Tributes paid to ‘talented, inspiring’ 15-year-old footballer who ‘died in his sleep’

Friends of a 15-year-old East London boy who has tragically died in as-yet unknown circumstances have launched a fundraiser to assist his household throughout an unimaginably troublesome time.

Richmond Kumi was a “gifted, inspiring” younger soccer participant, charismatic and humorous and liked by buddies on and off the pitch.

One of Richmond’s shut buddies, 16-year-old Lionel from Custom House, East London, will always remember the second his good friend was found unresponsive in his mattress.

Lionel mentioned that he went to knock for Richmond on Monday morning (April 5), to see if he wished to come and play soccer with a few of his different buddies. He heard a scream as his mum went to wake him and went upstairs to see what had occurred.

The 16-year-old mentioned: “It was a traditional day, me and another boys have been going to go and play soccer with him. But we heard a scream from upstairs, so we ran upstairs and noticed him, noticed his physique.

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“We referred to as an ambulance, and so they mentioned he’d been lifeless for the reason that night time, they are saying he died in his sleep.

“I noticed his physique lifeless, that can by no means come out of my thoughts, that picture. I’m not sleeping nicely.”

Lionel mentioned the precise reason for dying has not but been established – they’re awaiting affirmation from the morgue on the hospital.

Describing his good friend, Lionel mentioned: “He was humorous. That’s the primary factor, he was humorous.

“He was trustworthy, hardworking, charismatic. He was at all times motivational, he’d at all times inform individuals in the event that they have been doing one thing dangerous, inform individuals to brush up.”

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‘For him to lose his life so younger is devastating’, Richmond’s soccer coach mentioned

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Luke Porter, 27, Richmond and Lionel’s soccer coach, additionally paid tribute to the “inspirational” boy.

He mentioned: “Richmond was the kind of child that has the management traits {that a} child may not even know that that they had. He might enchantment to his buddies, he was a joker but additionally knew when to be severe and get everybody enjoying.

“I like that character that he had – everybody preferred him as an individual and he was in a position to inspire his buddies to do good issues.

“I might see him as somebody who might do nicely on the membership. I used to be onerous on him at occasions, however that is due to the power that I noticed in him.

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“Kids in my soccer membership do not come from privileged backgrounds, they do not at all times get the alternatives, however I like to give them the chance. Richmond was a kind of gamers that, each week, might step up.

“When I heard the information, I felt so unhappy. I felt the least I might do was to [set up a GoFundMe] to try to assist in no matter method I might.

“These gamers, once they come into my care and my consideration, they really feel like my kids. I need to have my arms open, to assist them in any method I can on and off the pitch.”

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15-year-old Richmond had ‘large plans’ for his soccer profession

Lionel mentioned that, since Richmond’s dying, soccer has been an vital distraction.

“It’s distracting me from fascinated with his dying, and it is motivating me to assist me cope higher,” he mentioned.

A GoFundMe marketing campaign was arrange by Luke to assist Richmond’s household pay for his funeral and “relaxation his soul in peace”.

Thanks to the generosity of the soccer neighborhood, family and friends, over £2,800 has been raised to date.

Luke mentioned: “To see somebody so younger to lose their life was only a shock to me. It was solely the opposite day that we have been speaking about his large plans to work in the direction of an expert soccer profession.

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“He skilled onerous, he tried his finest. He did not have the privileges of cash and different issues, however he tried his finest. For him to lose his life so younger is devastating.

“At the membership, these guys are all buddies. When I used to be rising up, that is what I’d do: go and knock for my buddies to play soccer, and I might by no means think about the expertise [Lionel and his friends have been through].

“But as their coach, I really feel that it is my accountability to be there as finest I can for them, to assist them in any method that I can.”

You can donate to the fundraiser in Richmond Kumi’s reminiscence right here.

Did you understand Richmond Kumi? You can depart a tribute for him in the feedback right here, or electronic mail [email protected].

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