Sports
Italian ultras cursed my parents, threw water, stones at me – Taribo
Taribo West is one of few men that played for fierce rivals Inter Milan and AC Milan. He talks about his successful European sojourn and playing with and against the best strikers of his era, fanatical Italian ultras, racism and more, in this interview.
Relationship with Inter ultras
It was great. I think I was one of the fortunate players who didn’t fall into their hands because if we had a bad result, they could beat up anybody. Before you got home, they would have destroyed your car. They were wild. If you had a bad game, they could visit their anger on your family. But the club and Italian FA were able to manage it because they kept working on it.
Playing with Brazilian Ronaldo
What can I say? It was dream come true as a footballer. Playing with such wonderful generation of players also made you one of the best. All through my career, I played with and against great footballers; you can’t find such players in this present generation, even though there’s so much money now.
Diego Simeone friendship
I called him ‘Animale’ because he was like an animal. When you see Atletico Madrid play, that’s exactly how Simeone is. I just sent him a message few days ago on his birthday. He replied and sent me all kinds of cartoons. He was a great player – he was rugged with an incredible work rate and a typical South American player that could play tip-tap. He was also very energetic, that’s how Atletico play too.
Racism
I had most issues in Italy and Germany. The only place I wasn’t abused or thrown stones and water at was at the San Siro, but every other place I played in Italy, if they didn’t abuse my mother, they would abuse my father and throw stones and water at me. It was the same thing in Germany. It was also in France, but not as high as it was in Italy and Germany. The Italians pretend that there’s no racism, but it’s very high. When (Samuel) Eto’o played there, he confronted it because it was very high. (Romelu) Lukaku also faced it.
Thierry Henry
Henry was one of the toughest strikers I played against. Throughout my sojourn in Europe, I don’t think I slept, I was always calculating ahead of the next striker I would play against. To play in the French topflight then as a defender, you must be very good because all the teams had first class strikers. Go to Italy, England, Germany, it was the same. I was one of the defenders that were outstanding. There were very few attackers that passed me one-on-one to score, they were very few. Henry was one of the emerging stars then, and when Auxerre played against Monaco, I always breathed down his neck. I made him shiver, like they were pouring snow on him. That’s why he said I was the toughest defender he played against.
West’s East sojourn
Playing in Eastern Europe was wonderful. The Serbian league wasn’t like EPL or Serie A, but when I got there with Lothar Matthaus, we helped Partizan Belgrade massively. We qualified for the Champions League and we won the league. The country and club won’t forget us for that feat.
Age issue
That was their problem at Partizan. When I got there, I think my passport had 28 (years) on it, but the club president said I was around 31 or 32. When I was there he didn’t tell me that, so it’s his problem.
Evangelism
On retirement, I experienced another passion and another stage of life higher than football, and that’s the privilege to work as a servant of God. That makes me contented. Football is all about the pains of the people. If you do well, they praise you, if you don’t, you are nobody. For instance, Lionel Messi left Barcelona to PSG and people who received him in Paris saying ‘he’s the man’ are the same people who are saying all sorts of things about him now. So, since God helped me to pursue a career in football, I was able to know my direction in life and that has given me immense fulfilment. It’s not easy to play inside a stadium of 120, 000 fans. I played at the San Siro with Inter Milan and AC Milan that usually had tickets sold out. You won’t even find space, people were stuck outside during matches. Football brought money and gave you the opportunity to meet the who’s who in the world. If you retire, it can only be God that can keep you. It won’t be easy living that kind of high life anymore. It takes wisdom and understanding to manage yourself when you quit the game, but God has been there for me.
PUNCH
Sports
Beyond the Trophy: Lessons in Success, Discipline and Integrity from Spain’s World Cup Triumph
By SP Daniel Ndukwe, Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO)
Forty-eight nations entered the 2026 FIFA World Cup with one dream—to become champions. By the final whistle, only Spain remained standing.
From the opening match, Spain played with purpose, discipline and confidence, displaying the qualities of a team determined to conquer the world. Their triumph was not built on luck, but on preparation, resilience and unwavering belief.
Spain’s journey to glory was far from easy.
They began the knockout stage with an emphatic 3–0 victory over Austria before edging Portugal 1–0 in a fiercely contested Round of 16 clash. The quarter-finals demanded even greater resolve as they battled past Belgium 2–1, while a composed and disciplined 2–0 victory over France in the semi-finals secured their place in the final.
Every step of the way tested their character, proving that champions are made by overcoming challenges, not avoiding them.
The final against Argentina was the ultimate examination. Facing one of the tournament’s finest teams, Spain remained calm under pressure, trusted their tactical approach and displayed remarkable teamwork.
Their hard-fought 1–0 victory crowned them deserving world champions and demonstrated that sustained success is the product of consistency, discipline and character.
Beyond the trophy lies a lesson for us all. Whether in sports, education, business or any other endeavour, lasting success is built on discipline, perseverance, integrity and honest effort.
Quick gains through crime or wrongdoing may seem tempting, but they inevitably lead to loss, regret and consequences. True victory belongs to those who choose the right path, remain steadfast through life’s challenges and earn their success honourably.
