By David Awopetu
The president of the Bolivia Football Federation, Cesar Salinas, has died, the federation said on Sunday.
No official cause of death was given for 58-year-old Cesar Salinas but his former club, The Strongest, last week, said he had been diagnosed with COVID-19.
The federation confirmed his death in a statement that highlighted his “dedication and commitment to national and international football”.
The 58-year-old Salinas, had chaired the FBF since 2018.
He was a director of The Strongest in La Paz, a century-old Bolivian soccer institution. His wife, who is also head of the same club, also tested positive for coronavirus.
The interim president of Bolivia, Jeanine Anez, on Twitter, expressed his condolences to the family and friends of Cesar Salinas, saying that they have all his support in these “difficult times.”
The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) said, “Conmebol and the South American soccer family deeply regret the death.”
“Cesar was a man who was committed to the sport and he leaves us a legacy of dedication and hard work to the development of Bolivian and South American football.”
Salinas had recently met with authorities to plan to restart football in Bolivia after the virus shutdown.
With 11 million inhabitants, Bolivia has registered 58,136 cases and 2,106 deaths.
