The Bundesliga has continued to mourn promising Wolfsburg midfielder Junior Malanda, who died in a car accident on Saturday.
Malanda, 20, was a Belgium under-21 international who had made 10 Bundesliga appearances this season as Wolfsburg moved comfortably clear in second place in the table.
The accident happened when the car he was travelling in towards Hannover left the motorway and hit a tree. The player was not wearing a seat-belt and was thrown from the vehicle.
All Bundesliga clubs have offered condolences to the Wolves, who have now travelled to South Africa for their winter training camp.
Wolfsburg sporting executive Klaus Alllofs told a news conference on Sunday: "Junior was full of life, [he was] the positive spirit within the team. We have a lot of positive spirits within the team, but Junior really was something special."
He added that after evaluating the situation the club decided to go through with the trip to South Africa, after it had initially been postponed on Saturday following the news of Malanda's death.
"It was not an easy decision to make but we believe this is the right move," he added. "Under such circumstances, you would say this is a decision made in the interest of Junior -- and it surely is in the best interest of Junior. He wanted success and he wanted to achieve great things with us. That is the last thing that we can do for him."
Also speaking at the news conference, the club's head coach Dieter Hecking added in tears that "in spite of the depth of this sadness, we must continue."
Meanwhile, some 2,000 Wolfsburg supporters gathered at the Volkswagen Arena on Sunday for a funeral march, with many of them signing a book of condolence, local paper WAZ reported.
Bayern Munich held a minute's silence at a training session during their winter training camp in Qatar.
Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp, speaking to reporters at their base in La Manga in Spain, said: "We are all extremely shocked. That's an inconceivable tragedy, and it's sheer madness. He was such a young, fantastic and talented player."
FIFA president Sepp Blatter took to Twitter:
Geschockt und traurig über den tragischen Tod von @VfL_Wolfsburg und @Belgianfootball U21-Spieler Junior Malanda. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/yNUgx5kAwP
- Joseph S Blatter (@SeppBlatter) January 10, 2015
Der Fussball verliert ein großes Talent. Meine Gedanken sind bei seiner Familie. (2/2) #RIPJuniorMalanda pic.twitter.com/BYF0wWKJga
- Joseph S Blatter (@SeppBlatter) January 10, 2015
Manchester City and Belgium captain Vincent Kompany tweeted that he was deeply saddened by the news. "All of my thoughts are with Junior Malanda's relatives. Rest in peace, little brother," he wrote.
Indescriptible.. Quel tristesse. En pensées et de tout cœur avec les proches de Junior Malanda. Repose en paix, petit frère.
- Vincent Kompany (@VincentKompany) January 10, 2015
Everton striker Romelu Lukaku added on Instagram: "Junior why u my brother why. I'm devastated for your family. Rest in Peace my brother."