This Tuesday evening at 7pm, Osasuna take on Chicalna FC in the first round of the Copa del Rey. They will have to do without their attacking midfielder Ruben Garcia, who has asked to be excused to travel to the region of Valencia to help the Dana disaster victims, as reported by the daily Marca.
Although he now lives in the north of Spain, in Navarre, Ruben Garcia has his roots in the region where the storm wreaked havoc, leaving at least 219 victims in its wake. Born in Valencia, he was then trained and launched in the first division at Levante, just next door. “It’s hard for those of us who are far away and have family and friends there,” said his coach Vicente Moreno at the weekend after the match against Valladolid.
Seen emptying water from a garage
So he gave the player a thumbs-up, and off he went to help the locals in need in any way he could. Garcia was thus seen emptying water from a garage or transporting food and clothing in a van full to the brim.
In Paiporta, a town of 25,000 inhabitants just south of Valencia and considered to be the epicenter of the tragedy, drinking water has only just returned, a week after the floods. The streets are still clogged with vehicles. On Tuesday, the Spanish government unveiled a 10.6 billion euro aid package for the tens of thousands of stricken residents and businesses.