Nigeria-Born Ex-Torino Star Dies

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, Sports News Wednesday, June 15th, 2022

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Former Torino striker Akeem Omolade has died at the age of 39, prompting mourning across Italian football.

The Nigerian represented the Maroons in Serie A, Italy’s top flight, between 2001-2003, making five appearances in total and also represented 11 other clubs in the country, including Treviso, Novara, and Reggiana before his retirement in 2017.

On Monday, Italian emergency services discovered him in a Peugeot in Sicilian capital Palermo, where he was unresponsive.

Initial examination showed no obvious external injuries. Omolade’s family said he had complained of leg pains days before.

Torino said in a statement: “President Urbano Cairo and all of Torino Football Club sincerely share in the Omolade family’s grief at the passing of our former player Akeem Omolade.

“Signed from Treviso, he first played in our youth side and then for the first team, making his Serie A debut against Inter Milan on February 2, 2003.

“The entire Torino family sends its deepest sympathies to his loved ones, his parents, and his many friends.”

Omolade spoke out against racism after being targeted by a group of the club’s ‘ultras’.