The Lagos State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (Lagos SWAN), has expressed deep sorrow over the death of one of its members,  Adeyinka Adebayo. Until his death on Tuesday, he was the head of sports desk at Eko FM/Radio Lagos.

 He was also a director at the Lagos State Ministry of Information. Sports writers in Lagos State  have continued to mourn and celebrate Adebayo for his professionalism, commitment, and contributions to the growth of sports journalism in the state.

Debo Oshundun, the Chairman, Lagos SWAN, expressed deep sorrow. “I am devastated. ‘Yinka was among my greatest supporters and confidants. He was very close to me, and his passing has left me deeply saddened.

“I called him ‘Woli Agba.’ I am lost for words in describing what his death means to me personally and Lagos SWAN as an organisation,” Oshundun remarked.

 According to him, the late Adebayo was a multifaceted individual who left a lasting impact on Lagos SWAN members as a mentor, friend and colleague. “He believes his legacy of dedication and kindness will continue to resonate within the sports writing fraternity and ensure his memory endures.”

Dapo Sotuminu, former Group Sports Editor of Compass Newspapers, remarked:  “Apostle Yinka Adebayo, may your soul rest in perfect peace. May the good Lord take care of the children you left behind. A good guy just left us” .

Ace broadcaster and CEO of AfroSports, Deji Omotoyinbo commented in similar fashion. “Terrible news A real gentleman. Rest in peace Yinka.” 

Former Lagos SWAN Chairman and Sports Editor of Vanguard Newspaper, Tony Ubani wrote, “Yinka is, without doubt, the definition of a gentleman I have met. He was compassionate and humble, with a contagious smile. God has called him back to his Kingdom, where there is no pain or cry. Rest in peace, my man of God, as I usually called him.”

Another respected member of Lagos SWAN and current Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, Nneka Ikem Anibeze, remarked that Adebayo was too young to die!

Condolence messages have continued to pour in from members as well as heartfelt condolences to the family and friends for the strength to bear this irreparable loss while they pray for his soul to rest in perfect peace.

Former Italy and Juventus striker Salvatore Schillaci, a star of the 1990 World Cup on his home soil, has died at the age of 59, his former clubs Inter Milan and Juventus said on Wednesday.

Schillaci led Italy to their third-place finish in 1990, winning the Golden Boot for his six goals during the tournament, including in the semi-final against Argentina and in their third-place victory over England.

“A football icon is leaving us, a man who has entered the hearts of Italians and sports fans around the world,” Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni posted on X.

“Salvatore Schillaci, known by everyone as Toto, the striker from the magic nights of Italia ’90 with our national team. Thanks for the emotions you gave us, for having made us dream, celebrate, embrace, and wave our national flag. Bon voyage, champion.”

The Sicilian’s wide eyes as he celebrated his goals became one of the enduring images of that World Cup.

Schillaci was awarded the Golden Ball as player of the tournament and was later named as the runner-up for the 1990 Ballon d’Or men’s player of the year award, behind World Cup winning captain Lothar Matthaus of West Germany.

He had started Italy’s opening World Cup game as a substitute but came off the bench to score the winner in a 1-0 victory over Austria.

After the excitement of 1990, Schillaci scored only one more goal for Italy and did not appear for them at any other major tournaments.

A small, bustling striker, Schillaci, nicknamed “Toto”, had been a late developer, spending the early years of his career playing in the lower leagues for Sicilian club Messina.

He was the top scorer in Serie B, the Italian second division, in 1988-89, earning him a move to Serie A giants Juventus.

“We immediately fell in love with Toto. With his desire, his story, his passion,” Juventus said in a statement.

“We at Juve were lucky enough to get excited about him before, in that incredible summer of 1990, the whole of Italy did.”

Schillaci helped Juventus to claim the Coppa Italia and UEFA Cup in 1989-90 before winning the latter trophy again four years later with Inter Milan.

Serie A President Lorenzo Casini paid tribute to Schillaci.

“He was a champion who lit up the “magic nights” of Italia 90,” he said.

“His desire to reach the top levels in soccer has been and will remain a source of inspiration for so many youngsters pursuing their dream of playing in Serie A.”

He then became the first Italian player to play in Japan’s J.League and won the league title with his club Jubilo Iwata in 1997.

He retired from football in 1999.

-Reuters

Ugandan Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei, who died after allegedly being doused in petrol and set alight by her former partner, was due to be buried on Saturday with full military honours.

Cheptegei returned to her home in the highlands of western Kenya, an area popular with international runners for its high altitude training facilities, after coming 44th in the marathon at the Paris Olympics on August 11.

It would be her final race.

Three weeks later her former boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema Marangach, allegedly attacked Cheptegei as she returned from church with her two daughters and younger sister in the village of Kinyoro, Kenya police and her family said.

Her father Joseph Cheptegei told Reuters that his daughter had approached police at least three times to file complaints against Marangach, most recently on Aug. 30, two days before the alleged attack by her former partner.

She suffered burns to 80% of her body and succumbed to her injuries four days later.

“I don’t think I am going to make it,” she told her father while being treated in hospital, he said.

“If I die, just bury me at home in Uganda.”

Cheptegei’s tragic death sparked anger over the high levels of violence against women in Kenya, particularly in the athletics community, with the marathoner becoming the third elite runner to allegedly die at the hands of a romantic partner since 2021.

One in three Kenyan girls or women aged 15-49 have suffered physical violence, according to government data from 2022.

Rights groups say female athletes in Kenya are at a high risk of exploitation and violence by men drawn to their prize money, which far exceeds local incomes.

Cheptegei’s sporting successes include winning the 2021 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Thailand, and a year later earning first place in the Padova Marathon in Italy and setting a national record for the marathon.

Born in eastern Uganda in 1991, she met Marangach during a training visit to Kenya, later moving to the country to pursue her dream of becoming an elite runner.

Marangach died a few days after Cheptegei, from burns allegedly sustained during the attack, dividing opinion among the local running community.

“Justice really would have been for him to sit in jail and think about what he had done,” said marathoner Viola Cheptoo, co-founder of Tirop’s Angels, a support group for athletes facing domestic violence in Kenya.

The circumstances of Cheptegei’s death shocked the world, but her name may yet inspire future athletes, with the French capital planning to name a sports facility in her honour.

“She dazzled us here in Paris. We saw her. Her beauty, her strength, her freedom,” the city’s mayor Anne Hidalgo told reporters. “Paris will not forget her.”

-Reuters