Boyd’s death big loss to our sports, world body says

The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) on Wednesday commiserated with the Nigeria Baseball Softball Association (NBSA) on the death of its president, Williams Boyd.

Riccardo Fraccari, the President of WBSC, in a condolence letter sent to NBSA, said news of Boyd’s death came as a shock to the baseball and softball world.

Fraccari said: “We have heard (received) the extremely sad and shocking news of the death of our dear friend and colleague.

“This is a tremendous loss for our sports in Nigeria, Africa and worldwide.

”Through President Boyd’s leadership and vision, the Nigerian Baseball and Softball Association were founded in 1989 and our sports were officially born in the country, helping to grow the baseball and softball world.

“History will always remember President Boyd’s important legacy and milestones in Nigeria baseball and softball, from staging men’s and women’s championships annually to dominating the continental tournaments.

“On behalf of the WBSC, our entire global family, and in my name personally, I extend our deepest sympathies to President Boyd’s family, players, coaches, and officials whose lives were affected by his demise.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the late Boyd passed on in the early hours of June 15 at the age of 71 years.

He was one of the founding members of NBSA in 1989 and the first Secretary-General, the position he held for 16 years.

Boyd was a medical practitioner with specialisation in Sports Medicine and also an astute sports administrator.

The deceased was Assistant Secretary-General of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) from 1993 to 1997 and Secretary-General from 1997 to 2001.

Boyd assisted fully in the coordination of the 8th All-Africa Games, held in Abuja in 2003.

He was elected as NBSA president on Oct. 10, 2020.

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