Joel Adesina, a 15-year-old Nigerian footballer, has been murdered in the United Kingdom.
He and his friends were ambushed while taking a walk and were chased
into a housing estate in Bethnal Green, East London, where he was
cornered and stabbed in the stomach on Friday night last week.
Joel was later rushed to the hospital where he died three hours
later. An 18 year-old suspect was arrested but subsequently released
with no further action expected to be taken.
Meanwhile, neighbours and manager of the Joel’s football team
described him a gentle young boy who never stayed out late as he was
mostly seen returning home in his football kits
His coach at Bardag FC Yellows, Ricky Downes described Joel “as good as gold and talented enough to play professionally.”
“To say that myself and the club are devastated is an understatement,
we are absolutely in bits. Joel was a wonderful young lad who had the
world at his feet.”
“He was a very talented footballer and had ambitions of playing
professionally. I think he had a future in the sport and could have
played for a living. He was a very talented footballer and had ambitions
of playing professionally. I think he had a future in the sport and
could have played for a living.”
Downes added: “There was something about Joel that touched me and his
death is totally unexpected. He never gave me any inkling that he was
involved in gangs or anything like that. He was cheeky, bubbly, and a
thoroughly likeable young man.”
“Police were called by London Ambulance Service to Bethnal Green
Road, E2, at 23:04hrs on Friday, 5 December. Officers attended and found
a 15-year-old boy suffering from serious stab injuries to the abdomen.”
“The boy was taken by London Ambulance Service to an east London
hospital. Anyone who may have witnessed this altercation or have
information which could assist the investigation is asked to contact the
police as soon as possible.”