The Barbados Football Association (BFA) on Monday paid tribute to Kobe Shepherd, the former junior national footballer who was shot and killed the previous day at Greenfield, St Michael.
“The BFA is shocked, saddened and heartbroken by the passing of Shepherd who lost his life to gun violence on Sunday. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, teammates and UWI Blackbirds management at this very awful and difficult time,” a media release said.
Shepherd, an old scholar of the St Leonard’s Boys School and former Under-20 national player was regarded as one of the island’s most promising young footballers having played in the Barbados Football Association’s Premier League for UWI Blackbirds.
The 22-year-old striker, who previously represented Pro Shottas, also featured in the on-going BFA Republic Cup where he scored several goals for the Blackbirds including a penalty in their 3-2 loss last week versus Dover Market/Phillips Bakery Paradise FC. Shepherd scored two hat tricks in the tournament and was in supreme form.
“This is a great loss for Barbados’ football, I don’t know Kobe personally, but I know of his football exploits and I thought that he was one for the future. It is a very sad time for the sport locally, our hearts are bleeding. On the behalf of the executive committee of the BFA and myself, I would like to extent my deepest condolences to Kobe’s loved ones and friends,” said president Randy Harris.
“Gun violence in the country is getting out of hand and the executive board of the football association has a vision to play its part in assisting our young footballers not only on the field of play but to give them further guidance and show them the best way to use their skills outside of football in a positive way. We are working on setting up an academy and we are looking forward to the day when we can set-up our dormitories to have a social programme outside of football to help footballers,” he said.
Shepherd, who lived nearby at Bedford Lane, Upper Roebuck Street, was at a home in Greenfield when the incident occurred. Police say he sustained multiple shots to the body after a pillion rider on a motorcycle rode through the area and fired. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. (PR/SAT)