The Sports Writers Asso
ciation of Nigeria (SWAN), FCT chapter, has canceled all competitions marking the “2014 SWAN week’’ following the death of ace sports writer Ramsey Ugele.
Ramsey, as he was fondly called, a former staff of New Nigeria Newspapers and defunct Abuja Times, died on Wednesday morning at a hospital in Suleja, Niger State, after a brief illness
He was a sports journalist for about 30 years and his analyses of sports in the electronic media were legendary.
Kayode Adeniyi, Chairman of FCT SWAN, who expressed shock over the demise, described the death of Ramsey as a monumental loss to the sporting fraternity in Nigeria.
Adeniyi explained that ongoing competitions in the 2014 SWAN week had to be canceled as a mark of honour to the dead.
“Its sad that we have canceled the event; it’s also sad that we lost a senior member of this association.
“Members decided that we suspend the competitions (football and table tennis events) of our SWAN week to celebrate Ramsey,’’ Adeniyi said.
He pointed out that the SWAN gala night which was expected to climax activities of the SWAN week would still go on but in honour of Ramsey.
This, he said would enable invited guest to appreciate the qualities which would be missed in the ace journalist.
Patrick Omorodion, the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Sports, said Ramsey was an upright journalist who gave SWAN a good name.
“I am pained because he was a friend beyond SWAN but what can we do?
“We will keep praying for God for the repose of his soul and to give the family and SWAN the fortitude to bear the loss,’’ Omorodion said.
Shina Abimbola, the Head of Sports Department, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), expressed regret over the loss in spite of efforts made by the family and friends to save his life.
“Unfortunately, death is a necessary end that must come when it will come, according to William Shakespeare.
“Ramsey had to die not because he didn’t do his best but because it is written that all of us must live and die.
“But what I think he did best was to etch his name in letters of gold in the history of sports writing in Abuja.
“He happened to be among the few that were able to combine print and broadcast journalism. He represented the best in these two divides,’’ Abimbola said.

Female basketball players in action