A tragic fate grips Italy's football world

It happened in 2015, when Giovanni Custodero was just 23 years old - in the prime of his youth, with his whole life still ahead of him. During his appearances with Cocoon, a small-field team from Fasano in the C2 series (similar in level to the local top league), the goalkeeper repeatedly noticed that his left ankle was swelling. At first Giovanni didn't think much of it. But when there was no improvement in sight even after months, he sought advice from a specialist in Florence. There was the shock diagnosis: It wasn't a typical footballer's injury to his ankle, but a rare form of bone cancer in an advanced stage.

“Others would have broken in, but Giovanni didn’t,” his family wrote in an emotional letter on Facebook. The cheerful young man decided to amputate his left leg down to the knee. “He wanted to continue living, to enjoy the moments with his family, his girlfriend, his colleagues,” the letter continues. But the cancer came back. “Over the years, Giovanni had to undergo 5 more procedures, as well as radiation and chemotherapy. But he never lost his smile. Every sunrise was a gift for him,” said the family’s emotional words.

https://www.facebook.com/luana.amati.5/posts/2642902692414005

Giovanni was a fighter who repeatedly shared his ordeal on Facebook to encourage other people in similar situations. The core of his message: “Never give up.” Serie A club Lecce also became aware of his fate, which started a fundraising campaign during the game against Juventus in October.

But the cancer – it was too powerful in the end. On January 6th of this year, Giovanni Custodero wrote his last Facebook post, which touched people all over Italy. “I have already let you know in the last few posts that the situation is not the best,” the message begins. "Now it is time. I have come to the final battle. I look him (the cancer, editor's note) in the eyes. I realize that he is stronger with the energy he has taken from me over the last few years. I am tired." The last hours in an induced coma And further: “I spent the holidays away from social networks and was with the people I love most. Now the holidays are over - and with it the last bit of strength I have left. I can no longer live with this physical pain. That's why I decided to put myself in an induced coma, which will relieve me of the pain. I hope that I have been of help to many people. That’s why I want to thank you one last time, because you were, are and always will be my great strength.”

6 days after Giovanni Custodero was put into an induced coma, he lost his battle against cancer. The footballer died on Sunday morning at the age of 27.

Football

Italy

International leagues

International

Winter sports

Tennis

Other sports

Motorsport

Cycling

Watersports

Events

Favorites

A tragic fate grips Italy's football world

Small-sided soccer goalkeeper Giovanni Custodero died on Sunday at the age of 27. His tragic fate has deeply touched Italian football in recent days.

Suggestions

Comments (0)