Shyaka Clever dead

Lead Radio sports presenter gone too soon! LOCAL Radio sports presenter Claver Shyaka is dead. The Radio 10 presenter died on his way to Croix du Sud hospital commonly known as Nyirinkwaya hospital, Kigali City yesterday. He was 32 years of age. However, by press time, neither his family and nor the doctors at the hospital did not disclose the cause of his death as they prepared to take his body for a post-mortem at King Faycal Hospital. But at King Faycal hospital, he was referred to the National Police hospital. .The President of Rwanda Journalists Association, Jean Butoyi, who was among the first people to arrive at the hospital after news broke of Shyaka’s sudden death, told Times Sport from Croix du Sud hospital yesterday, “Shyaka passed away while he being rushed here (Croix du Sud hospital).” According to his Radio 10 colleague, Patrick Munezero the popular presenter complained of chest pain the previous day and on the fateful morning (yesterday) as he prepared for his usual one-hour show held between 1200 to 1300 hours.” When his condition deteriorated at around 10am, his colleagues (at Radio 10) rushed to a nearby private clinic near Tele10 house (which houses Radio 10) where he was referred to Croix du Sud hospital, (located less than a kilometer away). “Unfortunately, he died before reaching hospital (this was about 1030hrs),” recounted Butoyi. Shyaka, who was a student at Kigali Independent University (ULK), started his profession as sports presenter at Radio 10 in the late 2004. Since then, the 32-year old has been one of the gentle sports journalists in Rwanda. He had a great way of irritating sports managers, club officials because he always came up with the truth. He came up with these stories that people couldn’t figure out how he got it but they were all directed on how sports development in the country should be attained. A week ago, Shyaka was among the sports journalist football team, which was held to a 1-all draw by the artists’ side in the United We Stand football tournament hosted by Sports Minister Joseph Habineza in recognition to President Paul Kagame’s support to football in his first term of office. Meanwhile, Minister Habineza called Shyaka’s sudden death a “tragedy to sports in the country”. Habineza, who was informed of the Radio 10’s popular sports show presenter’s sudden death by Times Sport could not believe the news and had to take a few minutes to compose himself. “Is he?” was his first reaction when he got the news “It is very sad. He was a very jolly fellow. I talked to him yesterday, I cannot believe it. This is a tragedy to sports in the country. He was among the best sports journalists in the country.”Habineza said. The President of the Rwanda Independent Journalists Association David Bayingana told this paper that Shyaka was an inspiration to many journalists. “He was one of the pioneers radio presenters (sports programme) in the country and he inspired many of us. It is shocking that he has died at such a young age,” Bayingana said. Shyaka Claver is survived by a daughter and an expectant widow. MAY HIS SOUL REST IN ETERNAL PEACE