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Fiorentina captain Davide Astori, 31, dies in his sleep at team hotel ahead of their fixture with Udinese as all Sunday’s Serie A games are postponed

Published

7 years ago

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    Fiorentina captain Davide Astori
  • Fiorentina and Italy defender Astori died during his sleep at the team hotel
  • The team were set to play Udinese in Serie A fixture on Sunday afternoon
  • Astori, 31, had been with Fiorentina since 2016 and had 14 Italy caps
  • All of Sunday’s Serie A matches have been postponed as mark of respect

Fiorentina captain Davide Astori has died in his sleep ahead of their Serie A fixture against Udinese on Sunday.

Astori, a 31-year-old Italy international central defender, had been with the club since 2016 having previously played for Milan, Cagliari and Roma.

He had 14 international caps with Italy and was a member of the squad that played in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.

All of Sunday’s Serie A fixtures have been postponed as a mark of respect.

One report from Italy said his team-mates broke down his door when Astori failed to come down for breakfast or answer his phone.

‘The lad did not turn up to the team breakfast at 9.30am and he was usually the first to arrive,’ said Fiorentina spokesman Arturo Mastronardi.

‘So they went to check on him. Davide was sleeping in a room on his own. We still don’t know the cause of death. The Magistrate came here and the body has been taken for an autopsy, which I think will be conducted today. We have no further details.

‘The last to see Davide was Marco Sportiello. Some players sleep in single rooms, some in doubles.

Fiorentina captain Davide Astori

‘His family is from Bergamo, so his parents were alerted by telephone, whereas his partner was visited in person in Florence by some of the directors who were in the city.

‘The team will return to Florence today with a charter plane.’

Astori leaves a wife Francesca and two-year-old daughter.

A statement issued by Fiorentina read: ‘Fiorentina are profoundly shaken and forced to announce that their captain Davide Astori has died.

‘For this terrible and delicate situation, and above all out of respect for his family, we appeal to the sensitivity of the media.’

In announcing the postponement of Sunday’s games, Serie A said: ‘Shocked by the tragic news, the whole family of the Lega Serie A unites around the family of Davide Astori and Fiorentina FC.’

AC Milan coach Gennaro Gattuso had asked before the announcement for all games to be called off. ‘I can’t think of the derby after a tragedy like that,’ he said on Twitter.

The early kick-off between Genoa and Cagliari was postponed with the crowd breaking into spontaneous applause when a picture of Astori was shown on the big screen. He spent six seasons as a Cagliari player.

The players were going through their warm-ups when the news broke, leaving some in tears. Fans remained inside the stadium and sat in silence as they digested the shock news.

Clubs and players from around the world tweeted their condolences to Fiorentina after the news broke.

Astori, who hailed from the province of Bergamo, started playing with local team Pontisola before joining Milan’s academy in 2001.

He spent five years in their youth system, including loan spells at Serie C1 clubs Pizzighettone and Cremonsese in the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons.

Astori didn’t turn out for the senior Milan side and signed for Cagliari in a co-ownership deal with Milan in 2008, playing regularly for them in Serie A.

In all, Astori made 178 appearances for Cagliari during six seasons before moving out on loan to Roma at the start of the 2014-15 season.

When he returned to Cagliari, Fiorentina also took him on loan before completing a permanent transfer in 2016.

Astori was expected to sign a new contract with the club when he died.

He made 14 appearances in all for Italy having been handed his debut by coach Cesare Prandelli against Ukraine in March 2011, though he was sent off during that friendly match.

Source: Dailymail

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2024 Women’s U20 World Cup: Nigeria drawn with Germany, Korea Republic, Venezuela

Cup holders Spain are in Group C alongside three-time winners USA, Paraguay and another African representative team, Morocco.

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1 year ago

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June 6, 2024

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2022 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup quarter-finalists Nigeria have been drawn to play three-time winners Germany, Venezuela and Korea Republic in Group D of this year’s FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals.

