It’s been a long two weeks for St. Louis CITY SC since Ilona Löwen, wife of midfielder Edu, passed away after a two-year battle with cancer. The grief has been palpable as the team carried on during a busy start to the Major League Soccer season.
While Edu grieved away from the club, clubs around MLS shared their condolences. The LA Galaxy, playing two days after Ilona’s passing, wore black armbands during their CONCACAF Champions Cup match at the request of former CITY SC striker João Klauss. Then, a few days later, CITY SC wore black armbands embroidered with the initials “IL” during the team’s match against LAFC.
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“The feeling I’ve got in this group with those players with this staff within this organization is like the feeling of a big family,” manager Yoann Damet said after Saturday’s 3-1 victory over the New England Revolution. “It’s a tough time. It’s not an easy time. But at the same time, we’ve got to do everything we can to show support and love.”
This past Saturday, the club returned to Energizer Park. The players and staff, once again, wore the armbands, and the CITY SC community celebrated the life of someone who had made St. Louis their home. After the news of Ilona’s passing, groups of fans and supporters instantly organized initiatives to honor Ilona during the team’s return home. Supporters carried banners that read “Edu + Ilona | Amor Eterno,” adorned the drums with gray ribbons to raise awareness for brain cancer, and fans wore gray and lifted signs in support of the Löwens.
The usually raucous Energizer Park fell into silence ahead of kickoff, and fans around the stadium raised signs in conjunction with 60 seconds of silence at the 10-minute mark. The usual sounds of cheering, singing, trumpets, and drums were replaced by the sound of a ball being kicked amongst a shroud of silence. It was a moment to support a player, to remember a life gone too soon, and a moment to reflect on all of the lives that have been permanently affected by the disease.
“We were aware of the initiative by the fans with the gray,” Damet said. “I thought it was just a little reminder for all of us to remember her and give Edu our support and our love.”
The emotion of the night was unmistakable with every kick of the ball, every tackle, and—maybe most of all—every goal celebration. The club’s highest-scoring match came when they needed it the most, stamped by Marcel Hartel’s goal, a long-range drive that soared over the head of Revolution goalkeeper Matt Turner.
“We went through a tough time those past two weeks. There is someone that we hold in our heart that is going through an even tougher time, and we’ve got to remind ourselves that,” Damet said. “We’ve got to show him the love, support, and energy that he deserves.”
From the club to the community, that support was on display Saturday night. “The feeling is quite special,” said Damet. “We’re one big family. Everybody cares for one another. We’re just doing everything we can to be there to support him.”
