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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French club AS Jeunesse Aubervilliers has confirmed the death of 14-year-old Senegalese player Ousmane Diaby, who suffered a cardiac arrest during a youth match in Auxerre last weekend.
Diaby collapsed on the pitch and was airlifted to a hospital in Dijon. Despite days of treatment, he passed away on Wednesday morning.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear Ousmane Diaby,” the club said in a statement. “After several days of fighting, Ousmane took his last breath this Wednesday.”
The club has launched a fundraiser to help cover funeral and repatriation costs. By midday, nearly €10,000 had already been raised.
“Ousmane had a huge heart and was always ready to help,” the club added. “He supported his mother daily, helped coach the younger teams, and always had a smile. He will never be forgotten.”
Philippe Diallo, president of the French Football Federation, shared his condolences with the family and the club.
Sudden cardiac death in sport
Sudden cardiac death (SCD) among athletes remains a rare but serious concern in the world of sport.
According to studies, SCD affects approximately 1 in every 40,000 to 80,000 athletes each year. The risk varies by sport and level of competition, with male NCAA Division I basketball players facing a higher estimated rate of 1 in 3,000 annually.
In football, a FIFA-linked study recorded 617 cases of sudden cardiac arrest or unexplained death during or shortly after matches between 2014 and 2018. Many of these incidents were linked to undiagnosed heart conditions, most commonly coronary heart disease.
Among athletes under 35, causes of SCD often include hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, commotio cordis, and congenital heart defects. For those over 35, the leading cause is typically coronary artery disease.
Medical experts continue to stress the need for thorough cardiac screening and emergency plans during training and matches to reduce the risks of sudden cardiac events in sport.
-Morocco World News
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The Nigeria Football Federation has expressed tremendous shock and deep sadness over the death on Friday of former President of the Nigeria Referees Association, Otunba Tade Azeez.
Otunba Azeez was reported to have given up the ghost at about 2.45 pm on Friday, 25th April 2025, after a brief illness.
A nonplussed General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, could not easily comprehend when first notified of the demise of Otunba Azeez, who was also Vice Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association during the tenure of former NFF 1st Vice President, Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi.
“What? Are you serious? This is shocking; we didn’t even know that he was sick. Another big loss to the Nigerian football fraternity. Only a few days ago, we were mourning the death of former FIFA referee Bosede Momoh. This is devastating.
“There is nothing we can do other than to remember, with fond memories, his great contributions to the development of Nigerian football, which he did with utmost dedication, discipline, diligence and commitment. We pray that God will grant him eternal rest and also grant all those he has left behind, including friends, family, the refereeing community and the football family, the fortitude to bear the loss.”
Kind, friendly, vibrant, dignified and gifted with people, the 63-year-old was an eminent stakeholder in Nigerian football, and continued to contribute immensely to the game even after leaving office as NRA President, by accepting to be chairman of the top-of-the-range off-season football tournament, ValueJet Cup competition.
Azeez was a top referee in his days before retirement, and then became the leader of the Referees’ body, during which he midwifed transformative programmes that have firmly positioned the NRA to meet up with the demands of the technological era.
He was also in the thick of things during the remarkable Seyi Akinwunmi era in the Lagos State Football Association, which positively re-defined football development, improvement and sustainability in the State.
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South African footballer Sinamandla Zondi died on Tuesday after collapsing in the warm-up before a second-tier match, his club Durban City said.
The 22-year-old was taken to the hospital ahead of Durban’s game against Milford FC, and the match was abandoned at halftime when officials were told Zondi had died.
The cause of death was still to be determined.
“It is with deep sadness that we confirm the passing of Sinamandla Zondi, aka Sgora, a loved member of the Durban City family,” the club said in a statement.
“Sinamandla was more than a talented footballer, He was a teammate, a friend, a brother, a son and an inspiration to all who knew him.
“Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with his family, friends, teammates, coaches and everyone affected by this tragic loss. We will continue to support those close to him during this difficult time.”
The defender made his professional debut in September 2021 and had been a regular for his club this season as they sit top of the standings and are on course for promotion to the top flight of South African football.
-Reuters
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Spain’s drumbeat falls silent as superfan Manolo ‘el del Bombo’ dies at 76
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