Coach's Final Act of Friendship Revealed After Tragic Crash
The close friend and coach of heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua, who was killed in a car crash in Nigeria, had joined the trip because he did not want the fighter to travel alone, his grieving uncle has revealed. Sina Ghami, 36, and Kevin 'Latif' Ayodele, also 36, died instantly when their SUV collided with a stationary truck on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Monday.
A Heartfelt Tribute to an 'Angel'
Ghami's uncle, Shahryar Rumi, flew from the United States to London upon hearing the devastating news. In an emotional interview with The Times, he paid tribute to his nephew, who had been Joshua's strength and conditioning coach for over ten years. "They were friends, Anthony Joshua and Sina. They worked together, but they began as friends," Rumi said. "Even on this trip, he didn’t want him to be alone, so he went with him."
He described Ghami as a uniquely kind and generous person. "Sina was an angel living amongst us. Personally, there is no one kinder, no one more generous, no one more compassionate, no one more brotherly. He helped so many people, in every way shape or form," Rumi added.
Legacy of the Lost Friends
Anthony Joshua, who was seated in the back of the vehicle, sustained minor injuries and was taken to a private hospital in Lagos. He is expected to remain under medical care into the New Year, with his mother, Yeta Odusanya, at his bedside. Nigeria's President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has spoken to both Joshua and his mother by phone to offer his condolences.
Ghami was a pivotal figure in Joshua's camp and ran the Evolve Gyms in Colindale and South Ruislip, London. The gyms have been closed as a mark of respect, with flowers and candles left outside by mourners.
In memory of Latif Ayodele, a fundraiser has been established to build a mosque and install boreholes for clean water in Africa. The campaign has already raised over £190,000 of its increased £200,000 target. Organisers stated that 100% of donations will go directly to the projects to create a lasting legacy in Ayodele's name.
