Last month, Prosper Onakoya passed away unexpectedly at the age of just ten.
Prosper, known as 'Yaya' or 'The Hulk' to his teammates, was originally from South Africa. He had just recently been forced to give up playing football with Cherry Orchard's U11 side. The reason was an illness with which he had been diagnosed.
Nicky Butt was recently named as the new head of Manchester United's academy. The former Man Utd and England player wrote to Cherry Orchard shortly following Prosper's passing.
To our football friends at Cherry Orchard Football Club
Manchester United Football Club wish to pass on our deepest sympathy and condolences on the sudden and tragic loss of your under 11 player Prosper Onakoya.
Our thoughts are with Prosper's family, managers, coaches and team mates.
Cherry Orchard's Club Statement has paid a touching tribute and we echo these sentiments on every level.
It is never easy to learn of the loss of one of our supporters, especially one so young.
Yours faithfully
Nicky Butt
Head of Academy
This is the club statement of which Butt writes.
It is with deep regret and profound grief that Cherry Orchard Football Club announce the death of Prosper Onakoya. Prosper or better known as Yaya or The Hulk by his team mates was taken suddenly and unexpectedly from us last Sunday. Prosper played for our U11 Sunday side and will be sadly missed by all. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this tragic time and of course his manager, coach and team mates some of whom were only playing FIFA with him the day before. Why oh why was this young boy taken from us all? we begin to remember not just that he died but that he lived and that his life gave us memories to wonderful to forget. May he rest in peace.
The letter was posted to Cherry Orchard's Twitter account.
A huge thank you to @ManUtd and Nicky Butt from everybody at @CherryOrchardFC for this letter about Prosper Onakoya pic.twitter.com/5IDehCaHRL
— Cherry Orchard Snrs (@COFCSnr) March 5, 2016
