a swimming accident while on holiday in December.

The defender’s jersey is still hanging in his locker in the dressing room at the Pontaise. The memory of him will be in the hearts and minds of the people of Vaud as they face FC Sion in the Barrage for promotion to the Super League.

“We think of him every time we put on the white T-shirt,” said midfielder Ogou Akichi. “It’s hard that he left us like this. We’ll leave no stone unturned against Zion, because that would be Elijah. We want to win so he can be proud of us up there.” Alessandrini, trained at YB, was not a regular in the Lausanne team, but his personality and charisma in the dressing room were ubiquitous.

Three dramas at the end of the year

Three dramas took place at Stade Lausanne-Ouchy within a month. Akichi also thinks of assistant coach Dalibor Stevanovic, whose wife Mirjana died in mid-November. A few days later, Karim Gazzetta (former SLO player between 2019 and 2021) passed away in Bosnia at just 27 years old. “These events have meant that the group has grown even closer together and that the young players have matured faster.”

Coach Anthony Braizat was also influenced by this black series. The 45-year-old Frenchman plays “the role of big brother” in a team he took over last summer. Successfully. “We have had a very good season and many players are asked by clubs in Switzerland and Europe. That also makes us proud.”

Even if the best talents are probably not there next season, the second force in the city next to the promoted Lausanne-Sport wants to crown this joint adventure with promotion to the Super League. This would also be a first for Stade Lausanne-Ouchy, which played in the fourth division six years ago.

Source : Blick