The final competition, which will welcome 24 teams for the first time, will be staged in four venues in three cities in Colombia, 31st August – 22nd September.

Cup holders Spain are in Group C alongside three-time winners USA, Paraguay and another African representative team, Morocco.

Two-time winners Korea Democratic People’s Republic will contend with Argentina, Costa Rica and the Netherlands in Group F, while hosts Colombia are up against Australia, Cameroon and Mexico in Group A.

Full draw

GROUP A: Colombia, Australia, Cameroon, Mexico

GROUP B: France, Canada, Brazil, Fiji

GROUP C: Spain, USA, Paraguay, Morocco

GROUP D: Germany, Venezuela, Nigeria, Korea Republic

GROUP E: Japan, New Zealand, Ghana, Austria

GROUP F: Korea DPR, Argentina, Costa Rica, The Netherlands

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KILLER-HERDSMEN: Why I said herdsmen Should carry AK-47 —Bauchi gov

Published

4 years ago

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February 19, 2021

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Bala Mohammed - Bauchi State Governor

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed,  has explained that saying Fulani herdsmen can carry AK-47 was to show the extent to which they are dehumanised and demonised.

Speaking on Channels TV Sunrise Daily on Friday, Mohammed explained that his use of AK-47 was figurative, refusing to withdraw his statement.

According to him, Nigerians must stop profiling Fulani herdsmen as criminals because of the nature of their job.

The governor said, “What I said in that context is that the Fulani man is so exposed, dehumanised, demonised. Because he is seen as a bandit, anywhere he goes, his commonwealth (cows) are being taken away and rustled.

“If one cow strays into the farm because the cattle route has been taken away illegally without the authority giving permission, he will be fined seriously, mercilessly.

ALSO READ: INSECURITY: Allow Nigerians to Carry Arms If Herders Are Licensed to Carry AK-47 – Fani-Kayode
Herdsmen Should Keep Carrying AK-47—Bauchi Gov., Blasts Ortom, others

“So, he has no option than to protect himself. We also have so many vigilante groups in Nigeria, even at the different levels of government, sub-regional groups, sub-national.‌

“When we mention carrying AK-47, it is in other to protect himself. It is a figure of speech to show you the despondence, the desperation and frustration, and the agony that this particular person is exposed to by his own people, by his own tribe, and by other tribes who have all seen him as a criminal and therefore, he has the inalienable right to protect himself.

It may not be an illegal carriage, it may be legal. He may also register and carry it to protect himself.”

While explaining the need for security and self-protection, the governor clarified that he does not intend to legalise the carriage of AK-47 with his comment.

“They have no option but to protect themselves. The issue is self-protection. There must be some sort of approval. What I am saying is not to legalise the carriage of AK-47. I must be understood,” he added. Punch

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Breaking: Buhari sacks Service Chiefs, appoints replacements

Published

4 years ago

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January 26, 2021

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General Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.

After thousands of lives have been tragically lost in Nigeria given to the gross incompetence of Buhari’s favorite Service Chiefs, the President has accepted the immediate resignation of the Service Chiefs, and their retirement from service.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Adesina in Abuja Tuesday.

According to the statement: “Those involved are the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.

“President Buhari thanks the outgoing Service Chiefs for what he calls their “overwhelming achievements in our efforts at bringing enduring peace to our dear country,” wishing them well in their future endeavours.

ALSO READ: Killings, Mass Exodus of Soldiers, Sack Service Chief Now – Senate to Buhari

“The new Service Chiefs are Major-General Leo Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff; Major-General I. Attahiru, Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral A. Z. Gambo, Chief of Naval Staff; and Air-Vice Marshal I.O Amao, Chief of Air Staff.

“The President congratulates the new Service Chiefs, and urges them to be loyal and dedicated in the discharge of their responsibilities.”

The outgoing Service Chiefs have presided over a chronicle of unprecedented destruction of lives and properties in Nigeria under the Buhari-APC-led administration.

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