A 'great friend' - south Mayo club pays tribute after Shafiq family tragedy
BALLINROBE TOWN AFC has paid tribute as the south Mayo community continues to reel following the tragic deaths in an accident in Pakistan of club member Umar Shafiq and his mother Noreen.
The club has shared photos on its social media from Umar's wonderful years with Ballinrobe Town, from underage up to senior club level.
The Mayo League has postponed the club's games this weekend as a mark of respect.
Ballinrobe Town paid the following tribute to Umar on its Facebook page: 'It is with great sadness that we have learned of the passing of our club member Umar Shafiq and his mother Noreen in a tragic accident while on a family holiday in Pakistan.
We are absolutely heartbroken for the entire Shafiq family and friends as well as all Umar's teammates and coaches who held Umar in such high regard. Not only was Umar an outstanding goalkeeper who represented the club from U10s all the way to the senior team but he also represented Mayo at various levels.
While Umar was still on the Under 18 squad he had become an important member of our senior squads and was regularly in goals for our Junior B team as well as being a part of our Super League team, making his debut earlier this season away to Conn Rangers. All Umar's teammates, many of whom came through the underage section of the club with Umar, are devastated with this sudden and tragic loss of their friend and we ask the community also rally round to support them too.
Everybody who knew Umar both within our club, the Ballinrobe community and the wider Mayo football family, as evidenced by the massive numbers of messages of sympathy we have received, knew Umar as a lovely young gentleman who always had a positive outlook on things. We will miss our great friend who was always so enthusiastic, upbeat and an absolute pleasure to be around. Umar, we will never forget you.
The club along with Ballinrobe Community School are actively working with the family to look at how we as a community can pay our respects in due course and will share information as and when we can.
We would ask everybody to respect the privacy of the Shafiq family at such a difficult time.'
The Shafiq family were visiting Tariqabad, Faisalabad, and were travelling to Gojra in their car when the tragic accident occurred.
The community of Ballinrobe, where the Shafiq family have resided for over 15 years, has been left shocked and stunned by the tragedy.
Three other family members were injured in the crash.