Teenage soccer player Vini Desouza has tragically died suddenly, his team has announced.
UK club Warrington Town announced that Desouza, one of its youth team players, had tragically died over the weekend.
Desouza was just 19 years old when he died.
The Brazil-born midfielder had been a prominent part of the youth set-up since joining in 2023.
He was described as a “well respected and much loved” player.
Desouza reached double figures for both goals and assists for the club’s under-18s and under-21s teams over the past two seasons.
He had featured for the first team in last season’s Cheshire Senior Cup and during pre-season.
Less than 24 hours after finding out of Desouza’s passing, his under-21s teammates bravely went ahead with their game away at Macclesfield on Sunday and won the game 4-1.
The club dedicated the victory to their fallen teammate.
Tributes have flooded in for popular and “extremely talented” teenage soccer player.
Warrington Town FC has confirmed the sudden passing of Desouza in a statement.
“Scorer of the most spectacular goals, Vini was a well respected, much-loved member of the club, and his ability earned him a place training with the first team despite his young age,” the club said.
“He played for the first team last season in the Cheshire Senior Cup against Cheadle Town, and trained regularly with the first team, appearing in numerous pre-season friendlies over the past couple of seasons” the statement added.
Teammate Sam Gill said:
“Vini was a well-loved and much-valued player in our team.
“He grew into his character as his time at Warrington went on, and all of the lads had so much respect for him.
“He was an extremely talented footballer with so much ability, had a major impact coming in with us and consequently earning his space for training and playing matches with the first team.
“Vini is someone who will be missed dearly, both on the pitch and more importantly his character in the changing rooms and outside of football.
“We will all miss him, and we send our condolences to his family at this difficult time.”
The club has launched a fundraising campaign in order to raise money for funeral costs for his heartbroken family.
Following Desouza’s death, Jesse Lingard, a former Manchester United star, donated £5,000 ($6,325) to the fundraising pot.
No cause of death has been revealed.
All details regarding Desouza’s sudden death have been withheld from the public.
READ MORE – Hollywood Hairstylist Jesus Guerrero Dies ‘Very Suddenly and Unexpectedly’ at 34
