More than a hundred people, many of them young athletes, gathered on Thursday afternoon at the Basilica of San Juan el Real to say their last goodbyes to Juan Prado, the famous tennis coach of Oviedo, who died suddenly on Tuesday at the age of 60. “He was the head coach of the district tennis, he was completely dedicated and had a special left hand in teaching children,” said a group of parents of some of his students at the entrance of the temple.
One of the attendees was the president of the Asturian Center of Oviedo, Gerardo Martínez, who did not hesitate to say goodbye to the man who was the main player in the tennis classes at the Naranco club. “For us today is a very difficult day, he had been connected to our organization for more than 30 years,” said Martínez.
He funeral It was led by the parish priest of San Juan el Real, Javier Suárez, who enlightened the family about the great popularity of the teacher. “It is a great loss for the whole city, especially in the Asturian Center, where everyone is confused,” said Suárez, who expressed his understanding for the relatives affected by the sudden loss of Prado. “If the person we love leaves us suddenly, we feel like we have been robbed.
Prado was cremated in the privacy of his family and his ashes were transferred to the place called “Cathedral of Ensanche”, where, in addition to the funeral, twelve masses will be held on Sunday. His family members sat in the front, and his widow, who is also a tennis coach, Mar González-Manjoya, in the front.
In the back were several benches filled with children who, before the meetings, shared their stories with Prado. “He knew a lot about tennis, you can tell that he is very dominant,” said one of the many young people who were there.
The news of Juan Prado’s death shocked many residents of Oviedo and tennis players throughout the region. At the age of 60, Prado has been associated with the game for more than 40 years and in the last forty years he has taught classes in almost all the tennis clubs in the region, including giving summer lessons in towns such as Marbella or Benalmádena. “He was a wonder in himself,” concluded one former student.
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