CELEBRITY
Fabio, the Grand Master at 80: When nickname becomes the real name
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Two iconic Nigerians from two sectors that have magnetic pulls on the citizens clock 80 today 2 March 2022. The Grandmaster of sports journalism, Fabio Lanipekun is 80 and shares the great occasion with the charismatic Pastor Adejare Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
It is also the Ash Wednesday, already the ash colour of the afro hair of Fabio Lanipekun, illustrates the day. Some years back, the coincidence of the birthday with Pastor Adeboye was put to Lanipekun; the grandmaster said he was oblivious of the coincidence.
He remarked that he was eternally grateful to God for letting him have something in common with the man of God who years ago was ranked by the influential Time Magazine as the third most influential individual on the Planet Earth.
Foreign names have become a common phenomenon in Nigeria. But the trend is more towards Biblical and English names.
Fabio is an Italian name. How did the grandmaster get an Italian name? He explained that he was born as Adesola Lanipekun and that Fabio, the name that he is popularly known, was actually a nickname!
It stuck while he was in his third year at Methodist Boys High School, the institution that has the honour of being the inaugural winners of the Principals’ Cup when it was called the ‘Schools Cup’ in 1948 before changing to Zard Cup in 1959 and Principals Cup since 1965.
According to Lanipekun, he read an 1886 romance book titled “Vendetta”. It was a story of a forgotten fellow, Fabio Romani, an Italian count who was thought to be dead. The novel was written by Mary Corelli.
Lanipekun said he was fascinated by the central figure of the novel, Fabio Romani. “I enjoyed the book that I started calling myself ‘Fabio”, remarked Lanipekun.
That was the origin of the nickname that has over seven decades become his name. He remarked that his parents initially objected to it each time school friend came to ask after ‘Fabio’. But somehow, it has stuck.
He has been a media practitioner since 1962 when he was a reporter with the now defunct Daily Express which was based in the Apogbon area on Lagos Island. He is one of the earliest Nigerian media practitioners to train specifically in sports journalism.
That was when he enrolled at the Regent Street Polytechnic in London in 1964. This is symbolic as even up till now, in spite of the pervasiveness of sports writing across all platforms, there is hardly any school of journalism or mass communication that sports writing is offered as a course.
Lanipekun therefore ranks as possibly the only active journalist trained in sports writing. That probably explains his often critical mind of most writings in newspapers.
In the late 1980s as a Group Sports Editor at Concord Press, I had a teacher in Fabio Lanipekun. Each time I drove into the National Stadium, Lagos where the sports desk of the NTA was domiciled, ‘Baba Fabio’, as we used to call him, would flag me down to either commend or criticise any write up in my publication.
His views were usually well informed and deeply rooted. He cherished in-depth and analytical write ups. Gradually, he started shaping my mind.
My most cherished meeting with him was outside the Nigerian shores at the 1987 U-16 World Youth Tournament in Canada. As a rookie reporter, I needed him for guidance. He was also around when I covered my first Africa Cup of Nations in Algeria in 1990 as well as my first attendance of the World Cup at Italia ‘90 and my first Olympic Games at Barcelona ‘92.
But my first knowledge of him was almost 10 years before I ventured into journalism. At first it was his trendy look – afro hairstyle and the alluring smiles that adorned his face – that drew him to me each time I watched him present sports programme on the only television station one could get in Ibadan, the WNTV, first in Africa!
At the time, ‘Sports Galore’ on WNTV on Saturdays made interesting viewing. I can’t forget his signature signing off: “Am backing sports all the way, what about you?”
He joined the WNTV/WNBS (Western Nigeria Television/Western Nigeria Broadcasting Service) after a brief spell at the NBC Lagos (Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation), the fore runner to the present day Nigeria Television Authority (NTA).
He started as a newspaper reporter before switching to television. He had a mentor in David Coleman, an English sports commentator in BBC. David Coleman who died nine years ago.
At Sydney 2000, Coleman who for 46 years worked for BBC was awarded the Olympic Order, the highest honour of the Olympic Movement. Lanipekun worked briefly with him as news assistant at the BBC World Service.
