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BADMINTON FEDERATION MOURNS DEJI TINUBU

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As the sporting family continues to bemoan the passing on of the former Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Council, Deji Tinubu, the president of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Francis Orbih has described the death as both personal and corporate los.

He extends condolence to Lagos State Government and the entire sporting community describing the deceased as a strong supporter of badminton and that Tinubu helped to grow the sports in Lagos State and Nigeria during his tenure as the Special Adviser to the Governor Lagos State Sports/Chairman Lagos State Sports Commission.

Francis Orbih lamented that badminton has lost a true friend. “We have lost a pillar of badminton in Lagos and Nigeria. Deji Tinubu was always there for us. It was during his tenure we had the first Lagos Governor’s South-West Badminton Championship in 2017”.

In a media release signed by the BFN president, Francis Orbih remarked that Tinubu was of great assistance when the third Lagos International Badminton Championship took place in 2017.

“He didn’t play but he loved badminton indeed. He showed it by his words and actions. Deji was a thoroughbred sports administrator and lover.

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“Yes he truly loved badminton. He took personal interest in anything that concerned the Lagos Badminton team. He spared nothing to make sure the team was provided for. He gave the team his personal money anytime they made a trip.

“I mean anytime except he was not aware or informed about such a trip. He always gave money to buy shuttlecocks and sometimes he bought shuttlecocks himself for the team to train.

“He will buy diesel with his money for the generator so that the badminton team can train. He always asked after Anu and Godwin the two top Lagos state badminton players.

“He would say “Frank just let me know of any programme you have for Anu and Godwin and I will make sure Lagos state supports them in addition to my personal support”.

Continuing, the BFN president remarked: “As a matter of fact, he just gave the two Lagos State players and their coach money to travel to Katsina for the national camp.

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“Such was the extent of love Deji had for badminton like he did for other sports. In addition to all of these, Deji was a friend and a brother. A true friend indeed. A gentleman to the core.

“We had something in common that got us even closer, we were both great fans of Mohammed Ali. I am just short of words.

“The Nigerian Badminton family and the Nigerian Sports fraternity will miss him.”

 

 

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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