LONDON, England – E no be small wahala as West Ham United legend, Billy Bonds, don pass away at age 79 after long illness wey been dey drag am since. The east London club don confirm dis heartbreaking news.
Billy Bonds, wey padi dem dey call Bonzo, na one of di most cherished player for West Ham history. E spend 21 years for di club, playing 799 matches (im wey no dey joke around), and he even led dem as captain win FA Cup two times. Na true legend, I go tell you!
According to statement wey come from Bonds’ family through di club, dem talk say: “We dey heartbroken as we announce say we don lose our beloved Dad today. He too dey loyal and selfless person. Dad love West Ham and di fans with all im heart.” (Wetin person fit talk wey go fit show im love for dem club pass?)
Bonds join West Ham from Charlton for just £50,000 in 1967, and you sabi wetin happen? Na so im take shine dey lead di team from di back to di front. He na the captain wey replace Bobby Moore, and na him lead dem to FA Cup victory for 1975 and 1980.
No forget say Bonds also serve as coach after he retire from playing for 1988. He take over di managerial position for 1990 and led West Ham return to di top flight. Na serious person wey sabi wahala, abeg! But eventually, hin path for di club no end well as hin and Harry Redknapp, hin best friend wey be assistant, no gree talk again after dem sack am.
Di club don plan period of appreciation wey go happen before di match against Liverpool, where players go wear black armbands to show respect for di man wey don cause plenty joy for di Hammers fans. Dem go celebrate am again properly on December 14 before di game with Aston Villa.
Jarrod Bowen, di current West Ham captain, don talk say di fans go make enough noise to show appreciation for Bonds, wey im call di biggest legend of di club. Joe Cole, one former player, fit talk plenty about how Bonds show am kindness when e sign for di club as small boy. Dis na impact wey go last forever.
As everybody dey mourn dis great man, di legacy wey he don leave behind na something wey no fit die. Him name go dey forever for di hearts of many as one of di pillars of West Ham.“E fit no dey here again, but di love wey everybody get for am go live on. Rest in peace, Billy Bonds – you don really make history.”
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