Pres plans schol in Akeem’s name

The former T&T Under 17 and Under 20 World Cup defender was a student of Presentation College, San Fernando. Adams, who played for the Hungarian top-flight club Ferencvarosi TC, suffered a heart attack in Hungary three months ago. As a consequence, he was given a mechanical heart and his left leg was amputated.

He was expected to undergo a heart transplant in February. In a telephone interview, Samlalsingh said a function to mark the college’s victory in the BGT&T/First Citizens Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Big Five championship was held at the college auditorium on Monday night, but no one was in a celebratory mood.

“Akeem was the captain of the team, the boys (championship team) looked up to him. He suffered for a long time. Three months is a long time without a heart in your body. He will be greatly missed by the team.”

He said Adams laid the groundwork for the college victory at the Big Five—the first time the school had won the championship in 27 years. Since Adams fell ill, Samlalsingh said, the association had been raising money to help him. He said: “We are also looking at setting up a scholarship in his name to honour him for the significant contribution he has made.” Principal Dexter Mitchell also expressed condolences to Adams’s family.

“The college is deedly distressed, because he was one of our own,” he said. At the football function on Monday night, he said, they retired the number three football jersey, which was Adams’s jersey when he played for the school. “We knew that it would have been a difficult recovery, but there was some hope. It was a bit of sadness for all the players,” he said, as well as the teachers. Mitchell has offered the college’s help with  funeral expenses. 

Adams’s former principal Errol Jaikaransingh described the 22-year-old footballer as a wonderful young man, always smiling, helpful and polite. “As I told the footballers (the Big Five winners) at the function last night, one must speak well of the dead and we all do, but in truth and in fact one can speak nothing ill of Akeem.

“That young man was sterling, he was a beautiful young man. He played the game as he lived his life, with a gentlemanly passion. You never saw him lose his temper on the field, you never saw him disrespect the officials, you never saw him storm off the field. He was just a gentleman. He played with his heart and it is so ironic that it is his heart that gave out.” Family members are awaiting clearance from Hungary to have his body transported home for his funeral.

Relatives say it could take four or five days for all arrangements to be complete, and for Adams to be brought home. “His mother is waiting on clearance to be able to transport the body and as soon as that happens he will be coming home and we will make the funeral arrangements,” Adams’ cousin Roland Dick told the Guardian. “The doctors are still completing medical reports.”

Dick said he spoke to Adams’ mother yesterday and she said she wanted nothing done until she returned home with her son’s body. “We were having discussions about the venue but when she returns we will let people know what the plans will be,” Dick said.