SHAIBU AMODU (FOOTBALL)
Shaibu Amodu, who had nine different spells as coach of Nigeria, died suddenly from heart failure at the age of 58 on 10 June. Amodu was the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) technical director at the time and had complained of chest pains before passing away in his sleep. All but two of Amodu’s nine different spells as coach of Nigeria were as caretaker after working as an assistant to a myriad of expatriate trainers. He qualified Nigeria for the 2002 World Cup finals, but was fired just months before the tournament in Asia after “only” reaching the semi-finals of the African Nations Cup. He also led Nigeria to the 2010 World Cup finals but was axed in favour of Sven-Goran Eriksson.
Shaibu Amodu, who had nine different spells as coach of Nigeria, died suddenly from heart failure at the age of 58 on 10 June. Amodu was the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) technical director at the time and had complained of chest pains before passing away in his sleep. All but two of Amodu’s nine different spells as coach of Nigeria were as caretaker after working as an assistant to a myriad of expatriate trainers. He qualified Nigeria for the 2002 World Cup finals, but was fired just months before the tournament in Asia after “only” reaching the semi-finals of the African Nations Cup. He also led Nigeria to the 2010 World Cup finals but was axed in favour of Sven-Goran Eriksson.
RALPH BRANCA (BASEBALL)
Branca spent 12 years in Major League Baseball, mostly with the Brooklyn Dodgers, but he also had a spell with the New York Yankees and was a three-time All-Star. He was the pitcher in the famous “Shot heard around the world” incident in 1951 that saw his Dodgers dramatically pipped for the National League title by the New York Giants in what was the first-ever nationally televised game in America. Trailing in the game, Giants batter Bobby Thompson smashed Branca for a three-run home-run on their last out of the final innings to clinch the game and the league pennant. It was later revealed that the Giants had stolen the call-signs of Branca for his pitches, effectively telling Thompson where the ball would go. Despite this, he and Thompson became firm friends in later life. Branca died of an undisclosed illness on 23 November at the age of 90.
Branca spent 12 years in Major League Baseball, mostly with the Brooklyn Dodgers, but he also had a spell with the New York Yankees and was a three-time All-Star. He was the pitcher in the famous “Shot heard around the world” incident in 1951 that saw his Dodgers dramatically pipped for the National League title by the New York Giants in what was the first-ever nationally televised game in America. Trailing in the game, Giants batter Bobby Thompson smashed Branca for a three-run home-run on their last out of the final innings to clinch the game and the league pennant. It was later revealed that the Giants had stolen the call-signs of Branca for his pitches, effectively telling Thompson where the ball would go. Despite this, he and Thompson became firm friends in later life. Branca died of an undisclosed illness on 23 November at the age of 90.
CHAPECOENSE PLAYERS AND STAFF (FOOTBALL)
Nineteen players and coach Luiz Carlos Saroli from the Brazilian Serie A side Chapecoense died when their chartered flight to Medellin in Colombia crashed on approach after an electrical fault thought to have occurred due to a lack of fuel. The team was on its way to play the first leg of the Copa Sudamerica, the South American equivalent of the CAF Confederation Cup, against Colombian side Atletico Nacional. Chapecoense were, at the request of Atletico,handed the title posthumously after the 28 November crash, in which 65 of the 71 people on board were killed. One of three players to survive, 27-year-old fullback Alan Ruschel, has revealed he reluctantly swapped seats at the last minute to allow some journalists to sit together, an act which likely saved his life. The other survivors were goalkeeper Jackson Follman, who had a leg amputated, and centre-back Neto.
MARTIN CROWE (CRICKET)
Regarded by many as New Zealand’s greatest ever batsman, Crowe was globally acclaimed after a national team career that lasted 13 years and saw him win Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1985. He was also Player of the Tournament at the 1992 Cricket World Cup that New Zealand co-hosted with Australia. In an era of fewer matches, less friendly wickets and smaller bats, he played 77 tests and scored 5,444 runs at an average of 45.36 with 17 hundreds and 18 fifties, with a top score of 299 against Sri Lanka. The player described as one of the most elegant batsman the world has ever seen died of lymphoma on 3 March aged 53.
Regarded by many as New Zealand’s greatest ever batsman, Crowe was globally acclaimed after a national team career that lasted 13 years and saw him win Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1985. He was also Player of the Tournament at the 1992 Cricket World Cup that New Zealand co-hosted with Australia. In an era of fewer matches, less friendly wickets and smaller bats, he played 77 tests and scored 5,444 runs at an average of 45.36 with 17 hundreds and 18 fifties, with a top score of 299 against Sri Lanka. The player described as one of the most elegant batsman the world has ever seen died of lymphoma on 3 March aged 53.
