British boxing legend, Ricky Hatton has died at the age of 46.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed that a body was found at an address in Hyde, near Manchester, early Sunday morning. “The death is not being treated as suspicious,” a police spokesperson said.

Hatton, nicknamed The Hitman, was a former world champion at light-welterweight and welterweight. He retired in 2012 with an impressive record of 45 wins from 48 fights. Known for his relentless pressure style and loyal fan base, Hatton was one of Britain’s most popular fighters of his era.

At the peak of his career, Hatton famously stopped Australian great Kostya Tszyu in 2005 to claim the IBF light-welterweight title, a performance many considered his finest. He went on to fight some of the sport’s biggest names, including Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. Hatton began his career with a perfect 43-0 record before suffering his first defeat to Mayweather in 2007.

Outside the ring, Hatton openly battled mental health struggles, substance abuse, and depression. In interviews, he admitted to multiple suicide attempts and described his lifestyle after boxing as “a runaway train” fueled by alcohol and drugs.

Despite these challenges, Hatton had announced earlier this year that he planned a comeback fight in Dubai in late 2025. He had recently posted training videos on Instagram, sparking excitement among fans for his return.

Tributes are already pouring in from across the boxing world. Manny Pacquiao, who fought Hatton in 2009, described him as “a warrior in the ring and a gentleman outside of it.” Promoter Frank Warren called him “a true British great who inspired a generation.”

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

TUMBLR

INSTAGRAM

Sam Garba Okoye (c.1947 – 28 July 1978) was one of Nigeria’s most gifted footballers of the 1960s and early 1970s, renowned for his artistry on the pitch and for helping to place Nigerian football on the international stage.

Early Life and Rise in Football

Garba was born around 1947 in Lafia, present-day Nasarawa State (then part of Northern Nigeria). From an early age, he showed extraordinary technical ability, mastering close ball control and quick, inventive dribbling. He came to national prominence as a schoolboy star before joining Mighty Jets of Jos—the legendary club of the 1960s—where his flair and intelligence in attack made him a standout performer.

Club Career

Garba’s domestic career was centred on the northern region’s fast-growing football culture. He was a pillar of Mighty Jets and also featured for select regional and national teams. His reputation as a creative forward with exceptional vision earned him a call-up to the national side while still in his teens.

International Achievements

Garba represented the Green Eagles (now the Super Eagles) at a time when Nigerian football was only beginning to make its mark abroad. He played a pivotal role in the squad that competed at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.

In Nigeria’s opening match against Japan, the team scored its first ever Olympic football goal.

Contemporary Nigerian newspaper reports—later cited by veteran journalist Onochie Anibeze—credit Sam Garba Okoye with that historic strike, although official Olympic statistics list the scorer simply as a Nigerian player without naming him.

Playing Style and Influence

Garba was celebrated for his deft dribbling, intelligent movement, and precise finishing. Contemporaries likened his graceful control and tactical awareness to some of Europe’s best forwards of the era. His artistry helped to fuel Nigeria’s growing national passion for football.

Tragic Death and Legacy

Garba’s life and career ended abruptly on 28 July 1978, when he died in a motor accident along the Lafia–Akwanga road in what is now Nasarawa State. His death at roughly 31 years of age stunned the Nigerian sporting community.

Decades later, Sam Garba remains a touchstone in Nigerian football history. His dazzling technique, pioneering Olympic appearance, and inspirational role in the national team helped set the stage for later Nigerian football legends.

Sources:
Onochie Anibeze, The Golden Era of Nigerian Football, Vanguard (Nigeria), 2018.
Oral testimonies and archival Nigerian sports reports.

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

TUMBLR

INSTAGRAM

Israeli referee Sapir Berman beamed as she recalled the moment her “dream came true” earlier this year, when she became the first transgender woman to officiate an international football match.

“I always wanted to be a woman, and I always wanted to be a football referee — and then those two came together and fused into one dream that just exploded with joy,” the 31-year-old told AFP.

“It’s an uplifting, powerful feeling — the feeling that I’m doing the right thing, that I’m choosing myself, that I’m showing the world it’s possible.

“Since I was five, I remember wanting to be a woman, wanting to be a girl. And when I started playing football, I realised that the dream of being a woman and playing football didn’t go together,” she said.

“So I decided to hide who I was and just keep playing football. I hid myself for almost 26 years.”

Berman grew up in a football-loving family, playing as a defender for around 10 years from around the age of five.

When she realised her professional ambitions were not working out, she joined the referees association and worked her way up to preside over men’s matches in the Israeli Premier League.

But all the while, Berman felt she was hiding her innermost secret and was even frustrated during the initial stage of her hormone therapy.

It was when the Covid-19 pandemic hit and Berman was plunged into lockdown that she began reflecting on the future.

“I asked myself: ‘Is this what life will look like? Is this where it’s going?’” she said.

“I decided to reveal myself.”

Berman initially feared her career in football was over, but said her brother suggested she try to make it work.

– ‘A lot of questions’ –

England’s Lucy Clark became the first transgender woman in the world to referee a match in 2018, in the third tier of English women’s football, but has never officiated internationally.

When Berman officiated the Women’s Under-17 Euro qualifier between Northern Ireland and Montenegro in Belfast in March, it was a first for European football, according to UEFA.

Berman said the journey was not always easy, despite great support and professionalism from Israel’s referees association.

“There were a lot of questions, and a lot of moments where they said: ‘We don’t know what to do.’ And I also didn’t know what to do, what it involved, what to expect, or how the process would go,” she said.

Berman said that when she began hormone therapy as part of her transition, she initially felt resentful towards her body.

“Outside the field, I felt amazing. On the field, I felt that I destroyed my career,” she said.

She failed two fitness tests and was moved down a league, but with the help of a sports psychologist and “a lot of trial and error”, she made her comeback.

Berman received her international badge earlier this year and dreams of refereeing a match in the Champions League, the European Championship or the World Cup.

– ‘Different layers’ –

Transgender participation has become a hot-button issue as different sports try to balance inclusivity with ensuring fair competition.

Earlier this year, England’s Football Association announced that transgender women would no longer be allowed to play in women’s football.

Berman said she trusted those in decision-making bodies and expected them to “find the way to integrate, to unite, to diversify”.

“Human beings are made up of so many different layers, and you come and reject us for just one reason,” she said, explaining how an athlete’s performance could also be affected by mental, financial, geographical or familial factors.

On the pitch, Berman said she has received positive reactions from both players and supporters.

“The fans continued to curse me — only now, they did it in the feminine form,” she said, adding it “was a kind of stamp of approval — that they see me exactly as I am”.

And on the street, young people have told her that her story has given them hope.

“That fills me up. It gives me so much strength to keep going and doing what I do — because at the end of the day, I chose myself.”

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

TUMBLR

INSTAGRAM