Mario Pineida, the 33-year-old who was shot in Guayaquil, has died, and this has rocked Ecuadorian football and given rise to the concern of the rising rate of violence that has been against the game.
According to local authorities, the deadly event took place when two attackers on motorbikes fired within the premises of a shop in the Samanes area to the north of the city.
The Ecuadorian media reported that the assailants attacked the defender, his mother, and another woman with several close-range shots.
The player and an unknown individual were killed,d and his mother and the second woman were hospitalized with injuries.
The Ecuador Interior Ministry confirmed that it has sent a special police squadron to probe the shooting and find those behind it. The case is a priority, the officials said, as there is an increasing concern about the safety of people in Guayaquil.
It has turned out to be a huge gang and drug trafficking neighborhood with an estimated number of 1,900 murders registered between January and September, which is the highest in the country.
Football has not been left behind, and three second-tier players were murdered in September, and one other local player was injured in another shooting last month.
During the 15 years of professional career, Mario Pineida proved himself as a credible full-back in both local and international football games. He played a total of nine senior caps with Ecuador, from 2014 to 2021, and was selected at a time when the national team was competitive.
He started his senior career in Independiente del Valle, and in 2016, he became a player of Barcelona SC, spending nine seasons with the club. Lent to Fluminense FC and then El Nacional,l where he gained additional club experience.
In a statement, Barcelona SC said it was a great regret for all of us who are part of this institution, and said it is sad news, giving him credit on his long service.
Messages of condolence were also shared by Independiente del Valle and Fluminense, and this shows his character and professionalism.
The Ecuadorian Football Federation denounced the brutality and sent their regards to the family, demanding justice to be served accordingly.
With the investigations ongoing, the death of Mario Pineida has made a new look into the need to protect players more in the face of an increasingly growing security crisis.
Also read this:
https://bangtheworld.com/rayan-cherki-is-hailed-as-exceptional-as-guardiolas-praise/
