Farewell to Malanda

The main church in Brussels was full on Tuesday as thousands of people paid their respects to Wolfsburg midfielder Junior Malanda who died in a car crash on January 10.

Among those present, many of whom were in Wolfsburg colors, were Belgium coach Marc Wilmots, Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking and sporting director Klaus Allofs. "In our hearts forever," read the message on a wreath from his club teammates, all of whom made the trip including Belgium's Kevin de Bruyne and Croatia's Ivan Perisic.

The 20-year-old had Congolese roots, and the service included several African songs and dances. Former teammate Mbaye Leye said "it is a tough day for all. We are here to support the family." Afterwards, Malanda was laid to rest in a cemetery in Brussels.

Malanda was a back-seat passenger en route to join the Wolfsburg squad before flying to South Africa for a scheduled training camp when the driver lost control and skidded off a slippery highway before the vehicle overturned several times. Malanda was not wearing a seatbelt and was catapulted from the back seat of the car. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The German Football League (DFL) have confirmed that a minute's silence will be held for the midfielder when the Bundesliga returns at the end of January. The DFL added that clubs can decide whether to wear black armbands or not. Wolfsburg open the second half of the season against Bayern Munich on January 30.

German police are investigating the driver of the car - also 20 - Malanda was travelling in on suspicion of manslaughter, as the car was travelling at high speeds in wet conditions at the time of the crash.

jh/apc (AP, afp, dpa)