'Amazing turnout' at match in memory of stabbed teen

A football match in memory of a 15-year-old who was fatally stabbed had a "truly amazing" turnout, according to his former coach.

Luis Gabriel Guembes' former teams Churt U16 Vipers and Mytchett Athletic U16 Kestrels played on Tuesday in tribute to the 15-year-old, who died in Guildford in January.

An inquest heard he was stabbed in the back of the abdomen and two teenagers have been charged with his murder.

Mark DeGiovanni, who organised the fixture, said: "We had almost 700 people turn up to an under-16 game, which is absolutely unprecedented."

The game, held at the ground of Hampshire National League South side Farnborough FC, also raised £4,400 for knife awareness charities and youth football, according to DeGiovanni.

Vipers beat Kestrels 5-0 after the Mytchett Athletic team reformed especially for the evening.

"Trying to come back was just a challenge in itself but the boys gave it everything," DeGiovanni told BBC Radio Surrey.

A minute of applause was held ahead of kick-off with pictures of Guembes displayed on the scoreboard.

His school described him after his death as a talented footballer who was "on track to achieve his goals", while his family said he would be "forever remembered, never forgotten".

Mark Davies, who coached Louis for several months at Churt Juniors FC, said the teenager "would be in awe, I think, of what we're doing".

He would "just love to have played" at the stadium, he said.

DeGiovanni told the BBC it had "taken a long time to come to terms with" Guembes' death.

"It's trying to make sense of something that's so senseless and you just can't really fathom it," he said.

"It's been a bit of a journey for myself as well, but nothing compared to what the family has had to go through."

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