Ronny Benitez, brother of Ecuador international striker Christian Benitez, cries during a mass in Mexico City, on July 29, 2013. \
DOHA: Ecuador striker Christian Benitez died of a heart attack, his Qatari club Eljaish confirmed in a statement yesterday.
Benitez had died suddenly in Qatar on Monday at the age of 27.
“The official medical reports... (received by Eljaish) stated that the sudden death was caused by heart failure,” said a club statement.
“(The club) will transfer the body of the late player to Ecuador immediately after finishing all legal procedures which are applied in the state of Qatar,” it said.
“The family and wife of the late Benitez will also be transferred to attend the funeral ceremony,” it said, promising that “farewell and transfer of the body will be at the highest level that meets the late player’s name and reputation.”
The statement added that the club will “bear all expenses of transferring the body from Doha by private aircraft” as well as bearing the expenses of the Ecuadorian national team doctor who travelled to Doha.
The club also confirmed that officials visited Benitez’s family in Doha to offer their support.
Benitez, who was top scorer last season with Club America, had just signed for the Qatari outfit and had travelled to the club to undergo a medical before completing his move.
Benitez was considered a key part of Colombian coach Reinaldo Rueda’s Ecuador team that is hoping to qualify for next year’s World Cup in Brazil, sitting third in the South American qualifying group.
AFP/THE PENINSULA
