THE remains of the former table tennis star, Yomi Bankole ‘the Hawk’, were laid to rest about 11am yesterday at the Matori Cemetery, Oshodi, Lagos without fanfare.

Only members of Bankole’s family including his children, Lekan and Lola with some athletes and sports administrators were on hand to witness the burial.

Former national champion and Olympian, Jerry Okorodudu, while speaking with Saturday Tribunesports at the National Stadium, Lagos expressed displeasure with the way Bankole’s burial was handled.

“You mean Yomi has been buried, I thought there will be a Lying-In-State here for everybody to bid him farewell. He was a genius during his days and he should be celebrated. May his soul rest in peace,” Okorodudu, who represented Nigeria at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics said.

Delivering a sermon, Pastor Oyebola Taiwo, of The Redeemed Generation Christian Assembly, Ifo, Ogun State, who quoted from the Book of Revelation, chapter 20, verses 11 to 15 urged the mankind to always think of death and seek repentance.

He described the deceased as “a man who travelled far and wide during his time but he has nothing now that he is leaving this world. As you are recording this event with camera, so all our deeds either good or bad shall be played back for us to see thereafter”.

Meanwhile, NSC Liaison Officer, Lagos, Mrs Tayo Oreweme, who represented the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Chief Patrick Ekeji, while speaking during the burial lauded the exploits of the fallen ping pong hero.

“I was secretary of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) when Yomi was playing and it was an established fact he was a star. He served this country well and his case would be presented to the National Sports Commission in due course,” said Oreweme.

Also speaking, secretary of NTTF, Mr Segun Oguntade noted that one of the virtues of the Ogun State-born Olympian was his resilience saying that “Yomi Bankole’s level of determination while playing  was worthy of emulation. He played every game as if his life depended on that game,” Oguntade said.

Yomi Bankole who died in Lagos penultimate Sunday during a protracted illness at the age of 52 years, represented Nigeria at the Seoul ’88 and Barcelona ’92 Olympic Games as well as the Kenya ’87 and Cairo ’91 All Africa Games.

The Hawk also featured at the world championships at Tokyo ’83, Gothenburg ’85 and Dortmund ’89. He lost in the final of Kenya ’87 All Africa Games to arch rival, Atanda Musa, who had earlier beaten him in the final of the African championships held in Alexandria, Egypt in 1985.

He last worked as assistant coach to Team Rivers at the last National Sports Festival.