May 02 - Christian Wink Memorial Football Match
The Royal Gibraltar Regiment held a memorial football match in Devils Tower Camp this week to honour their colleague Christian Wink. Christian joined the Regiment in 1997 and was 22 years old when he lost his life in a road traffic accident whilst on deployment to Jebel Sahara in 2001.
Christian’s biggest passion was football, he represented the Royal Gibraltar Regiment’s Football team on many occasions in the Gibraltar Services League but the match he enjoyed the most was the annual Seniors vs Junior Ranks match. Therefore it is fitting that the memorial match be between the Seniors and Juniors.
The victors of the match were the Juniors who won on a penalty shoot-out following a 3 all result
Christian’s father Emilio Wink said, 'I am very glad to be here today, it is lovely that Lt Col Lopez remembers Christian in this way and I am so grateful to him for bringing back the memory of Christian with the sport he loved so much.'
Following the match Emilio presented the Man of the Match Trophy to LCpl Dexter Panzavechia and the Juniors were presented with the winning team trophy
The memorial match has been held on a week that coincides with a number of important events Lt Col Ivor Lopez explained , ‘We are remembering Christian Wink on a significant week for the Regiment, not only because it is Regimental Week and the week of our 75th anniversary but also because on Monday we had Workers’ Memorial Day a public holiday where we remembered all of those who have lost their lives including Christian who tragically lost his life in Morocco back in 2001.
