Junior Nkwelle

“Junior was a good young man of whom the school had great hopes and who was much loved by his friends, class mates and teachers”

On the 29th of June at five minutes past midnight, Soge ‘Junior’ Nkwelle was born weighing in at over 8lbs.

Born in PMI Bamenda, Cameroon, he was the eldest of three boys, and from a youngster it was clear that his passion was going to be football; once he had managed to control his sweet tooth and love of biscuits and sweets. He went to nursery and started primary school at PNEU Foncha’s street, Bamenda, Cameroon. Junior came to the UK and very quickly made friends. He loved all outdoor sports and for a while tried athletics, but his love for football won.

Most his friends saw him as an ambitious, role model that always saw the best in people and knew what he wanted in life. His friends admired his mature outlook and humble character.

“He had a positive effect on people’s lives... a good role model for this community”

Junior was a talented and driven young man and attended Walworth Academy His favourite subjects were Maths, and Science. He loved helping others and in his early teens he would train and coach younger children to play football as part of the Lambeth Tigers project.

Regularly compared to Messi, he was a passionate player and described by his friends as ‘the livelihood of the pitch’. He was also a consummate Manchester United supporter and loved everything red and white.

“He was always smiling, he had the biggest smile” – Stella Muma

School friends recall seeing his smiling face around the school and described him as a very intelligent and knowledgeable boy.

“He was a brilliant kid, only 15, but He was always smiling, an asset – to lose somebody like this is devastating”