Hlas: Brazilian soccer tragedy hits home for Cedar Rapids Rampage

A horrific soccer-related tragedy in South America Monday has resonated around the world, including Cedar Rapids.

A chartered plane carrying 76 people, including the Chapecoense soccer team of Brazil, crashed in Colombia Monday night. There were only five survivors.

The team, from the southern Brazil city of Chapeco, was traveling to Colombia to play in the final of the Copa Sudamericana tournament. The team had been such a feel-good story, having climbed from the fourth division of Brazilian soccer all the way to the highest level. It was to have made its first appearance in a continental final Wednesday when it played in Medellin.

'It was one of those shocking deals you hear in the middle of the night,' said Hewerton Moreira, the player-coach of the Cedar Rapids Rampage of Major Arena Soccer League. 'I was hoping it wasn't true, that I was dreaming it or something like that.'

Globally, soccer people are grieving. Brazil President Michel Temer announced three days of national mourning.

'Teams in Brazil are asking to play with Chapecoense jerseys,' Moreira said. 'Everybody's really touched. Everybody's really supportive.'

Moreira is Brazilian. His assistant coach, Chico Parisotto, is from Chapeco. Two of the Rampage's top scorers through their five games this season, Jonatan Santos and Pablo Da Silva, are also from Brazil. They are MASL veterans who were brought to Cedar Rapids to give the team significantly more experience than the first edition of the Rampage last season.

The results have been seen in the team winning three of its first five games. Cedar Rapids started last season 0-7, and finished 5-15.

While playing for the Rampage last season, Moreira led the MASL in assists. He has been a 'follow my example' coach so far this season by scoring a team-high six times.

Moreira is 37. Da Silva 36, Santos 32. All are several years and a hemisphere away from home, playing because they still can.

'As long as I have legs that can still run,' Moreira said. 'I've always wanted to play until I'm 38, 39. I'm getting close.

'I came to the U.S. 14 years ago for the experience, obviously. To learn a different language, be in a different culture, play the game for a couple years, and go back home. All of a sudden I've got a love with the indoor game, with the passion.

'We get to do what we love and we're getting paid to do what we love. I'm very grateful and happy for what I do and where I do it.'

The concept of a pro indoor soccer team in Cedar Rapids would have seemed crazy not long ago. Seeing Cedar Rapids in a four-team division with Chicago, Kansas City and St. Louis isn't something you'd expect to find in any pro sport.

Moreira and Santos were teammates on two league-championship teams in Milwaukee. Da Silva played for one championship team in Baltimore and another in Milwaukee.

'The crowds are starting to come here,' said Moreira. 'For us, being here is really nice.'

Their next game at the U.S. Cellular Center is Dec. 10. They play Syracuse, N.Y., Friday and at Harrisburg, Pa., Saturday.

The Harrisburg Heat have seven Brazilian players. The pain of a plane crash in Colombia is far-reaching.