Former Boca Juniors goalkeeper Gustavo Eberto died of leukaemia on Monday, aged 24. Eberto, a South American Under 20 champion in 2003, who was viewed as one of Argentina’s great goalkeeping hopes for the future, had been battling testicular cancer since February.
Eberto was born in Paso de Los Libres, Corrientes Province, on the 30th August 1983, and played for the local Banco Provincia team until the age of 15, when he moved to Boca’s training academy near La Bombonera having been spotted by scouts. He made his first team debut on the 22nd June 2003, the final day of that year’s Clausura.
In 2006 he was loaned to Talleres de Córdoba, where he quickly became a vital part of the side playing in B Nacional.
On the 20th February, before the side’s match against Atlético Rafaela, Eberto was checked into the Swiss Clinic in Capital Federal to try and ascertain the reasons for some physical discomfort and pain he’d been feeling. He was diagnosed with testicular cancer and given a course of treatment, but passed away on Monday.
‘In the first instance, it was all a commotion. I wasn’t angry, not with God nor with life. I simply wanted to hang onto my faith,’ were the words Eberto had when asked how he coped with such a difficult struggle. Boca’s official website describes Eberto’s death as ‘a very painful loss for our club.’ Eberto’s remains will be interred in Paso de Los Libres.
Filed under: Argentine football, Argentine league, Ascenso, B Nacional, Boca Juniors, Domestic, Football, Football clubs, Junior selección, Lower leagues, Players, Primera A, Selección
