Real sends signed jerseys to trapped Chile miners

Posted Saturday, October 02, 2010 by YAHOO Sport

MADRID (AFP) - Real Madrid has sent signed jerseys to the 33 miners who have been trapped underground in Chile and invited them to attend a match at the club's stadium in Spain once they are released.

Real officials delivered the jerseys imprinted with the message "be strong miners" along with photo albums of players to Chile's Mining Minister Laurence Golborne, the club said in a statement posted on its website.

"It means a lot that an entire country like Spain is following this odyssey that we are going through. I hope the miners are able to enjoy these gifts," the statement quotes Golborne as saying.

Pictures posted on Real's website showed coach Jose Mourinho and stars Cristiano Ronaldo, Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos signing the black and white jerseys that bear the number 33 on the back.

Rescue workers are drilling round the clock to reach the men, who have been trapped 700 metres underground at the San Jose mine since August 5.

Earlier this month Barcelona striker David Villa, whose family have worked in mining for generations, sent two signed jerseys to the 33 miners.

One of the trapped workers, 55-year-old Franklin Lobos was a professional footballer in his youth who made the Chilean national team in the 1980s.