OBITUARY
Spain’s drumbeat falls silent as superfan Manolo ‘el del Bombo’ dies at 76
Manuel Caceres, the drum-pounding Spanish football superfan known worldwide as “Manolo el del Bombo”, died on Thursday at the age of 76, silencing the rhythmic heartbeat that had accompanied Spanish football for over four decades.
With his trademark oversized Basque beret and red number 12 shirt, Caceres became as much a fixture at Spanish matches as the players themselves – a percussive national treasure whose relentless drumming provided La Roja’s unofficial soundtrack.
“My aim is to retire after 12 World Cups, which will make me 77, if Spain qualify for all of them. I’ll be there even if I have to go with a walking stick,” the Spanish fan told Reuters at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
His love affair with the team began when he first travelled abroad to watch Spain play in Cyprus in 1979. The 1982 World Cup on home soil transformed him from a passionate supporter into a cultural phenomenon, with his drum becoming inextricably linked to the Spanish footballing identity.
Caceres ultimately fell two tournaments short of his ambitious goal, attending a total of 10 World Cups but missing the 2022 showpiece in Qatar. His final appearance came at Valencia’s Mestalla stadium during the Nations League quarter-final against the Netherlands in March.
“I’ve given up everything for football – my businesses and everything – but I’m still alive. I’m happy, I can follow Spain wherever I go. What more could I ask for?” he told Reuters at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Such was his fame that the Spanish federation covered his travel and accommodation during the showpiece in Russia, recognising a man whose celebrity often rivalled the players’ themselves.
“One of our most loyal fans has passed away, someone who was always with us through thick and thin. We know you’ll keep rocking our hearts. Rest in peace, Manolo,” the Spanish team wrote on X.
Caceres, who ran a bar opposite the Mestalla stadium for more than 30 years, made big personal and financial sacrifices in service to what he called the great passion of his life: his national team.
-Reuters
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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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