Junior Malanda Tragedy Best Honoured by Successful Wolfsburg Season
The death of a sportsman isn't any more, or indeed less, important than anybody else on the planet. Certainly, it isn't any less difficult for those close to the victim to deal with. By the nature of a sports team, however, there are times that the loss of a notable name can touch an awful lot more people at once, as seems to have been the case with Junior Malanda.
A 20-year-old central midfielder, Malanda was part of the Wolfsburg and Belgium under-21 squads this season, having also previously been at Zulte Waregem in his home country. Malanda died on January 10 in a car crash, per BBC Sport, on his way to meet up with his team to fly for an overseas training camp during the winter break.
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Having been a regular part of the squad this season, making 10 Bundesliga appearances, Malanda's absence will doubtless hit his club team-mates particularly hard. It is through showing team spirit, though, and seeing out a successful rest of the year that they can best honour and remember their fallen colleague.
Loss
Malanda's death clearly impacted many in the world of football: club mates, international team-mates, opponents. Many have paid tribute to his talents and his person.
"Origi's tribute to Malanda on Instagram. Really is sad. pic.twitter.com/Hwa66aeBC3
— Oli (@SupremeOli) January 11, 2015"
"Kevin de Bruyne y Thorgan Hazard recuerdan al fallecido Malanda. pic.twitter.com/tUJXJERxAi
— La cara B del fútbol (@lacarabfutbol) January 10, 2015"
"RIP Malanda! So sad to see a young player to go like this.May God give your family and friends comfort @VfL_Wolfsburg pic.twitter.com/8rN6YFAn8W
— Rafinha Official (@R13_official) January 11, 2015"
Everton striker Romelu Lukaku, a close friend of Malanda, played for his club in the aftermath of the news, though manager Roberto Martinez told The Guardian that he was struggling to come to terms with it.
"We all knew Rom had that relationship with Junior because it was a talking point when we played Wolfsburg in the Europa League, the two of them facing each other. Rom has been really affected. Everyone has, to be honest, as we only played them in November. It is so sad it is difficult to comprehend.
Rom is really down about it. He is in constant contact with the family but he has been very strong over it. Playing football probably allows you to get rid of that feeling and that’s exactly what he needs. He trained well yesterday and we are all helping and supporting him.
"
That release which football can provide individuals is perhaps the best armoury that Wolfsburg players have to the situation. Players come and go within football squads all the time, but this is no loan spell. There is no return this time, and individuals—not just playing staff—at Die Wolfe will have to deal with it in different ways.
The first game back after the winter break, at home versus league leaders Bayern Munich, will be an emotive occasion.
"Bayern took a minute of silence today to mourn the tragic death of Junior Malanda. pic.twitter.com/X4mJ6jBPHY
— Cristian Nyari (@Cnyari) January 11, 2015"
Chucho Benitez
But perhaps it will also be an opportunity. The sporting significance of the game, second versus first, is obvious. It will probably also be secondary, at least to begin with.
To be part of a football team, any sports team, is to place emphasis on being greater together than apart, stronger as a unit than as individuals. That spirit, that recollection of fighting for a common cause, can be strengthened in this instance for Wolfsburg. They have something else, something new, to honour.
A look back at Ecuador in 2013 reveals a similar scenario, with just such a banding together.
The South American nation lost star striker Chucho Benitez, once of Birmingham City in England, at the time playing for El Jaish in Qatar, one year before the World Cup finals of last summer in Brazil. The national squad—particularly his close friend, winger Antonio Valencia, and manager, Reinaldo Rueda—struggled to come to terms with it but ultimately dedicated the rest of the World Cup qualifying campaign to his memory.
Their bonding together over that loss, the situation of having something to acknowledge in every game beyond the scope of sporting success, proved invaluable to them. Ecuador made the finals, dedicating each goal they scored to Benitez's memory.
Malanda might not have the same on-pitch cache with Wolfsburg that Benitez did for his team, but in situations like this which affect players on a personal level, amount of ability can be academic and irrelevant. It's the human aspect of being part of a club which matters.
Bundesliga
As for what Wolfsburg can achieve, "success" is a relative term in the Bundesliga. Bayern Munich, regardless of the result in this one-off fixture, will go on to win the league title once again, barring a huge meltdown.
Second place, though, is very much up for grabs. Wolfsburg have that place by six points at the halfway stage and a seven-point buffer to fifth, which they will want to finish above at all costs as entryway into next season's Champions League.
Not since they won the league in '08-'09 have they finished even in the top four. To do so, this term would be success; to finish as the main challenger to Bayern, after the difficult time they must now endure, would be excellence.
Without Malanda, the game, the club and the league must go on.
But the club-mates he leaves behind can ensure his contribution to the campaign was a meaningful one in a memorable season by summoning those most important of team sport traits following his loss: unity, mental strength and playing for a worthwhile cause.
RIP, Junior Malanda. 1994-2015.
