The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has expressed deep shock over the death of its pioneer President, Pa Joseph Adebayo Thompson who died on Tuesday at the age of 99.
Late Pa Joseph Adebayo Thompson.
SWAN remembers with nostalgia his huge contributions to the development of sports in Nigeria which prompted him and other like minds to birth the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) in 1964. He was to lead the Association from 1964-1972.
SWAN President, Sir, Honour Sirawoo in his tribute described the late Pa Thompson was a beacon of encouragement who was always on hand to render fatherly advice any time he was called upon.
Sirawoo who also described the deceased as the father of sports journalism in Nigeria even as he regretted that Pa Thompson would have clocked the iconic 100 years on the 30th of April, 2021.
In his journalism career, Pa. Thompson was able to leave his marks starting from his professional career as a Press Reporter at the Labour Champion Newspapers owned by the Nigeria Federation of Labour in 1950. He was later to work in; the Daily Success Newspapers, the West African Pilot, the Daily Times as well as the Daily Express Newspaper as Sports Editor.
Pa Thomas qualified as a soccer Referee in 1952, after serving as a match official for 14 years, he retired as Grade II Referee. He was a National Secretary of the Nigerian Referees Association (NRA) for four years.
He was also appointed Leader and Team Manager of the Nigerian Team to the first International Youth football contest between Nigeria and Ghana held in 1958.
He was also an Amateur Boxing Referee, member of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C) and Publicity Secretary of West African Boxing Federation until it was defunct in 1975.
With the tone set by the likes of Pa Thompson, SWAN has grown into a globally recognized National Association as it is a bonafide and influential member of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS). - Nation.
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