Elson Becerra

Elson Evelio Becerra Vaca (26 April 1978 – 8 January 2006) was a Colombian footballer.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Becerra and the second or maternal family name is Vaca.
Elson Becerra
Personal information
Full name Elson Evelio Becerra Vaca
Date of birth (1978-04-26)26 April 1978
Place of birth Cartagena de Indias, Colombia
Date of death 8 January 2006(2006-01-08) (aged 27)
Place of death Cartagena de Indias, Colombia
Position(s) Winger, deep-lying striker
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–2001 Deportes Tolima (64)
2001–2003 Atletico Junior
2003 América de Cali
2003–2006 Al Jazira
2004–2005 → Emirates (loan)
National team
2000–2003 Colombia 14 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Born in Cartagena, Becerra began playing football with Deportes Tolima's youth academy. He joined the senior squad at age 17, helping the club gain promotion to the Colombian second division. He scored 64 goals for Tolima.[1]

On club level the striker had played for Al Jazira in the United Arab Emirates since 2003. He played for Emirates Club during the 2005 season.[2] He previously played for Deportes Tolima and Atlético Junior.

International career

A national team player, Becerra won the 2001 Copa America and participated in the 2003 Confederations Cup, where he became noted for trying to save the life of the collapsed Marc-Vivien Foé.[1] He also featured in Colombia's unsuccessful qualification for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Death

Becerra was shot in a night club in his birth town Cartagena together with his friend Alexander Ríos, apparently after they had a fight with a group of men a couple of days earlier.[3]

References
  1. "El último adiós a Elson Becerra" [The last farewell to Elson Becerra] (in Spanish). El Pais. 10 January 2006.
  2. Abbasher, Yasir (1 January 2006). "Retrospective 05, Perspective 06". Gulfnews.com.
  3. "Colombian national soccer team player shot dead". People's Daily Online. Xinhua News Agency. 10 January 2006. Retrieved 26 January 2007.


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