Shun crime. Reject criminality. Embrace hard work and integrity. The surest path to lasting success is the path of honesty.
About the Author
Daniel Ndukwe is a public relations and strategic communication practitioner, as well as a governance, social change and development specialist.
South African football has been thrown into mourning following the death of Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Jayden Adams, who passed away at the age of 25, just weeks after representing his country at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The heartbreaking news was first reported by football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano before being confirmed by several international media outlets, including The Guardian and BBC Sport. South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Gayton McKenzie, also paid tribute, describing Adams as one of the nation’s brightest football talents.
Adams earned widespread admiration during the World Cup for his courage and professionalism after playing in a key group-stage match against Czechia just a day after learning of the death of his beloved grandmother, Marianna Adams. Despite his personal grief, he continued to represent his country with commitment as South Africa reached the knockout stage of the tournament for the first time.
At club level, Adams had just completed an outstanding 2025/26 season with Mamelodi Sundowns, helping the club enjoy another successful campaign after joining from Stellenbosch FC, where he had risen through the academy to become one of South Africa’s most promising midfielders.
Local publication Sunday World reported that Adams allegedly took his own life after battling depression. However, authorities have not officially confirmed the cause of death, and South African police have opened an investigation while urging the public to avoid speculation.
In a heartfelt statement, the South African Football Players Union described Adams’ passing as “an immeasurable loss” to his family, teammates, clubs, supporters, and the entire football community. Tributes have also poured in from FIFA, football clubs, teammates, and fans across the world, remembering him as a gifted player whose career was cut tragically short.
Mexico’s Julian Quinones pulled one back before halftime, reacting quickest to a loose ball in the box to fire into the roof of the net and revive the co-hosts’ hopes.
England were reduced to 10 men in the second half after Jarrell Quansah was sent off following a VAR review, but Harry Kane restored England’s two-goal lead with a penalty after goalkeeper Raul Rangel fouled Anthony Gordon.
Mexico’s Raul Jimenez reduced the deficit with another penalty after a VAR review confirmed a foul from Kane on Brian Gutierrez.
The match was delayed by one hour due to adverse weather conditions around the Azteca Stadium.
England will face Norway in the last eight in Miami on Saturday.
Morocco’s dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over the Netherlands on Tuesday sparked jubilant celebrations in The Hague, home to one of the Netherlands’ largest Moroccan communities, but the festivities later descended into clashes with police that resulted in several arrests.
In the city’s Schilderswijk district, Moroccan supporters flooded the streets waving national flags, dancing and chanting as car horns blared and fireworks lit up the night.
Hundreds of fans gathered at a major intersection, kicking footballs into the air, singing, and celebrating with occupants of passing vehicles. Some supporters even climbed onto moving cars in scenes of exuberance following Morocco’s historic triumph.
However, about an hour into the celebrations, riot police moved in to disperse the crowds. Officers deployed water cannons and carried out baton charges as they sought to restore order.
AFP reporters at the scene witnessed around a dozen arrests. Several young men were pinned to the ground after being struck on the legs with batons before being handcuffed and taken away in police vans.
Police officers on bicycles also pursued groups of youths through nearby streets in a cat-and-mouse chase, although no significant property damage was reported.
Despite repeated requests, revellers declined to speak to journalists, with many choosing to conceal their identities by wearing balaclavas or other face coverings.
The last-32 encounter in Monterrey ended 1-1 after extra time before being decided by a tense penalty shoot-out. After a series of misses by both sides, Morocco striker Ismael Saibari, who plays for PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands, calmly converted the decisive spot-kick to send Morocco into the last 16.
Morocco will now face co-hosts Canada in the round of 16.
A 26-year-old lawyer, Sara Araba Tettey, has tragically died while celebrating Ghana’s World Cup victory over Panama.
Tettey, a newly qualified lawyer and alumna of the Faculty of Law at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), was among millions of Ghanaians rejoicing over the Black Stars’ triumph when tragedy struck.
According to reports, she suffered a cardiac arrest while watching the match with friends at Standard Hostel, a private student hostel located at Bomso near the KNUST campus in Kumasi.
Witnesses immediately rushed her to the
KNUST Hospital, where medical personnel reportedly spent about 45 minutes administering Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) in a desperate attempt to save her life. Sadly, all efforts proved unsuccessful, and she was pronounced dead.
Tettey had only recently been called to the Ghana Bar, making her sudden death even more heartbreaking for family, friends, colleagues, and members of the legal community.
News of her passing has spread rapidly across the country, casting a shadow over what had been a moment of national celebration. While Ghanaians continue to celebrate the Black Stars’ victory, many are also mourning the loss of a promising young professional whose life was cut short.
The tragic incident has once again highlighted the importance of emergency preparedness and rapid medical response during large public and social events.
What should have been a day remembered solely for Ghana’s sporting success has instead become a day marked by both celebration and sorrow.
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Sports4 days agoBeyond the Trophy: Lessons in Success, Discipline and Integrity from Spain’s World Cup Triumph