goodbye

TALLIA Storm has shared an emotional tribute to her late father Sascha following his funeral on Wednesday and praised mum Tessa Hartmann for her strength during the difficult time. 

Last month Real Housewives of Jersey star Tessa revealed her husband had passed away suddenly. 

Today pop star Tallia took to social media to share moments from the day as the family celebrated Sascha’s life. 

She wrote: “Wednesday wasn’t just a funeral.

It was a celebration of life. Our favourite gospel choir flew in from London, Zac on the saxophone followed by Zac on keys and me singing ‘Sunny’.

“Johnnie, Kae & my amazing Mum with an incredible speech… Tessie’s strength & nothing but love across the entire church.

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“A celebration of the greatest man we’ve ever known.The entire day felt like we were in a film, sadly, the film was a real life story.”

Tallia included a clip of her singing at the funeral, showing her performing an emotional rendition of Sunny by Bobby Hebb.

She added: “Thank you to my unbelievably amazing Mum for being so strong at a time where our worlds have shattered.”

Tessa shared her own heartbreak last month when she revealed Sascha’s passing. 

She wrote: “This August we were meant to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. Instead, I am organising his funeral.”

“The past 24 hours have passed in a blur. We are utterly shattered. Broken beyond anything I could ever have imagined. 

“I ask, if you are able, to keep our family in your prayers as we try to find the strength to face the days ahead.

“Sascha, we loved every single part of you. Your kindness. Your laughter. Your humour. Your remarkable mind. Your music. Your beautiful piano playing. We will keep playing your songs, telling your stories, and carrying your love with us for the rest of our lives.

“Until we meet again, my love. My person. My soulmate. My best friend. The father of our four beautiful children. Thank you for giving me the greatest gift of all – our family. I will cherish that, and you, forever.”

Cape Verde may have been the World Cup’s smallest nation, but they have certainly made a big impact.

Forget Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane – it is the tournament debutants who have become the centre of attention.

There were the heroics of goalkeeper Vozinha as they earned their first World Cup point against Spain. There were the thrills as they scored their first World Cup goals against Uruguay. There was Sidny Lopes Cabral’s wonder goal as they almost causing the competition’s biggest shock against Argentina. Cape Verde’s World Cup journey had it all.

When the whistle blew to bring extra time to an end in Miami, the Blue Sharks players slumped to the turf after a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat by reigning champions Argentina but they can leave the United States knowing they have won many hearts.

“Cape Verde have lost, but they’ve won,” said former Scotland international James McFadden on BBC Radio 5 Live.

“They have shown courage, togetherness, unity and unwavering belief in what they are and what they can do.

“The story of this tournament is Cape Verde. That is what you want to see in a football side.”

They came into the tournament ranked 67th in the world, but three group-stage draws – holding European champions Spain 0-0 in their opening game – set up the monumental task of trying to cause one of the biggest upsets the World Cup has ever seen.

Against Argentina, they went behind to a Messi goal, but came back to level at 1-1 and take the game to extra time. Then they went behind again – before a stunning strike from Cabral levelled again. It was not to be though, with a cruel deflection off Diney Borges from Cristian Romero’s header seeing Argentina through.

But former England right-back Gary Neville told ITV it was “one of the greatest performances” he had ever seen from an underdog”.

“They are crying because they are going home,” he added. “They don’t want to go home. They want to be here for the rest of their lives.

“They want to be here forever. This is a moment that’s probably not going to come back for some of these players. It’s magical but also upsetting.”