OBITUARY
NSC Mourns Passing of Former Kano Pillars Chairman Abba Yola
The National Sports Commission (NSC) has expressed deep sorrow over the death of veteran sports administrator and former Kano Pillars Chairman, Abba Yola, describing his passing as a painful loss to Nigeria’s sports community.
Alhaji Yola, a retired Assistant Director in the Ministry of Sports, also served as Chief of Staff to former Sports Minister Sunday Dare. Throughout his distinguished career, he held numerous high-profile positions within Nigeria’s sports architecture.
According to a media release by Dr (Mrs) Kehinde Ajayi, the Director of Press at the NSC, the chairman of NSC, Shehu Dikko, described Yola as a “sports administrator par excellence” whose contributions to Nigerian sports were both immense and enduring.
“Alhaji Abba Yola was not only a seasoned administrator but also a personal friend. His death is a shocking and painful loss,” Dikko said.
“We worked closely during his tenure as Chairman of Kano Pillars, and I witnessed firsthand his commitment to the development of sports in Nigeria. He left a lasting legacy, particularly through his role in the Sports Commission and Ministry of Sports.”
Dikko also recalled Yola’s significant role in Nigeria’s qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, noting his service as a member of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) that oversaw the campaign.
Similarly, the Director General of the NSC, Bukola Olopade, paid glowing tribute to the late administrator, calling him “one of the brightest minds Nigeria has produced in sports administration.”
“Alhaji Yola came through the ranks in the Sports Commission and was instrumental in many of the successes we are seeing today,” Olopade said.
“As Chief of Staff to Sunday Dare, he was actively involved in launching the ‘Adopt-An-Athlete’ initiative, which has evolved into the Elite Athletes and Podium Performance Program currently supporting Nigeria’s top talents with training grants.”
“His contributions are deeply woven into the fabric of Nigerian sports, and his absence will be profoundly felt. Our thoughts are with his family and the good people of Kano State,” Olopade added.
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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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