The body of former Birmingham City striker Christian Benitez has been flown home to Ecuador after his death aged 27, with fans lining the streets to bid farewell on the way to his funeral.
The coffin was accompanied on the flight from Doha in Qatar by his wife Liseth Chala and other grieving relatives.
The 27-year-old Ecuadorian international striker died Monday after playing his first match for Qatari league side El Jaish a day before HERE).
The striker scored 24 goals in 54 games for Ecuador, playing in the 2006 World Cup as a youngster. He had scored four goals in Ecuador's qualifying campaign for the 2014 finals in Brazil.
Benitez's club career saw him ply his trade in Mexico, in the English Premier League with Birmingham, before heading to Qatar.
El Jaish played their first match since his death Yesterday, with a minute's silence observed before taking on Al Shahaniya in a pre-season tournament.
His teammates held up a banner with is picture and the words "Christian Benitez We Will Miss You"
before playing out a 4-4 draw.
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