LewiSPORTelli dies aged 76

Veteran sports journalist, broadcaster, author and all-rounder Lewis Portelli has died, aged 76.

Mr Portelli, who enjoyed signing as LewiSPORTelli, died suddenly while on vacation at a holiday resort in Mellieha.

Despite his age, he remained active in the sphere, to the extent that he was at The Times earlier this week putting the finishing touches to the 20th edition of the Football Year Book, which he edits.

"He was an all-round sportsman. He took an interest in everything, be it football, horse racing, athletics and even cricket," said Jesmond Dalli, sports editor of The Times.

Joe Cassar, general secretary of the Malta Olympic Committee, expressed shock at the sudden loss.

"Lewis was a goldmine of information. He was meticulous, so organised and still so involved in everything," Mr Cassar said about the man who was inducted in the MOC Hall Of Fame last December.

Charles Camenzuli, president of Ghaqda Kittieba Sport, said the local sports media was all the poorer with Mr Portelli's death.

"He wasn't just a journalist. He was the journalism of sport. Despite his age, he remained so up to date with all that was going on. And it was never too late for him to learn," he said.

The Education Ministry, the Labour Party, the National Sports Council and the Institute of Malta Journalists paid tribute to Mr Portelli while the Nationalist Party recalled his sterling work with Dar tal-Providenza, the residential home for people with a disability in Siggiewi.

Mr Portelli's career took him all around the world and his trademark affable voice made him a favourite of many.

He started his sports broadcasting career with Rediffusion in 1956 and just four years later was attached to Rai as a commentator from Rome for the Olympic Games. Between 1961 and 1975 he became a household name with his productions and presentations of Sports Magazine on Rediffusion and Sports Panorama on state television.

He covered several international events such as the World Cup, the Olympic Games and the Small Nations' Games. In the 1986 football World Cup he was the personal guest of legendary footballer Franz Beckenbauer and travelled with the German football team.

In 1993, he was awarded the Midalja ghall-Qadi tar-Repubblika in recognition of his work in journalism. He was awarded the IOC trophy for sports journalism in 1988 and again in 2004, and also landed the BPC award for best sports journalist.

Between 1955 and 1978 he held various posts with the Department of Information and from 1990 to 1992 occupied the post of Director of Information.

His last contribution to the sports pages, hand written only last Monday, appears on page 54. Ironically it was a tribute to two late friends of his, Joe Izzo and Robbie Decesare.

The funeral Mass is being held at St Theresa Sanctuary in Birkirkara tomorrow at 9.30 a.m.