OBITUARY
Real Madrid Bids Farewell to Two Argentines – the Pope and Hugo Gatti
La Liga giants, Real Madrid, have paid tribute to two prominent Argentines who are linked with football and the club.
They are Pope Francis and Hugo Gatti. In a statement issued, the club remarked: “Real Madrid has wanted to pay tribute to two great figures who have left us in the last few hours: Pope Francis and Hugo Gatti.”
The club issued the statements expressing sadness over the recent losses.
Real Madrid highlighted the dimension of the Pope’s legacy, emphasising his tireless fight for the underprivileged and his commitment to solidarity.
Real Madrid expressed the value of the Argentine Pope’s legacy.
“During his pontificate, marked by the dimension of his great legacy, Pope Francis has represented an enormous spirit of solidarity and support for the most underprivileged and vulnerable people.”
It is an emotional message that once again reflects that the club transcends the sports field.
Pope Francis was a great soccer fan. His team was San Lorenzo de Almagro, and he never hid his admiration for Diego Maradona and Leo Messi.
Real Madrid has also bid farewell to Hugo Orlando ‘Loco’ Gatti, the legendary Argentine goalkeeper. Gatti passed away this Sunday at 80 years old due to complications after a hip surgery.
Gatti, although he never played in Spain, was a fervent supporter of Real Madrid. Throughout his career, he defended the white club with passion, especially through the media.
Despite his Argentine origin, “Loco” Gatti always showed his admiration for the Madrid team and its president, Florentino Pérez. His interventions on El Chiringuito are remembered. Always defending Real Madrid and Florentino Pérez, for whom he felt admiration.
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Spanish fifth-division goalkeeper Raul Ramirez has died at the age of 19 following a collision during a match for his club Colindres, the Cantabrian Football Federation (RFCF) said on Monday.
Ramirez sustained a head injury during Saturday’s game against Revilla, with Spanish media reporting that the impact led to multiple cardiac arrests and left him brain dead.
The RFCF announced three days of mourning and said a minute’s silence would be observed at all matches next week in his memory.
-Reuters
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Former Liverpool and Chelsea manager Matt Beard has died at the age of 47, the two Women’s Super League (WSL) clubs announced late on Saturday.
Beard led Liverpool to back-to-back WSL titles in 2013 and 2014 during his first stint at the club, before returning to the side in 2021 and guiding them back to the top-flight after two seasons in the second tier.
He left Liverpool in February, with his last coaching role coming in a brief spell in charge of Burnley between June and August.
“The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Matt’s family and friends at this devastating time,” Liverpool said in a statement.
“Matt was not only an extremely committed and successful manager, he was also a person of real integrity and warmth, who will always be remembered with genuine fondness by everyone he worked with at the club.”
Beard began his managerial career at Millwall before moving to Chelsea in 2009. He also coached West Ham United, Boston Breakers and Bristol City.
-Reuters
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OBITUARY
Grand master, Danladi Bako pays tribute to the late journalist and football agent, Chris Eseka
Nigerian broadcasting icon, Dr. Nasir Danladi Bako, who masterminded the television programme, Mastesports on the NTA network, has paid glowing tributes to one of the anchors of the programme, Chris Eseka, who was also a former sports journalist and football agent.
In the tribute titled:” A Master Departs for Home”, Dr Bako remarks:
In 1991, at the National Stadium Surulere, after watching a boxing event together, along with Group Captain Brai Ayonote, former Boxing Federation Chairman, I told Chris I wanted him to join Paul Bassey and Sam John as a presenter for my new programme, Mastersports”, scheduled for live transmission soon on NTA 2.
He looked at me and was quiet for a while. I said, “What do you think?”, he replied “But I am not a TV presenter nah”.
I said I will train you, besides even SJ (Sam John) of the Sunday Times is on the show and Paul Bassey.
He then said,”I will do it if you say so”.
“MasterSports” went on air one February Saturday, at noon on NTA 2 Channel 5. Chris became part of the success story.
Always ready to learn, always ready to improve and ever so humble, especially the way he handled fame. He mentored so many sportswriters as well as young footballers and advised even the established stars.
Before 1992, we had travelled severally times together to cover football matches all over Africa, like the Nigeria versus Cameroon World Cup qualifying in Yaounde in 1989.
Same with tournaments like the FIFA U-20 World Cup Saudi ’89 in Saudi Arabia and Algiers ’90 in Algeria.
Chris had the respect of such big-time coaches as Amodu Shaibu and Concord Publisher Bashorun MKO Abiola, and we regularly saw the Pillar of Sports together. Sometimes, without earlier plans, on a normal Saturday afternoon, we could hop into my car and drive to Abeokuta to watch Abiola Babes trade tackles with Leventis United just like that.
In 1994, I arrived in Tunis a day late for the opening ceremony of the CAF/AFCON tourney and couldn’t get a room at Hotel Diplomat, where the team was lodged, Chris opened his doors at room 108 for me to share with him.
I can go on and on about this very reliable friend and brother.
Chris was a committed sports journalist, refined, diligent and professional. When Tony Ubani and Frank Ilaboya of Sportsville gave me an award for Sports some years ago, I dedicated it to Chris.
Rest in peace, my brother. This was very hard to write. Good night, Chris Eseka, one of the Masters!
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