1st virus death in Senegal is former Marseille boss
Print Edition
Pape Diouf, a former president of French Ligue 1 club Marseille, died on Tuesday in Senegal after contracting the coronavirus. It was the West African country鈥檚 first COVID-19-related death, according to the health ministry. He was 68.
Diouf, who was president of Marseille from 2005-09, had been treated since Saturday in intensive care in Dakar, health minister Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr said.
Senegal President Macky Sall wrote on his official Twitter account that he had followed Diouf鈥檚 health closely after he was admitted for treatment.
鈥淚 pay tribute to this great figure in sport,鈥 Sall wrote. 鈥淚 pay tribute to the medical staff at Fann Hospital who spared no effort to save him.鈥
Relatives said Diouf was meant to be moved to France. He had recently traveled to several countries in West Africa.
Senegal has so far reported 190 cases of the coronavirus, with 45 of those having recovered.
Diouf was a charismatic and popular leader who was close to the fans and players at Marseille, the only French team to win the European club title.
鈥淧ape will forever remain in the hearts of Marseille people and (is) one of the great architects of the club,鈥 Marseille wrote under a photo of Diouf.
Shortly before his time at the club ended, Diouf signed Didier Deschamps as the new coach and Deschamps won the French league title and League Cup in his first season in charge. It was Marseille鈥檚 first league title in 18 years.
Deschamps, who coached France to World Cup success two years ago, described Diouf as 鈥渁 man of convictions, a spirited man, passionate about football鈥 adding that his 鈥渟udden and brutal death deeply saddens me.鈥
The French soccer league called Diouf鈥檚 death 鈥渁 moment of immense sadness for French soccer.鈥
Diouf was born in Chad to Senegalese parents. After arriving in Marseille at the age of 18, he became a sports journalist and then a players鈥 agent.
Diouf was not afraid to take risks in signing unheralded players, such as the diminutive Mathieu Valbuena from third-tier side Libourne in 2006 when he was 21.
The 1.67-meter Valbuena went on to prove Diouf right, and all the doubters wrong, playing 52 times for France.
鈥淎 great man with a great heart,鈥 Valbuena said. 鈥淲e were hypnotized by his speeches, he had a lot of charisma.鈥
Diouf was awarded the French Legion of Honor medal in 2012, one of the country鈥檚 highest honors.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 娌狪CP璇侊細娌狪CP澶05050403鍙-1
- |
- 浜掕仈缃戞柊闂讳俊鎭湇鍔¤鍙瘉锛31120180004
- |
- 缃戠粶瑙嗗惉璁稿彲璇侊細0909346
- |
- 骞挎挱鐢佃鑺傜洰鍒朵綔璁稿彲璇侊細娌瓧绗354鍙
- |
- 澧炲肩數淇′笟鍔＄粡钀ヨ鍙瘉锛氭勃B2-20120012
Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
