Chapecoense goalkeeper Nivaldo, who was not on the plane that crashed this week killing 71 people in Colombia, has said that he will never play football again after the tragic loss of his teammates and friends.

42-year-old Nivaldo was one of the first-team members not selected for the Copa Sudamericana and was left in Chapeco as the rest of the side travelled to Colombia on Monday night. The plane they were flying in crashed late on Monday night in the mountainous region near Medellin in Colombia, with aviation reports in Brazil appearing to confirm that the plane ran out of fuel after being put in a holding circle despite reporting an electrical failure.

Nivaldo was not selected due to the fact that he was set to make his 300th appearance for Chapecoense this weekend against Atletico Mineiro, and in order to ensure his landmark match would come in front of the home fans, we was left out of the Copa Sudamericana side.

“I was supposed to go on the trip but ended up staying,” a tearful Nivaldo told Globoesporte. “Everything has a reason in life. I didn’t travel to Palmeiras because it would make my farewell game to play here against Atlético-MG, when I would complete 300 games for the club.

“As there was a change in the trip, they would not return to Chapeco and instead go straight from Sao Paulo to Medellín. So Caio [the coach] said he would not take me.”

Nivaldo was due to leave the club at the end of the current Brazilian season, which is now on hold after the South American Football Confederation [Conmebol] suspended all activities.

Instead, two other goalkeepers were taken to Colombia. 31-year-old Danilo survived the crash and was taken to hospital, but after speaking to his wife via a phone call, he tragically died to become the 71st and final victim of the accident.

The other goalkeeper, 24-year-old Jakson Ragnar Follmann, survived the crash but is said to be in the most “severe” state of the six survivors. He is described as “medically stable”, but has had one leg amputated and could still lose his other foot.

Chapecoense Real Tribute Show all 11 1 /11 Chapecoense Real Tribute Chapecoense Real Tribute Flowers hang from a soccer net at the Arena Conda stadium in Chapeco, Brazil AP Chapecoense Real Tribute Supporters of Brazilian football team Chapecoense take part in a vigil at Conda Arena Rex Features Chapecoense Real Tribute People surround a church during a mass in memoriam of the players of Brazilian team Chapecoense Real killed in a plane crash in the Colombian mountains, in Chapeco, in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina Getty Chapecoense Real Tribute Fans of Chapecoense soccer team attend a mass at the Santo Antonio Cathedral in Chapeco, Brazil Getty Chapecoense Real Tribute A boy sits alone on the stands during a tribute to the players of Brazilian team Chapecoense Real Getty Chapecoense Real Tribute Supporters of the Brazilian soccer team Chapecoense gather at the Arena Conda Arena in Chapeco, Brazil EPA Chapecoense Real Tribute People surround a church during a mass in memoriam of the players of Brazilian team Chapecoense Real Getty Chapecoense Real Tribute Fans pays tribute to the players of Brazilian team Chapecoense Real Getty Chapecoense Real Tribute Fans pay tribute to the players of Brazilian team Chapecoense Real who were killed in a plane accident in the Colombian mountains, at the club's Arena Conda stadium in Chapeco, in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina Getty Chapecoense Real Tribute Players of the Chapecoense were among 81 people on board the doomed flight that crashed into mountains in northwestern Colombia, in which officials said just six people were thought to have survived, including three of the players. Chapecoense had risen from obscurity to make it to the Copa Sudamericana finals scheduled for Wednesday against Atletico Nacional of Colombia Getty Chapecoense Real Tribute People work at the Desbravador or Pioneer Monument, symbol of the city, which is pictured with black stripes in tribute to players of Chapecoense soccer team in Chapeco, Brazil Reuters