Category: Tribute

Tribute

Former Chelsea Boss, Ray Wilkins Dies

Akinwale Kasali

Ray Wilkins, the former England captain; Manchester United and AC Milan midfielder, died on Wednesday at the age of 61 following a heart attack last week, former club Chelsea announced. “Everybody associated with Chelsea Football Club is devastated to learn of the passing of our former player, captain and assistant coach, Ray Wilkins. Rest in peace, Ray, you will be dreadfully missed,” the club said on Twitter. His family thanked “Ray’s friends, colleagues and members of the public” for the many messages of goodwill. Chelsea said they were “devastated to learn of the…

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1980 Green Eagles Squad: 38 Years After AFCON Success

Akinwale Kasali

The ‘Chief Justice’ of Nigerian football, distinguished legal luminary and Member of the Order of the Niger (MON), Chief Adokie Amiesimaka was the one who called me (Segun Odegbami) up and reminded me it was 38 years to the day on March 22 that a group of young Nigerian footballers won the African Cup of Nations for their country for the first time and created history. He told me he was celebrating the team in his own way, and was calling up all those he could reach to extend his…

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Astori: Thousands Mourn The Late Star

Akinwale Kasali

Thousands of mourners holding banners and letting off smoke flares gathered in Florence on Thursday for the funeral of Fiorentina and Italy footballer Davide Astori. The sudden death of the 31-year-old who captained his club has sparked an outpouring of grief in football-mad Italy. One banner in the crowd read “Ciao captain”, another “Our captain forever”. Children wearing Fiorentina’s distinctive purple formed a guard of honour outside the Santa Croce basilica in the city as Astori’s coffin was carried out after the service. Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and his Juventus teammate…

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Billy Graham Dies At 99

Akinwale Kasali

American evangelist Billy Graham, a spiritual advisor to a dozen US presidents, has died at age 99, US media reported, citing family sources. Tall and handsome, Graham, an ordained Southern Baptist minister, cut a charismatic figure as an evangelical preacher whose huge rallies found audiences on radio and television. He preached to a long line of US presidents, from Harry Truman to Barack Obama, and was featured in the recent mini series “The Crown” as a spiritual adviser to the young Queen Elizabeth II. Details later…

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