Former footballer, racehorse trainer Bartolo dies

THE NORTHERN Football Association (NFA) executive and members have expressed their condolences on the death of their stalwart and dependable member Rolf Bartolo, who died on Sunday morning.

According to an NFA media release, Bartolo was a member of the Maple club for over 40 years, as a goalkeeper and a coach. He guided a cadre of young players including standouts Reynold George and Dexter Skeene to the North Zone title in 1991. Maple, under Bartolo competed in the National League in 1992.

He continued his coaching and management of the club continuously until 2017, when he again took the club to North Zone honours.

Bartolo also coached the North Zonal Team in the annual interzone competitions for several years. He was also a driving force in organising the annual Maple versus Malvern old boys game.

He finally left football to concentrate more fully on his work as a racehorse trainer in 2017 and, a year later, received an award from the ARC (Arima Race Club) as the country’s most improved trainer, a vote taken by his peers.

The NFA sends condolonces to Bartolo’s family.