The Osasuna club has given permission to Ruben Garcia to miss the Copa del Rey match scheduled for Tuesday against Chiclana (sixth division) to help those affected by the floods in Spain, which left more than 200 dead. The 31-year-old winger went to the Valencia region to lend a helping hand to the population.
After his short entry into play during the victory against Valladolid on Saturday in La Liga (1-0), Ruben Garcia gathered his things and hit the road to reach the Valencia region. At the wheel of a van filled with gloves, masks, boots and cleaning equipment, the Osasuna player went to lend a helping hand to those affected by the floods which ravaged the south and east of Spain, causing the death of more than 200 people.
Videos circulating on the networks show the 31-year-old winger with his feet in the mud or trying to evacuate brown water from a garage. The native of Xativa was notably seen in Paiporta, one of the municipalities hardest hit by the disaster.
The Osasuna coach also mobilized
His altruism and involvement were praised by the Osasuna club. According to the Spanish press, the current fifth in La Liga even authorized his 1.72m left-hander to extend his stay near Valencia in order to continue to help the local population. Ruben Garcia obtained the agreement of his managers not to participate in the Copa del Rey match scheduled for Tuesday against Chiclana, a sixth division team, near Cádiz (7 p.m.).
Vincent Moreno, Osasuna coach, also went to Massanassa, his hometown, in recent days to support residents affected by the floods. The 50-year-old Spanish coach appeared very emotional when discussing the disaster during his last press conference: “It's very hard, especially for them, but… for those of us who are far away and who have family, friends, neighbors, children… you have to understand that it's very hard not to be able to be there with them.”