Joel Adesina, a 15-year-old with Nigerian roots on Saturday died in a hospital after he was stabbed during a late-night row on Friday night in Bethnal Green, East London.
Eye witnesses say Joel and his friends were ambushed while taking a walk and were chased into a housing estate where he was stabbed.
The deceased was described as an ‘ambitious’ and ‘hard-working’ teenager who was talented enough to play professionally in the topflight of the English football league.
An 18 year-old suspect was arrested but later released with no further action to be taken.
His coach at Bardag FC Yellows, Ricky Downes and neighbours all had kind words to say.
Most remembered him returning home in his football kits and never keeping late night
Joel as a winger was ”as good as gold” and talented enough to play professionally,’ his coach said.
”To say that myself and the club are devastated is an understatement, we are absolutely in bits.”
D”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.
”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,” 55 year-old Mr Downes added.
Police report has it that Joel and his friends were walking, possibly home, when they were confronted by a group in a parked car; they were chased by the group into a housing estate where neighbours say they heard ‘screaming and shouting’. Joel was cornered and stabbed.
”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.”