JOHANN CRUYFF (FOOTBALL)
Johan Cruyff, one of soccer’s greatest players and most influential and visionary coaches, died aged 68 on 24 March after a five-month battle with lung cancer. The death of the Dutchman, whose creative genius on the pitch and inventive brilliance as a coach changed the modern game, prompted an outpouring of tributes. In his heyday in the early 1970s, Cruyff helped a generation of football fans across the world see the game in a different light. Unquestionably the best player in the world in that period, he was voted three-times winner of the prestigious Ballon d’Or. As a player with Ajax Amsterdam, Cruyff was the dazzling poster boy for the philosophy of ‘Total Football’, embodied in coach Rinus Michels’ magnificent Dutch team that he captained to the 1974 World Cup Final. He later played for and coached Barcelona and the possession-based playing style he promoted as Barca coach, with an emphasis on relentless attack, has been widely copied and is credited with underpinning the club’s subsequent successes, as well as those of the Spanish national team.
Johan Cruyff, one of soccer’s greatest players and most influential and visionary coaches, died aged 68 on 24 March after a five-month battle with lung cancer. The death of the Dutchman, whose creative genius on the pitch and inventive brilliance as a coach changed the modern game, prompted an outpouring of tributes. In his heyday in the early 1970s, Cruyff helped a generation of football fans across the world see the game in a different light. Unquestionably the best player in the world in that period, he was voted three-times winner of the prestigious Ballon d’Or. As a player with Ajax Amsterdam, Cruyff was the dazzling poster boy for the philosophy of ‘Total Football’, embodied in coach Rinus Michels’ magnificent Dutch team that he captained to the 1974 World Cup Final. He later played for and coached Barcelona and the possession-based playing style he promoted as Barca coach, with an emphasis on relentless attack, has been widely copied and is credited with underpinning the club’s subsequent successes, as well as those of the Spanish national team.
ANTHONY FOLEY (RUGBY UNION)
Former Ireland international Anthony Foley was found dead in a Paris hotel room as he was preparing to coach Munster in a European Rugby Champions Cup match against local side Racing 92 on October 16. Foley, 42, died suddenly in his sleep from heart disease that caused an acute pulmonary oedema. The ex-loose forward made 62 appearances for Ireland over 10 years up until 2005, and spent his entire career as a player with Munster. The Ireland team formed a figure eight, Foley’s usual jersey number, in his memory while fronting up to the New Zealand haka in an international in Chicago in November as the team went on to record a first-ever victory over the all-conquering All Blacks with a 40-29 scoreline.
MARIA TERESA DE FILIPPIS (FORMULA ONE)
Italian Maria Teresa de Filippis was the first woman to race in Formula One when she turned out for Maserati in 1958, and is largely remembered as a pioneer in the sport, particularly for female competitors. Although she was largely unsuccessful in her five races, she proved it was possible for women to compete, though it would be another 15 years before the next female participated in the sport. She died on 8 January, aged 89.
Italian Maria Teresa de Filippis was the first woman to race in Formula One when she turned out for Maserati in 1958, and is largely remembered as a pioneer in the sport, particularly for female competitors. Although she was largely unsuccessful in her five races, she proved it was possible for women to compete, though it would be another 15 years before the next female participated in the sport. She died on 8 January, aged 89.
JOAO HAVELANGE (FOOTBALL)
The Brazilian was Fifa president from 1974 to 1998 and every bit as controversial as his successor Sepp Blatter would turn out to be. Havelange was also a member of the International Olympic Committee from 1963 to 2011, but he is best known for his role at Fifa. In 2012, Swiss prosecutors claimed that Havelange and his son-in-law Ricardo Teixeira, one-time head of the Brazilian Football Confederation, took more than $41-million in bribes associated with marketing rights around the World Cup. Havelange was never prosecuted as the bribes were paid before 1995 and outside the statute of limitations, while Havelange was also well into his 90s. He died on 16 August after respiratory problems at the age of 100.
The Brazilian was Fifa president from 1974 to 1998 and every bit as controversial as his successor Sepp Blatter would turn out to be. Havelange was also a member of the International Olympic Committee from 1963 to 2011, but he is best known for his role at Fifa. In 2012, Swiss prosecutors claimed that Havelange and his son-in-law Ricardo Teixeira, one-time head of the Brazilian Football Confederation, took more than $41-million in bribes associated with marketing rights around the World Cup. Havelange was never prosecuted as the bribes were paid before 1995 and outside the statute of limitations, while Havelange was also well into his 90s. He died on 16 August after respiratory problems at the age of 100.
No comments:
Post a Comment