When he returned to Nigeria, he had another mentor in Ishola Folorunsho before switching to WNTV/WNBS on February 17, 1969. On May 18, 1969 he had his first coverage of a football match for the WNTV when he ran commentaries of the Ghana versus Nigeria World Cup qualifying match in Accra.
He rose to the position of Manager, Sports at the NTA before retirement. It is a paradox that in spite of Lanipekun’s knack for documentation, it will amount to searching for a pin on the seashore for one to get audio visuals of old football matches at the NTA.
Ten years ago, the issue was put to Lanipekun. “We had a well organised audio-visual library at the WNTV Ibadan. In those days, within five minutes, you can trace any material at the library.
“But when the NTA took over in 1976, they did not keep up to the evolving technology. We started with bulky video tapes. Now those are no longer in use. The globe has digitalised.”
A court in Argentina has heard fresh testimony in the ongoing trial over the death of football legend Diego Maradona, with a psychologist telling judges that the late icon suffered from bipolar disorder, narcissistic traits and required strict abstinence from alcohol.
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition marked by extreme mood swings ranging from periods of intense emotional “highs” (mania) to deep “lows” (depression).
Carlos Díaz, 34, one of seven medical professionals charged in connection with Maradona’s death, appeared before the court in Buenos Aires on Thursday, where he faces a charge of manslaughter with reckless intent for allegedly prescribing inappropriate medication.
According to Argentine media reports, Díaz told the court that Maradona’s mental health condition was complex and deeply intertwined with substance dependency.
“There was bipolar disorder and narcissism,” Díaz was quoted as saying. “He could bring a country to its knees, but one glass of alcohol could bring him to his knees.”
Díaz said he first met the former Argentina captain on October 26, 2020 — less than a month before his death — and was alarmed by Maradona’s condition. He recalled seeing the football great drinking wine at the time, an image he said reminded him of his late father, who struggled with alcoholism.
The psychologist told the court that he believed Maradona was willing to change his lifestyle and that his treatment approach was centred on complete abstinence from alcohol. He added that toxicology findings indicated the football legend had gone 23 days without drug use before his death.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in football history, Maradona enjoyed a glittering career with clubs such as Boca Juniors, FC Barcelona and SSC Napoli, and famously captained Argentina to victory at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
Maradona died on November 25, 2020, at the age of 60, following surgery for a subdural hematoma. His death shocked the football world and prompted widespread mourning across Argentina and beyond.
The trial is seeking to determine whether members of his medical and care team bear criminal responsibility for his death, with prosecutors alleging negligence in his treatment and supervision during his final days.
Also testifying on Thursday was neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, another of the defendants. He told the court that Maradona’s home-based care was appropriate under the circumstances and was never intended to function as an intensive-care unit.
The case continues to draw intense public interest in Argentina, where Maradona remains a revered national figure, even as questions persist over the circumstances surrounding his final days.
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Every week, hundreds of people line up to fill a plastic container with food in an unlikely place: the humble home where Argentine soccer legend Diego Armando Maradona was born.
The house in Villa Fiorito, a poor neighbourhood on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, no longer belongs to the family of Maradona, who died in 2020 after a heart attack. Still, for the last month, its current owner has lent its dirt yard to a group of volunteers who light a grill and cook for neighbours.
Last Thursday, Maria Torres stirred a stew in two large pots while several others peeled potatoes and chopped pieces of chicken. A mural painted on the house’s facade depicts the soccer player next to the words, “The house of god.”
A man cooks stew for residents of the working-class neighbourhood of Villa Fiorito at a soup kitchen set up in the house where late soccer legend Diego Armando Maradona spent his early childhood, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 26, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. REUTERS/Miguel Lo Bianco
Poverty has been trending downward in Argentina, with official statistics released on Tuesday showing it dropping to 28.2% of the country’s population in the second half of 2025 from 52.9% in the first half of 2024, when President Javier Milei sharply devalued the peso and inflation spiked.
While there has been a “very important drop” in poverty, Argentina needs to see more GDP growth in labour-intensive sectors, such as mining, as opposed to capital-intensive sectors, such as agriculture, said Eduardo Donza, a sociologist at the Catholic University of Argentina.
