A photograph of late international footballer Akeem Adams set up in front of his alma mater, Presentation College, San Fernando, has been stolen. Thieves made off the photograph, candles and flowers within 24 hours after they were put outside the school on Carib Street.
Expressing shock and disappointment over the callous act, president of the Presentation College Past Pupils Association Steven Samlalsingh said, “It was placed there Old Year’s Day. They first stole the flowers and candles. Then yesterday (New Year’s Day) I discovered the picture missing.” However, he said another memorial site had been set up at the school under a mango tree in the carpark.
“We put it in the carpark because we want the public to have access to it. We placed a photograph, three candles and my son placed his football boots.” Referring to a similar memorial in Hungary, where a photograph of Adams was placed outside Ferencvaros Torna, the club he played for, he said, “You don’t hear about anybody touching it.”
Adams, a 22-year-old who twice represented T&T World Youth Cup player, died on Monday after suffering a massive stroke at a Hungarian hospital where he had been warded since his heart attack in September. National and international tributes have been pouring in since Adams’ passing. Funeral arrangements are to be made when Adams’ mother Ancilla and brother Akini return to Trinidad with his body. Adams lived with his mother and brother at Salazar Trace, Mora, Point Fortin.
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