?Former national footballer Colin Agostini died from pneumonia early last Friday morning at the Community Hospital, Vale, Australia, at the age of 77.
He was the "baby", at 19, of the T&T football team that toured the United Kingdom in 1952. Agostini came from a great sporting family and was an outstanding sportsman in his own right, in several different fields, football especially, as well as athletics, swimming and also horse racing, in which he was an acknowledged expert.
He captained St Mary's College (CIC) football teams in all age groups from colts through to first class, playing either at inside left or at halfback, and did similarly for both North and the national teams as well. In athletics, he became the first and possibly only person ever to win all running events from 100 yards through to one mile all on the same day at the CIC Annual Sports, along with the long jump, throwing the cricket ball and three legged race (with Michael), for one of his many Victor Ludorums.
Horse racing was another of his many passions, from bookmaking through to handicapping and even race calling at times; he was an astute punter who often won much more than he lost. Colin's major aim was to marry his childhood sweetheart, Jean Gomez (sister of the late Pat Gomez, one of T&T's greatest football goalkeepers), which they did in 1958. From this came six living children. He will be missed by many, most of all his loving wife and family, who sat around his dying bed singing hymns as well as popular songs they loved.