Volunteers chop chicken before cooking a stew for residents of the working-class neighbourhood of Villa Fiorito at a soup kitchen set up in the house where late soccer legend Diego Armando Maradona spent his early childhood, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 26, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. REUTERS/Miguel Lo Bianco
The drop in the poverty rate has followed a substantial drop in monthly inflation, from double digits when Milei took office to 2.9% in February.
A man cooks stew for residents of the working-class neighbourhood of Villa Fiorito at a soup kitchen set up in the house where late soccer legend Diego Armando Maradona spent his early childhood, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 26, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. REUTERS/Miguel Lo Bianco
However, Milei’s austerity measures have sharply diminished the public sector workforce, and many say they have lost purchasing power as the government has cut transportation and energy subsidies.
Volunteers chop chicken before cooking a stew for residents of the working-class neighbourhood of Villa Fiorito at a soup kitchen set up in the house where late soccer legend Diego Armando Maradona spent his early childhood, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 26, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. REUTERS/Miguel Lo Bianco
Leonardo Fabian Alvarez, a pastor who runs the makeshift soup kitchen, said he has seen the demand for food in Villa Fiorito and other neighbourhoods grow as small factories have closed. Deregulation and a stronger peso have led to cheaper imports under Milei.
“People obviously lost their jobs,” he said, adding that “they come to the line, pick up food, take what we give them.”
Argentina declared the home of Maradona a National Historic Site in 2021.
-Reuters
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The legacy of Brazilian football legend Pelé has taken a new turn after Neymar Santos Sr, father of Brazil star Neymar Jr, confirmed the acquisition of the commercial rights to Pelé’s name and image through his agency, NR Sports.
Speaking at the Pelé Museum in Santos, Brazil, Neymar Sr said the deal marks a new chapter for one of the most iconic brands in global sport.
“We are proud. I think it’s a very strong brand. We want to strengthen its identity and adapt it to the current era,” he said, describing the project as deeply emotional and nationally significant.
Although financial details were not officially disclosed, Brazilian media estimate the acquisition at around $18 million. The rights had previously belonged to US-based company Sport 10, which many in Brazil accused of underdeveloping a national treasure.
A ‘Repatriation’ of Pelé’s Legacy
NR Sports described the agreement as a “repatriation” of Pelé’s brand—bringing back to Brazil “one of the greatest symbols in the history of world sport.”
Pelé’s daughter, Flavia, attended the announcement and welcomed the move, saying the family had tried—and failed—to reacquire the rights after Pelé’s death in 2022.
“There are no words to describe the emotion of bringing back a brand that embodies soul, humanity, and love. It’s priceless,” she told AFP.
The unveiling was accompanied by an emotional tribute at the Pelé Museum, which erected a massive green screen with Pelé’s iconic logo. A video shared on Pelé’s and NR Sports’ official accounts celebrated the “universal language” of Brazilian football, showing some of the King’s most memorable goals from his World Cup triumphs in 1958, 1962, and 1970.
Neymar Jr: ‘Pelé Was Born to Change Everything’
Neymar Jr, who recently returned to Pelé’s former club Santos and has surpassed the King as Brazil’s all-time top scorer, featured in a promotional video congratulating his father’s company.
“Some are born to play, others are born to change the game. Pelé was born to change everything,” the 33-year-old forward said. “Pelé never stopped being one of us, and now he is officially part of Brazil, again and forever.”
A New Era for an Underused Global Brand
For years, Pelé’s image rights were more prominently exploited abroad than at home—a situation that drew criticism from the family and Brazilian football circles. The new deal is expected to revitalise the Pelé brand through modern marketing, partnerships, and heritage initiatives anchored in Brazil.
“This is the beginning of a motivating project for us. We are very moved,” Neymar Sr added.
Pelé, who died in December 2022 at age 82, remains an enduring symbol in Santos, São Paulo state, where he played from 1956 to 1974 and where thousands still visit his mausoleum.
With the rights now back in Brazilian hands, NR Sports says the goal is clear: preserve, expand, and enrich the legacy of the King of Football for generations to come.
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