SOUTH AFRICA: Friends and relatives continue to pay visits to the Woolmer family, while people on the streets of Cape Town express shock and sadness

Record ID: 454573

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: Friends and relatives continue to pay visits to the Woolmer family, while people on the streets of Cape Town express shock and sadness
  • Date: 24th March 2007
  • Summary: BEACHFRONT AREA
  • Embargoed: 8th April 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA7005ZBV1F9DDANANL1266HUO8
  • Story Text: Friends and relatives continue to pay visits to the family of murdered Pakistan cricket coach Woolmer, offering them sympathy and support. The family of Bob Woolmer said on Friday (March 23) they were perplexed by his murder, dismissing reports the Pakistan cricket coach was involved with match fixing or that a book he authored was behind his death.
    Some media reports have said that Woolmer was writing a book that would expose sensitive details of match fixing.
    Woolmer 58, was found unconscious in his Jamaican hotel room on Sunday (March 18) and died later. Jamaican police launched a murder inquiry on Thursday (March 22) after reporting that the Briton was killed by strangulation.
    Woolmer's manager Michael Cohen said the family was devastated but Woolmer would have wanted the World Cup to continue despite the shock.
    In Cape Town, South Africa, friends and relatives continue to pay visits to the Woolmer family.
    People on the streets of Cape Town expressed shock and sadness. Many said they couldn't believe someone could be murdered over a game of cricket.
    "We actually didn't expect to ..such a thing to happen in the world cup, It's pathetic. It actually...in the line of sport that people can be that cruel and violent, actually to take somebody's life just because of another sport," said Kieth Fielis.
    Woolmer's death came the morning after Pakistan, one of the favourites to win the World Cup, were eliminated having lost to tournament debutantes Ireland.
    The result was one of the biggest shocks in the 32-year history of the tournament.
    "Ja, there is definitely something funny going on here, because there was no forced entry, so whatever is certain, there must have been someone that he's known," said Neil Bullock.
    "Oh no man, I think it's terrible, well whoever did it, say hasn't done anyone a service at all. He's a great chap, great coach. He did wonders for South Africa here, you know. You know for the non-league clubs, he coached a couple there, he looked after the non-European kids, he's a wonderful chap. We are going to miss him," said Russ Comerford from London.
    "It's disgusting that something like that can happened in cricket, it's a gentlemen's game, and suddenly there seems to be a lot of other funny things happening in the background, which is very sad," said Eric Cradman.
    The death of Woolmer, regarded as one of the best coaches in the world, has completely overshadowed the World Cup in the Caribbean which lasts for seven weeks and culminates in the final on April 28.
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