The sudden demise of Lewis Portelli shocked the sports community in Malta.

I never had the honour to meet him personally, but I do follow sport with a passion and, if you do so in Malta, you cannot but come across his name.

Lewis Portelli’s presence on local radio and television programmes was always a guarantee of unbiased, professional and balanced reporting. He never allowed himself to fall into the traps of controversy, but always gave a fair account of the sport events that he was asked to comment upon.

His death is a great loss for Maltese sport and for Maltese journalism. He was an example to be followed, although unfortunately I must say that the younger generations of sport journalists have not taken the cue from him.

But that is another matter.

Lewis was a great sportsman in all senses of the word. He will be missed.

Paul Caruana

San Gwann