Players at the Club World Cup in Japan paid tribute Sunday to those who lost their lives and livelihoods in the March earthquake that left 20,000 dead or missing, nine months on from the disaster.
Santos striker Borges had a prolific stint with Vegalta Sendai in 2006 -- a club based in the northeast part of Japan that was hardest hit by the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and ensuing tsunami on March 11 this year.
"The way the Japanese people have reacted to such terrible natural tragedies this year just showcases what kind of country this is," Borges, whose side enters the semi-final stage of the Club World Cup on Wednesday, told FIFA.com.
The disaster also sparked a nuclear crisis at a power plant in which radiation leaked into the surrounding environment, forcing the evacuation of thousands of residents and leading to ongoing fears over contaminated food.
Abdullah Koni, the captain of Asian champions Al Sadd, said: "I'm from Senegal so I remember that Japan helped us when we were in trouble.
"I?d like to give something in return and will do as much as I can on the pitch to achieve that."
Japan's aid to Senegal has included emergency assistance when floods affected hundreds of thousands in the west African country in 2005.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter dismissed concerns over radiation in Japan.
"There were some voices saying how can you play in a country that has been affected? They didn't speak so much about the tsunami but they spoke about radiation," he told press in the northeastern city of Matsushima on Saturday.
Taking the tournament of continental champions back to Japan was designed to help the Japanese people, he said.
The annual showpiece, in which Barcelona will be competing from Thursday, is being held away from the area of Japan worst affected by the earthquake and tsunami.
Source: AFP
